Jimmy  Darts

SB Mowing

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Samuel Weidenhofer

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Flavor Flav

Ask Uncle Jack

Amy Jandrisevits

FowlMouthFarmer

Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

John Wolfe

Khloe

<div>
 Hello, I'm Lesley Ware (née Williams).
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 I'm an author, educator, + the founder of Art to Ware, a wearable art gallery + sustainable fashion community in Manhattan. Since 2021, Art to Ware has been a place where independent designers, artists, + makers can share their work, connect with new audiences, and celebrate creativity through fashion. Coming from a super small Midwestern town, I never imagined I'd have the opportunity to build a space where artists, designers, and community could come together in New York City.
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 Over the past five years, we've welcomed thousands of visitors, showcased the work of independent artists, connected creatives with new customers + opportunities to grow their own small businesses, provided internships for dozens of high school + college students, hosted community events, + created a space where art and fashion intersect in an accessible, joyful way.
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 Asking for help has never come naturally to me.
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 For months, I've tried to bridge this challenging season through teaching, writing, consulting, applying for jobs, expanding Art to Ware, negotiating payment plans, and pursuing every opportunity I could find. I truly hoped I wouldn't need to create a fundraiser. But here we are.
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 While running a small business in New York, I have been traveling back and forth to Michigan, all year, to care for my mother during a serious health crisis. At the same time, Art to Ware experienced a significant robbery, lost it's primary location lease, relocated to a new home at Fulton Center, + continued working to rebuild. Although we've made meaningful progress, the combination of these unexpected challenges has left us at a critical moment. While the momentum is real, we need a bridge to reach long-term stability.
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 This campaign isn't about giving up. It's about creating the stability needed to reach the next chapter.
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 My goal is to raise $22,000 to help stabilize Art to Ware while we continue growing. Your support will help us:
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 • Keep our Fulton Center location operating as revenue continues to grow.
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 • Catch up on essential business obligations .
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 • Continue providing opportunities for independent designers + artists.
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 • Sustain community programming + educational events.
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 • Allow me to continue caring for my mother, Gwendolyn, while rebuilding the business.
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 Over the past several months, I've done everything I could think of: sewing, teaching, opening a new location, applying for jobs, negotiating payment plans, downsizing, seeking grants + new partnerships, and working every opportunity available.
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 I'm not asking because I've given up. I'm asking because I've reached the point where I can't do this alone.
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 If Art to Ware has inspired you, introduced you to an incredible designer, brought a little more creativity into your life, or if you simply believe independent businesses + community spaces like A2W deserve to exist, I would be deeply grateful for your support. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps build the bridge to our next chapter.
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 Thank you for believing in independent designers, creative community, + the future of Art to Ware. Whether you're able to contribute, share this campaign, or simply cheer us on, your support means more than I can express. Thank you for helping me build this next chapter.
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Help Preserve Art to Ware

<div>Last week, the unthinkable happened to the Gray family. John Gray was hit by a car and suffered extensive injuries to his face and head. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition, and after a grueling nine-hour surgery, John is now beginning what will be a long and difficult road to recovery.
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<div>He needs time in the hospital, physical therapy, and in-home medical care. The financial burden of care is immeasurable.
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<div><strong>Funds raised here will help John and Sarah cover medical expenses, hospital bills, rehabilitation, medications,  lost income, and the day-to-day costs that come with a sudden and traumatic accident.</strong>
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<div>Sarah has been an incredible force of strength. And in her words: Callie (Davy), Saba (Dean) and Devon (Greg) have not skipped a beat. They are natural caregivers.
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<div>Sarah would never ask for this kind of help herself. In fact, she made it very clear that she did not want anyone to start a fundraiser. But the people who love the Grays know that this is exactly the moment when community is meant to step in. So, with love (and a little overruling) we are asking on their behalf.
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<div>John and Sarah are the epitome of open doors and open arms; givers in the truest sense. Kindness abounds at the Grays'. John and Sarah have given so much care to so many of us. Let’s surround them with that same care now.
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<div>Thank you to the incredible nurses and care team at University Hospital in Louisville, to everyone who has already shown up for the Grays, and to every person willing to donate, share, pray, send love, or help in any way.
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<div>Please donate if you are able, and share this fundraiser widely with your family, friends, and networks.
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Support John Gray’s Road to Recovery

<div>Hello
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<div>I am Abdulaziz, I am 19 years old, but in reality, I have lived 19 years of war, killing and blood. I come to you with an urgent appeal from my heart. My family and I need you. My family of 8 members.
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<div>I love and study in the fields of design, montage, programming and photography, and I present and share my content with the world, my dear followers, and the rest of my sisters who are completing their educational journey. We are like any family, we have a desire for life and goals, but the occupation casts its shadow over our home, our life and our goals. It was very difficult. I had a university, a home and goals, and the occupation destroyed the roof of our dreams, our life and everything. After bombing our home, the occupation asked us to move to the southern Gaza Strip without shelter. During the displacement, I was arrested by the occupation and tortured, and provided me with bad and inedible food, and I will certainly not forget what they did to me by practicing torture. For this reason, I cannot make any effort, and I cannot eat or drink. Every day I think about what happened to me.
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<div> They did this to me and my family and I need to be treated as soon as possible and we need to be provided with health care. We live in the south of the Gaza Strip because of the heavy bombing we are witnessing.
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Help Abdaleaziz and his family escape Gaza!

<div>We are a group of people from all over the world who have been following the life and campaign of Oday Alijbour, a young Palestinian from Khan Yunis who has been enduring unimaginable hardships for months: losing his house and belongings, being displaced, suffering from hunger, cold, illnesses, and the constant threat of death and violence. As if that weren’t enough, he was recently the victim of a <em>devastating</em> betrayal.
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<div>An earlier fundraising campaign, which was nearing its goal, was misappropriated by its manager. This individual lied and stole all the collected funds, revealing his actions at the very last moment, after Oday had applied for evacuation of his family. This left Oday and all of the people supporting him heartbroken and in despair.
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<div>But today, we refuse to give up. We are a group of friends and supporters who have stood by Oday from the beginning. We are relaunching this campaign with a renewed commitment to transparency and accountability.
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<div><strong>Why This Time Is Different</strong>:
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<li><em>Collective and Transparent Management</em>: The funds will be overseen by a dedicated team of four individuals whose identities have been verified, ensuring transparency and preventing any misuse or misconduct.
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<li><em>Regular Updates</em>: We will keep you informed at every step so you can see exactly how your generosity is making an impact.
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<li><em>Full Commitment</em>: Every donation will be transferred directly to Oday and his family to help them leave Gaza and rebuild their lives in safety.
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<div><strong><em>This Is an Emergency Like Never Before</em></strong>:
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<div>Oday’s situation has reached a critical point. After enduring months of relentless violence, a rare window of opportunity has opened with the current ceasefire, which is expected to last for 30 more days, and after which Palestinians may be able to evacuate through the Rafah crossing.
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<div>This means we have less than 30 days to raise the necessary funds to secure Oday’s and his family’s escape. After this deadline, the crossing could close, and their chance to leave Gaza may vanish.
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<div>We cannot wait any longer. Time is running out, and your support is urgently needed to ensure that Oday and his family can seize this moment and rebuild their lives in safety.
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<div><strong>We are calling on your empathy and solidarity to give this young man, who has endured so much, a fighting chance.</strong>
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<div>Your support can make all the difference: it can offer Oday and his family a future free from deprivation and constant fear.
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<div><strong>How You Can Help</strong>:
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<li><em>Make a donation</em> – every euro/pound/dollar counts and makes a difference.
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<li><em>Share</em> this campaign with your friends, relatives, network to spread the word.
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<li><em>Interact</em> with Oday’s tweets on Twitter to help boosting them – together, we will see this mission through. Follow him at @oday_jabour !
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<div>Let’s not allow this unforgivable betrayal to extinguish hope. Let’s help Oday find a future.
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<div><strong>Oday’s Story: <em>A Life Shattered by War</em></strong>
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<div>Oday Al-Jabour is a 23-year-old Palestinian from Gaza who dreamed of becoming a biomedical engineer. His life changed forever when his home was bombed for the first time in December 2023. His father, Hassan, a former officer who served for 32 years, was severely injured in the attack and left disabled. From that moment on, Oday became the sole provider for his family—his father, his mother Maryam, and his 7-year-old sister, Nora.
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<div>Determined to support them, Oday opened a medical supply store, which became his family’s only source of income. But war struck again. His store was bombed and completely destroyed, leaving them with nothing. Meanwhile, his mother’s health deteriorated due to a neurological disease that requires urgent medical treatment and surgery. With no other options, Oday sold everything he owned—his iPad, bicycle, and even his high-performance laptop, essential for his studies—just to afford getting her out of Gaza for treatment in Egypt.
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<div>Their suffering did not stop there. Their second home was bombed two months later during the invasion of Khan Yunis. Now, Oday and his family have lost everything. His little sister, Nora, has never been to school—war is all she has ever known.
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<div><em>(Nora, on her birthday just before the war)</em>
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<div>Oday is not someone who ever imagined having to ask for help. But today, he has no choice. His only goal is to get his family out of Gaza before it’s too late.
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<div><em>You can learn more about Oday and his daily struggles for the past 14 months in the following interview videos :</em>
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<div><a href="https://x.com/pali_talk/status/1879607610384806255?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interview Part 1</a>
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<div><a href="https://x.com/pali_talk/status/1880323111259959557?s=46" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Interview Part 2</a>
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<div><strong>How The Collected Funds Will Be Used:</strong>
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<div>The goal of this campaign is to raise <strong>$15,000</strong>, which will be used as follows:
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<li><strong>$6,800</strong> is needed for the evacuation and medical operation of Oday’s mother, Maryam.
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<li><strong>$5,000</strong> per person is required for evacuation, meaning an additional <strong>$10,000</strong> is needed to secure safe passage for Oday and his 8-year-old sister, Nora.
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<div>Oday has already taken the first steps: he has applied for the evacuation of his mother and sister and has paid a $2,000 deposit toward the total cost.
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<div>Reaching this goal is critical to ensuring that Oday and his family can escape Gaza before the window of opportunity closes.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your solidarity. Together, we can turn pain into hope and prove that kindness still exists in this world.
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<div>There is, of course, a team running this campaign for maximum accountability. But there is also an entire community from around the world supporting Oday. Their names have all been included willingly to show the world we are all standing behind Oday during this time :
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<div>Abdullah, Indiana, USA - Alice, Ireland - Alice, Italy - Amira, France - Angela, USA - Anouk Laura P., France - Bridget, USA - Clodagh D., Ireland - Elif F., Türkiye - Ellie, New Jersey, USA - Farhana, Bangladesh - Judith, USA - Kimber, USA - Kimberly N, USA - Marli, Norway - Mojo, Wales - Rozemarijn G., Netherlands - Seyeda Nicole Z., Spain - Tempest, USA - Thaïs L., France
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Help Oday and His Family Escape Gaza: To Restore Hope

<div>Mike, Angela and baby Ugo as well as their dog and cat have been displaced by the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. Their home in Altadena has suffered severe damage and they aren't sure when they will be able to return. Most of their everyday possessions are unusable due to smoke damage. Please help support them during this incredibly difficult time.
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<div>Mike and Angela will use what they need from this fundraiser and donate the rest to neighbors who have also been impacted by the fires.
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<div>Endless thank yous for any help you can offer. No donation is too small!
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Support Mike, Angela, Ugo After LA Fire

<div><strong>Support for The Bresnitz Family who lost their home and belongings in the Eaton Fire.</strong>
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<div>Our dear friends Anna and Darin Bresnitz lost their home in the catastrophic Eaton Fire last night. Their beloved Altadena home, where they lived with their two children, Josephine, 6, and Oliver, 3, and two dogs, was burned to the ground with nearly all of their belongings inside. Luckily, they are safe but are displaced and in need of support as they begin to put their lives back together, find a new place to live, and replace everything that was destroyed.
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<div>Anyone who knows Anna and Darin knows that they are the most generous and kind people who would do anything to help a friend or someone in need. <strong>Now is the time for us to come together to support in any way we can while they piece their lives back together from this devastation.</strong>
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<div>Any amount will be greatly appreciated!
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<div>Thank you so much in advance for your generosity and support &lt;3
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<div>^ photo from this morning, January 8th, what was left of their home
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Support for The Bresnitz Family's Fire Recovery

<div>On January 8th, Dustin and Erin's lives were forever changed when the Eaton Fire swept through Altadena. They evacuated due to the dangerous high winds, they would be gone for a night, never imagining their home would be impacted by the fire. 
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<div>Thankfully, Dustin, Erin, and their beloved dogs, Gus and Elliot, are safe. As they navigate these circumstances, the support of friends, family, and kind-hearted individuals has been invaluable. 
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<div>These wonderful human beings generously housed me, Dustin's sister, when I first moved to LA and their home always felt like a second home to me. I’m reaching out to family, friends, and kind-hearted individuals to support Dustin and Erin during this unimaginable time. Let’s come together as a community to help Dustin and Erin as they rebuild their lives and move forward from these unprecedented events. Your kindness and generosity mean the world and make a real difference. 
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<div>NOTE FROM Dustin &amp; Erin: They're so thankful for everyone's support. We will make sure to extend any efforts from our end to aid those in the community who also need support similar to Dustin and Erin.
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Support Dustin & Erin After Losing Home in Eaton Fire

<div><strong>Help our friends the Jalil Family - After the Eaton Fire</strong>
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<div>Dear Friends, Family, and Community,
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<div>We are heartbroken to share that the Jalil family has lost their home and everything they own in the devastating Eaton Fire. They are the most generous, wonderful people who have housed many people in need at their home over the years. This tragedy has left them with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and they are now facing the overwhelming challenge of starting their lives over from scratch.
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<div><strong>Rob, Georgie, and their two boys, Jarvis &amp; Rufus, need our help.</strong> We are aiming to raise raising $60,000 to provide them with the support they need to get through this difficult time. These funds will go toward immediate essentials.
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<div><strong>Your donation, no matter the amount, will make a significant difference for the Jalil family as they work to recover from this unimaginable loss.</strong> If you’re unable to donate, please consider sharing this message to help spread the word.
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<div>Thank you for coming together to support the Jalil family during this challenging time. Let’s show them the power of community and love as they begin to heal and rebuild.
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<div>With Gratitude,
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<div>Close family friend, Nicola Moore
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Help wildfire victims the Jalil Family

<div>Support Immigrant Families at PS 15, Red Hook, Brooklyn
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<div>PS 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, has been fortunate to welcome around 20 courageous immigrant families, whose children have quickly become an integral part of our school community. These families are staying in a nearby quasi-private shelter for newcomer families.
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<div>They came to this country desperately looking for better conditions for their children. Many of them traveled for months with small children in terrifyingly difficult conditions.
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<div>We are teachers at PS 15 who have recently learned many of these families are being pushed out of the shelter. Because the shelter is not city-owned, it is not protected by NYC’s sanctuary city status. This means the impending transition to the Trump administration poses an even greater threat to their security. Though they are working, it is a significant challenge finding accessible, affordable, stable housing.
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<div>Our community is coming together to help these families transition to more permanent housing as swiftly as possible. We are launching a collective fund to support PS 15 families in urgent need. Our GoFundMe team is working with a The Church of the Holy Apostles, a faith-based organization that has been doing direct outreach to support low-income families at our school for the past 5 years.  Funds will be transferred from GoFundMe to this organization where members have volunteered to work with the families and locate housing outside of the shelter system.  With these funds they will be able to directly assist in making initial payments that cover the cost of securing housing.  Money will also be used to purchase major appliances or furniture that will make spaces livable if unfurnished.
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<div>Please join us in standing with these families during this critical time. Every donation makes a difference.
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Help PS 15 Immigrant Families Find Homes

<div>Dear Family and Friends,
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<div>Losing one parent is difficult. But the family of Quinn C. Shelton, 86, and Eleanor Shelton, 85, lost both parents within a day of each other in an uncanny turn of events. Together they have three children, six grandchildren, and one great-granddaughter.
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<div>Two weeks after her 85th birthday on January 3rd, Eleanor was hospitalized with a heart valve leak that caused accelerated vascular dementia. She was vivacious and active in her retirement community but her health declined rapidly within six months. Eleanor passed away quietly, surrounded by family, early Wednesday morning on June 23rd, in Marietta, GA.
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<div>An African-American historian and amateur genealogist, Eleanor discovered her family's New England Native American history, wrote books on her freeborn and enslaved ancestors, and published articles in the Connecticut Genealogical Society. She also was the architect of the Black Catholic Oral History Project at the Archdiocese of Washington -- collecting and cataloging rare oral histories of Black Catholics throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C.
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<div>A day and a half after she died, Eleanor's ex-husband Quinn passed peacefully away in Houston, TX following years of progressive dementia. Highly intelligent and gregarious, Quinn loved people. He was one of the few African American men to become a Computer Scientist in the early 1960s when he designed Boston's off-track betting system and was among the early programmers who developed the U.S. Social Security Mainframe at a time when such opportunities were rare for Black men.
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<div>The cost and stress of flying back and forth between Atlanta and Houston to oversee their parents’ medical care, be by their hospital and nursing home bedsides, and arrange for both parents' homegoings simultaneously -- while maintaining their families and job responsibilities -- has taken its toll on this family emotionally, physically, mentally, and financially.
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<div>As a family friend, I ask you to help this family struggling to put their lives together and adjust to the new normal without Eleanor and Quinn. They need help to offset the costs of remains disposal and transport, cremation, urn and boxes, memorial service expenses, repast catering, miscellaneous expenses for services, burial, headstone, transportation, travel and accommodations, residual medical expenses, settling of their parents' debts, estate expenses,  and affairs, and any unforeseen expenses they continue to encounter after a painful ordeal. They honored both their parents at their personal expense to lay them to their final rest. Your support will help lessen this impossibly heavy burden of having lost both their parents and grandparents at the same time in different states.
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<div>Thank you!
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Parents Eleanor and Quinn Home Going Expenses

<div>Hi, my name is Selina Grey, and I am fundraising for the Robinson Family. We all know and love Jasi and Gwen. Unfortunately, the Robinson family has been displaced due to a house fire. They lost everything. The family has been advised that it will take at least a year to replace/rebuild their home.
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<div>Jasi and Gwen are so used to doing for others that they found it difficult to now be in a position where they need assistance. With the blessing of Jasi and Gwen, I am reaching out to ask for donations to help purchase clothing, meals, lodging, and other expenses related to this fire.
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<div>Please consider donating and sharing this with other supporters who can help spread the word about this effort.
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<div>On behalf of the Robinson Family, Thank you for your love and support during this difficult time.
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Jasmine Robinson and Family

<div>Our comrade, friend, collaborator and fierce <strong>Tiger Mischief Maker, Alice Wong</strong>, has transitioned. 
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<div>This fundraiser, originally launched in 2022 to help Alice pay for care needs and avoid institutionalization, will now go to memorialize her life and continue the work she leaves in her going. 
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<div>Community is what held Alice in her lowest moments. Community inspired her to dream and create. Community, now, must uphold her legacy. 
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<div>Thank you,
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<div>Team Alice
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Help Continue Alice's Work

<div>Circling Marie's community of family, friends and fans to rally around our MVP for support:
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<div>Marie:
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<div>The “C” word: Cancer. 
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<div>It’s been a stressful and emotional few weeks and I’m so grateful to those who’ve been so supportive. 
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<div>I begin chemotherapy on Monday for a rare but treatable chronic leukemia/non-hodgkin’s lymphoma called Hairy Cell Leukemia(HCL). Some of you know I was my mom’s primary caretaker when I was 21. I lost her from colon cancer a week before her 51st birthday. 5 days later I found my first lump in my breast and while my brother went west to visit family I had my first biopsy and packed up the house. I’ve been afraid of cancer for a long time. It’s scary to be 45 and know that while treatable I have a chronic cancer. Last weekend sorting I found the bag mom used to travel to Sloan Kettering for her treatment. I will be using it now. 
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<div>Mom's teddy bear aka "Mr. Ted E. Bear" is in my room. And.. most importantly, I am well stocked in flexible straws(metal/silicon) so I don't hurt my neck drinking. God forbid. 
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<div>I feel her with me. 1000 of us are diagnosed a year with HCL and it impacts mostly those whose assigned sex is male. I am fairly weak and my spleen is growing while the rest of me is shrinking because there simply is not enough room for food. Because of some other challenges it has impacted my liver. I have two rounds of treatment as we kill this MF. When all goes well I should be able to fight off most of the cells and my cancer will transition from the acute stage to the chronic stage. My immune system will be fairly shot for a while and given the lack of mask mandates, lax masking practices, insufficient definition of ‘vaccinated’ from the CDC and being a longhauler I am petrified about getting covid again and whether I can survive another bout of Covid-19 so I will be fairly careful.  I've had Evushield has the vaccines no longer protect me. I’m an asthmatic with other complex conditions and we have no idea how long covid will impact this. I have amazing friends and some will be helping me run a Caring Bridge site. I simply cannot keep up with communication and need to be super careful about self care. (Thanks Kelly, Clara and Jayne) Clara is point on the Meal Train and as I learn how to ask for help and have time to set everything up  we will add more to the site. This has moved really fast and I’m grateful that I am starting treatment less than two weeks after diagnosis. 
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<div>Prayers, support and help is appreciated. 
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<div>You can sign up for updates at caring bridge below and there are some ways to help: <a href="https://www.caringbridge.org/profile/32518540" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.caringbridge.org/profile/32518540</a>
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Team Marie

*español abajo*<br /><br />Queridxs,<br /><br />With humble hearts, we are asking you all for the support of a dear leader, Ingrid Vaca. Many of you have come to know and cherish Ingrid, who is a beloved and incredible leader/vocera/housecleaner/homecare worker with the DC chapter. Last week, Ingrid was infected with COVID from one of her sons, who had gotten it from work. She was doing fine but then today around 4AM, Ingrid needed to be hospitalized for pneumonia. She is receiving oxygen and will be undergoing a plasma transfusion. <br /><br />Since the start of the pandemic, Ingrid faced almost 100% of cancellations from her clients and has been unemployed since March. Right when she was able to secure a client to clean their home, she got sick. She is also undocumented so she was not able to receive any critical federal assistance.<br /><br />Ingrid's situation mirrors the unjust and horrific reality many of our member leaders are facing. She's gone mountains beyond mountains to co-lead campaigns, organize other domestic worker leaders, be a national spokesperson for change, all the while beaming a bright light and sharing her joy with everyone around her. We're hoping that we can collectively  support Ingrid through this really difficult situation. <br /><br />If you feel called and are able to, please make your donation here. Donations will assist Ingrid with hospital bills and help support her as she leaves and continues to recover. <br /><br />Also, feel free to share this with your networks!<br /><br />*ESPANOL*<br /><br />Queridxs,<br /><br />Con corazones humildes, les pedimos a todes para el apoyo de una querida líder, Ingrid Vaca. Muchos de ustedes han llegado a conocer y apreciar a Ingrid, quien es una líder / vocera / limpiadora / cuidadora  muy amada e increíble con el capítulo de DC. La semana pasada, Ingrid se infectó con COVID por uno de sus hijos, que lo había contraído en el trabajo. Ella estaba bien, pero hoy, alrededor de las 4 de la mañana, Ingrid necesitaba ser hospitalizada por neumonía. Ella está recibiendo oxígeno y se someterá a una transfusión de plasma.<br /><br />Desde el comienzo de la pandemia, Ingrid enfrentó casi el 100% de cancelaciones de sus clientes y ha estado desempleada desde marzo. Justo cuando pudo conseguir un cliente para limpiar su casa, se enfermó. Ella también es indocumentada, por lo que no pudo recibir ninguna asistencia federal crítica.<br /><br />La situación de Ingrid refleja la injusta y cruel realidad que enfrentan muchos de nuestros líderes miembros. Ella ha luchado demas para codirigir campañas, organizar a otros líderes de trabajadoras del hogar, ser una portavoz nacional para el cambio, y al mismo tiempo emitir su luz brillante y compartir su alegría con todes les que la rodean. Esperamos poder colaborar y apoyar a Ingrid en esta situación realmente difícil.<br /><br />Si se siente llamado y puede hacerlo, haga su donación aquí. Las donaciones ayudarán a Ingrid con las facturas del hospital y ayudarán a mantenerla mientras se va y continúa recuperándose.<br /><br />Además, siéntase libre de compartir esto con sus redes.<br /><br />Con mucho mucho amor,<br /><br />Antonia, Yomara, Virgilio y Joanna

Support for Ingrid Vaca - Apoyo para Ingrid

<strong>THE PROBLEM WE'RE FACING</strong><br /><br />Doctors, nurses, and other frontline medical workers across the U.S. and Puerto Rico are being forced to <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/article/face-masks-coronavirus.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">ration N95 masks</a>  or turn to inadequate bandanas, paper, and cloth masks — leaving them vulnerable to infection as they interact with COVID-19 patients. There are already reports of health care workers getting sick and dying as a result of a lack of proper protective gear.<br /><br /><br /><strong>HOW WE'RE WORKING TO SOLVE IT</strong><br /><br />There’s no time to waste. We have found and partnered with an FDA-certified manufacturer selling N95 equivalent masks at only $2/mask — a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/for-new-york-58-cent-medical-masks-now-priced-at-7-50-each" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">fraction</a>  of what hospitals and governments have been paying for N95 masks.<br /><br />Every dollar donated goes directly to mailing masks to health care facilities who request them through <a href="https://getusppe.org/request" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://getusppe.org/request" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://getusppe.org/request</a></a>, and every person involved (even the broker) is volunteering their time. For only $2, you can provide a safe mask to a frontline health care worker!<br /><br />Donations are tax-deductible. <br /><br />See FAQs below for more information.<br /><br /><br /><strong>THE TEAM</strong><br /><br /><strong>Dr. Sanjeev Sriram</strong> (@DrSriram) is the Senior Advisor at Social Security Works, a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to protecting and expanding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. He leads the All Means All campaign to make racial equity a cornerstone of Medicare For All. Dr. Sriram is also known as “Dr. America,” a Health Justice Correspondent for We Act Radio, where he writes op-eds and makes innovative media to draw connections between health policy, inequity, and social determinants of health. Dr. Sriram completed his medical degree and his pediatrics residency at UCLA, where he served as Chief Resident at the Department of Pediatrics. In June 2009, he earned his Masters in Public Health after completing the Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at the Harvard School of Public Health. He practices general pediatrics in southeast Washington, DC and is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine.<br /><br /><strong>Bob Bland</strong> (@bobblanddesign) is a designer, entrepreneur, international speaker and advocate with 15 years experience in the fashion + manufacturing industries.   She is also a women’s rights activist and one of the Co-Founders and National Co-Chairs of the Women's March on Washington. On January 21st, 2017, over 5 million people marched worldwide in a historic, unapologetically women-led demonstration- the largest single day protest in United States history. <br /><br /><strong>Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez</strong> (@LaBorinquena_GN, @MrEdgardoNYC) is a graphic novelist most notably recognized as the writer and creator of the critically acclaimed and bestselling superhero series <a href="https://www.la-borinquena.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">La Borinqueña</a> . In addition, he is the recipient of the San Diego Comic-Con 2019 Bob Clampett Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic efforts via the benefit anthology Ricanstruction: Reminiscing &amp; Rebuilding Puerto Rico featuring La Borinqueña teaming up with Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman and other DC Comics heroes. He self-published this anthology under his own studio Somos Arte and to date Edgardo has raised close to a quarter of a million dollars for grassroots organizations in Puerto Rico via the La Borinqueña Grants Program. As the Creative Director and owner of Somos Arte, a Brooklyn-based creative services studio he has worked with such notable clients as Atlantic Records, Columbia University, Sony Pictures and Marvel. In addition, Edgardo is a curator of art exhibitions having already produced three original Marvel comic book art exhibitions and his very own La Borinqueña for the Smithsonian Museum.<br /><br /><strong>Kristin Mink</strong> (@kristinminkDC) is an activist, organizer, and teacher, known by some as the mom who confronted former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt in a restaurant. She’s a co-founder of Lights For Liberty, a nationwide immigration protest, and an outspoken advocate for climate, immigration rights, and social justice.<br /><br /><strong>Saira Rao</strong> (@sairasameerarao) grew up in Richmond, Virginia, the daughter of Indian immigrants. For forty years, she wasted her precious time aspiring to be white and accepted by dominant white society, a futile task for anyone not born with white skin. Several years ago, Saira began the painful process of dismantling her own internalized oppression. Saira is a lawyer-by-training, a former congressional candidate, a published novelist and an entrepreneur. She is a co-founder of <a href="http://www.race2dinner.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Race2Dinner</a>  and <a href="http://www.havenmedia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Haven Media</a> . <br /><br /><br /><strong>PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS</strong><br /><br />National Nurses United (@NationalNurses)<br /><br />American Medical Student Association (@AMSANational)<br /><br />Doctors For America (@DrsForAmerica)<br /><br />New York State Nurses Association (@NYNurses)<br /><br />#GetUsPPEDC  (@getusppe)<br /><br />Social Security Works (@SSWorks)<br /><br />Be A Hero (@BeAHeroTeam)<br /><br />Leaf Logistics (@leaflogistics)<br /><br />Action Now- Chicago (@ActionNowChi)<br /><br />United Cajun Navy- New Orleans (@UNITEDCAJUNNAVY)<br /><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong>ADVISORS<br /><br />Dr. Catherine Alicia Georges</strong>, National Volunteer President of AARP, professor &amp; chair of Dept. of Nursing at Lehman College, lifetime member of National Black Nurses Association<strong><br /><br />Isaiah</strong> <strong>Cochran</strong> (@amsapres), President of the American Medical Student Association<br /><br /><strong>Justin Lowenthal </strong>(@jilowenthal), National Board of Directors, Doctors for America<br /><br /><strong>Corey Lanham</strong> (@NNUCorey), Mid Atlantic Collective Bargaining Director for National Nurses United / National Nurses Organizing Committee<br /><br /><strong>Jeremy Markman </strong>(@JeremyMarkman), Manager of the Executive Office &amp; Assistant to the Executive Director of New York State Nurses Association<br /><br /><strong>MarkAlain Dery </strong>(@DrDery), infectious diseases physician in New Orleans, founder of 102.3FM WHIV-LP human rights &amp; social justice radio<br /><br /><strong>Ady Barkan</strong> (@AdyBarkan), co-founder of Be A Hero PAC, Medicare-For-All advocate living with ALS<br /><br /><strong>Nylah Burton</strong> (@yumcoconutmilk), writer on health, race, &amp; climate<br /><br /><strong>Charlotte Clymer</strong> (@cmclymer), Press Secretary, Rapid Response at Human Rights Campaign<br /><br /><strong>Mary Annaïse Heglar </strong>(@MaryHeglar), writer, co-host of @RealHotTake<br /><strong><br />Shauna Sweeney</strong>  (@shaunasweeney  on Instagram), Head of Global Industry Marketing at Facebook<br /><br /><strong>Shireen Mitchell </strong>(@digitalsista, @stopovaw), Founder, Digital Sisters/as &amp; Stop Online Violence Against Women<br /><br /><strong>Anshu Prasad</strong>, CEO of Leaf Logistics; building and leading businesses and teams working in logistics, technology, and analytics across the U.S., Europe, and Asia <br /><br /><strong>Kymm McCabe </strong>(@KymmMccabe), philanthropist &amp; social justice activist<br /><br /><br /><strong>OUR FISCAL SPONSOR</strong><br /> <br />This entirely volunteer effort is fiscally sponsored by  Social Security Works Education Fund (EIN: 46-1500551), and we are planning to distribute based on demand from 1700+ locations as part of the GetUsPPE.org coalition and other amazing medical professionals who have been sharing the needs of their facilities with us directly.<br /><br /><br /><strong>FAQs<br /><br />1) I am a member of a state or local government or a medical professional or administrator at a health, rescue or safety facility that can afford to order our own.<br /><br />Can we do that? <br /><br /></strong>Yes! If you can afford to order your own, please do. Use this form to contact us and we will send you all the info on how to order. Keep in mind, the masks can only be shipped to medical facilities or government entities (otherwise they will be stopped at Customs). This is to prevent hoarding and reselling. Form: <a href="http://bit.ly/KN95OrderingInfo" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">bit.ly/KN95OrderingInfo</a> <strong><br /><br /><br />2) I am a medical professional or administrator at a health, rescue or safety facility.<br /><br />How do I sign up to receive donations?</strong><br /><br />Fill out the donation request form here at <a href="https://masks4america.org"><a href="https://masks4america.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://masks4america.org</a></a> and one of our volunteers will be in touch!<br /><br /><strong>3) I, or my facility, only need a few masks or other PPE. </strong><br /><br />If you are a small facility or individual healthcare frontliner who needs a small number of masks, we recommend you use Mask Crusader, which pairs PPE donors with recipients: <a href="https://maskcrusaders.org" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://maskcrusaders.org</a><br /><br /><br /><strong>4) What are KN95 masks, and is it okay to use them as a substitute for N95s?</strong><br /><br />The CDC lists the KN95 as a recommended substitute when N95 respirator masks are unavailable, as seen <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/respirators-strategy/crisis-alternate-strategies.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a> . The FDA also <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/03/health/coronavirus-n95-kn95-masks.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">approved KN95 masks</a>  for use in April 2020. <br /><br />N95 respirator masks are the CDC's default recommended protective facewear for health care workers caring for COVID-19 patients. KN95 respirator masks, used by surgeons and other medical professionals across Asia, are functionally equivalent to N95s. KN95s are basically Asia’s version of the N95. For a more detailed comparison, see <a href="https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/1791500O/comparison-ffp2-kn95-n95-filtering-facepiece-respirator-classes-tb.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">KN95 &amp; N95 Performance</a> .<br /><br />While bandanas and fabric masks are better than nothing, frontline health care workers interacting with sick patients need and deserve medical grade PPE masks. We are facing shortages and severe price-gouging in efforts to purchase N95 masks, and KN95s are a much better alternative than bandanas, fabric masks, or reusing N95s.<br /><br /><br /><strong>5) How are these masks so cheap?</strong><br /><br />The market price for KN95s is lower than N95s. There is currently a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/health/coronavirus-masks-shortage.html?action=click&amp;module=RelatedLinks&amp;pgtype=Article" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">shortage of N95s</a> , and during this time, many retailers and brokers are price-gouging. Our manufacturer is keeping their prices low and our broker has agreed to waive their cut entirely for masks bought through this effort. As they told us, if everyone else is donating + volunteering, they will too!<br /><br /><br /><strong>6) Are you sure this is a legit manufacturer?</strong><br /><br />Yes! Bob Bland has over 15 years of experience in sourcing and manufacturing, which is why she turned her attention to this method of addressing the mask shortage. She found and thoroughly vetted the manufacturer, which is FDA-certified.<br /><br /><br /><strong>7) Who decides where the masks go?</strong><br /><br />Our medical advisors, in consultation with other medical professionals who share the needs of their facilities with us directly, and members of government &amp; hospital systems.

Masks For America: Protect our Frontline Heroes

<br />On September 22nd we lost our incredible friend, Brendan lost his beautiful wife and Iman, Neel and Maeve lost their maman. 

Iana was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2017. Throughout her 30 month long fight we were in awe of her fierce determination to do whatever it took to survive. She never complained. She was the definition of grace.

In the last few weeks the family has been comforted by the support, kindness and messages of love from all of you. 

Many of you have asked how you can help to support this wonderful family whom we all love so much. Here's how:<br /><br />Brendan has set up <strong>Iana's Family Trust</strong> to provide ongoing support for the education and welfare of Iman, Neel and Maeve.<br /><br />If you'd prefer, you can write a check made payable to 'Iana's Family Trust' and mail it to:<br />Iana's Family Trust,<br />458 Putnam Avenue,<br />Apt. 2,<br />Brooklyn,<br />NY 11221<br /><br />Any contributions made through this gofundme campaign will go straight to that trust for the girls.<br />Thank you so, so much.

Iana's Family Trust

All it takes is one moment for your entire life to go up in flames. Literally. On March 26th at 3:17 PM, an explosion rang down 2nd Avenue. The building around the corner from my apartment - my home where I've lived for 36 years, since I was a graduate student in 1979 - went up in flames. Within hours,  the home I always knew, the home where I've lived alone with my 3 children - Rose, 8, and twins James and Annabelle, 5 - was gone.<br /><br />My name is Diane McLean and I am a single mom with three kids trying everything in my power to figure out how to possibly reconstruct the life I had in the East Village for more than 3 decades. I work with psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers in the South Bronx at a city hospital in order to help underserved kids. My job is more than a job - it has been a calling and vocation to help low-income families with kids who struggle with mental and behavioral health  problems such as trauma, depression, ADHD, and learning disorders. I talk to kids every day about finding goodness in the world - it's all I ever wanted to do.<br /><br />Today, I had to tell my kids about the courageous firemen who did everything they could to save their beds, scooters, stuffed animals, the piano they always practiced at after school, the finger-paintings they made in Kindergarten, the place that my 5-year-old James once proclaimed was "the greatest place on Earth!" <br /><br />I am a single mom of three precious children who I've raised on my own with the help of student-babysitters and nannies. The fact that I had lived in this rent-stabilized apartment since the 70's made it possible for me to raise my children in the wonderfully diverse East Village neighborhood that has so long been my home. I never made the steps to buy rental's insurance because I needed to raise my kids. Please help me in my attempt to rebuild my life in the community where my children were born and attend school. This community is everything to them and to me. We walk down 2nd Avenue, St. Mark's Place, to Tompkins Square Park and we always see friends and neighbors waving hello.<br /><br />Any donation - even the smallest bit - could help me rebuild this entire world for my kids who - in one fell swoop - went to school one day and came home to rubble. We have lost clothes, family heirlooms, nearly every photograph we own, computers and loved toys,  the piano I grew up playing in the 60's, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture from the 40's, artwork dating back before I was born, my grandmother's fine china and silver, pottery handmade by my elderly mother, my late-father's guitar. Everything that felt so familiar and now feels so very significant.<br /><br />We have lost everything but each other, our friends, and our family. Please share this with people you know, people you don't, and remember that we are still holding onto the goodness I try to always instill in my kids. That's what makes me hopeful.<br /><br /><br />Below is a photo of all that remains of the space that was once our home. Only with the generosity of you all can we possibly rebuild.<br /><br /><img class="not-resizable" src="https://2dbdd5116ffa30a49aa8-c03f075f8191fb4e60e74b907071aee8.ssl.cf1.rackcdn.com/3921365_1427500495.0553_funddescription.jpg" alt="" width="100%" />

Bob Bland

Bob Bland

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