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

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 Our hearts are completely broken. Just one short month ago, Tim was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. By the time the cancer was found, it had already metastasized to many lymph nodes, organs, tissues, and bones. Before his family could even process the diagnosis, he passed away unexpectedly fast on August 6, 2026, leaving them reeling from the shock. Tim was the absolute rock of his family and the primary provider. His sudden absence has left the family in an immediate financial crisis. The family's most urgent focus right now is ensuring the safety and stability of their 15-year-old daughter, Sofia, who is on the Autism Spectrum and requires intensive 24/7 care. Because they are suddenly left without an income, your donations will directly bridge the gap to cover the mortgage, utilities and continued specialized care Sofia needs while they navigate this devastating transition. Please consider donating anything you can give and share this GoFundMe.
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Support for Tim’s Family After His Sudden Loss

<div>My name is Christian Ward. I'm a comic creator and I first met Chris in 2022.
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<div>Many folk in the comic industry know Chris, either through his excellent Comics Podcast The Oblivion Bar Podcast that he hosts with his BFF Aarron Knowles. (Who Chris met when they both served. ) or through his work with Comic Sketch Art or Whatnot , working all the big comic shows in the US, helping some of the biggest names in the industry, Mitch Gerads , Tom King, Rafael Grampa to name but a few.
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<div>I myself met Chris at NYCC back in 2022 after appearing on his show a few months before and we became instant friends. His enthusiasm ,passion and love for comics is infectious. Always putting a diligent spotlight on both comics and comic creators from all walks of life. He is a force for good in this industry we love.
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<div>What some might not know ( though he has talked about this publicly ) is that Chris is currently under going treatment for Stage 4 colon cancer and though his prognosis is hopeful the last few months have been a rough ride for Chris with what has been a very intensive course of chemo causing him to have have already burnt through his PTO despite having surgery and yet more chemo scheduled in the next 6 months. Meaning that he will need to take unpaid time off to continue his treatment and his recovery putting a financial strain on himself and his partner Olivia when he should be focusing on health.
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<div>What does this have to do with SDCC?
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<div>Every year Chris works with CSA at SDCC. He speaks often about how important this show is to him. How important to his mental health. How, in this years battling cancer it has given him not a just a respite but recharged his emotional battery to keep going. But with his PTO days gone, taking more unpaid days off is impossible and now with money far tighter it becomes hard even to justify a weekend trip for the event.
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<div>This is where you and I come in.
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<div>If we can raise just 2-3K, we'll be able to get Chris there for the weekend and best of all in way that he'll be able to enjoy himself fully (no working! ), recharging his batteries and giving him the emotional boost he needs to continue his treatment and obviously any more that we can raise can go towards helping Chris and Olivia over the next 6 months as Chris continues this treatment.
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<div>I've set this Gofundme page to go directly to Chris , I'm also donating the first chunk of money ( I'll actually be at SDCC myself this year so selfishly I'd like to see him there so that I can give that man a hug ) , so please join me and as a comic community lets give some love back to Chris.
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<div>Let's get Chris Hacker to SDCC!
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Help Chris Hacker get to SDCC

<div>Hello everyone, this is Jordan’s sister, Whisper. I am setting up this fundraiser to help my parents, Eric and Sheila Schroeder. As a family, we are all struggling emotionally, mentally, and physically with the sudden loss of our dear Jordan. I do not want this to become a financial strain on my parents right now, as they already have more than enough to worry about.



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<div>On Friday, May 8, 2026, my sweet sibling, Jordan, took their own life. After struggling with depression for so long, it ultimately became too much for them to bear. Jordan is no longer in pain and, for the first time, can finally hear the silence. Jordan left behind their doggy, Virgil, who is struggling just as much, if not more than we are.



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<div>Since Jordan did not have savings or life insurance, I am asking for help so my parents can cover the costs of cremation, the memorial service, and caring for Jordan’s belongings, and basic care for Virgil. The initial estimate was $3,000, but additional costs keep popping up. We intend to create a service dedicated to the snarky, silly, irreverent, and deeply loving person Jordan is.



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<div>It is important to note that any funds collected beyond our total expenses will be donated to the Trevor Project in Jordan’s name. We know that is what Jordan would have wanted.



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<div>If you would like to do more or cannot support financially, please reach out to me directly, and I will share your message with the rest of the family. Remember that you are loved, beautiful, and supported. Drink your water, take your vitamins, and go on a damn walk.



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<div>If you are struggling with depression, please know there are resources and people who care about you, and I will do everything I can to help you.



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A Memorial for Jordan and Support for the Family

<div>My name is Paul, and I'm a comic book writer who has worked on some of your favorite properties (Marvel, TMNT, GI Joe, Power Rangers). I'm writing this from my hospital bed, where i've been diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis, a terrible complication from a routine surgery.
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<div>I'm being discharged later today, and will need to cover the cost of insulin and other medications, along with follow-up care, and the expenses are more than I can manage on my own right now. I'll also have an extremely large bill from my hospital stay.
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<div>Insulin in particular isn’t optional or something I can delay. Missing doses puts me at serious risk of ending up back in the hospital. Right now, I’m focused on staying stable, following my treatment plan, and avoiding another potentially-fatal emergency.
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<div>Any donation will go directly toward:
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<div>--Insulin and diabetes supplies
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<div>If you can’t donate, sharing this helps tremendously. Thank you for reading this, it means more than I can say.
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Help Paul Allor Afford Life-Saving Insulin and Meds

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<div>To the Dreamers Community: We need your help.
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<div>We wouldn’t be where we are today without you, our incredible community. It’s the community that comes together and has created the space that Dreamers &amp; Make-Believers has become; a space that hosts birthday parties, endless queer gatherings, and even a wedding. Because of this community, we were nominated as an Eisner Award Finalist in 2025. That honor belongs to all of us. Unfortunately, we need to call on our community to rally behind us for a different reason.
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<div>Running a comic shop, bookstore, and café has always been challenging, but over the past year, those challenges have intensified. Utilities like BGE continue to raise rates, the threat of government shutdowns and economic uncertainty looms constantly, and our primary comic distributor filed for bankruptcy last January before shutting down entirely in December.
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<div>Behind the scenes, this has meant lost packages, delayed and incorrect shipments, surprise pallets of books, and countless hours spent solving problems just to keep inventory moving. Miranda calls it “small business whack-a-mole,” and it’s painfully accurate. We process hundreds of new items every week (often before opening, after closing, and during slow shop hours) just to keep the shelves stocked and the shop feeling welcoming.
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<div>Because of this instability, budgeting and cash flow have become nearly impossible. Some days we see four or five people total; the very same day the next week, we can’t keep up with the foot traffic. We’ve already had to cut staff hours, and Miranda and I have taken on more daily operations ourselves, leaving very little time for the behind-the-scenes work that actually builds and sustains this community.
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<div>2025 has also been an incredibly difficult year personally: I was days away from a massive heart attack last summer; we lost our beloved cat, Jack, the shop flooded, destroying thousands of dollars in fixtures and inventory. It felt like every time we caught our breath, something else knocked us back down.
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<div>Financially, we’ve never made a large profit. Miranda and I don’t take home a salary, and we often eat meals comprised of leftovers from the café. This business was built entirely with personal savings, including emptying our retirement accounts. In 2024, rising expenses were balanced by rising sales, and we were getting by. In 2025, sales dropped sharply. In October alone, bookstore sales fell 48%, and we lost nearly two-thirds of our weekly subscription customers almost overnight, due in large part to the government shutdown. Expenses, however, continued to rise.
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<div>Now, as we should be preparing for Free Comic Book Day, Graphic Novel Festival, and a hopeful Eisner nomination in 2026, we’re instead trying to survive the start of the year.
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<div>We’ve launched this GoFundMe with a goal of $30,000 to help us get through this critical moment. This will allow us to address immediate debts, keep inventory arriving on time, and stabilize the shop so we can continue serving our community.
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<div>While we are currently a for-profit business, our mission has always been community first. Dreamers exists to be a safe third space, a place where people feel welcome, affirmed, and connected. A place for free clothing swaps, a community pantry, the “Gay It Forward” cabinet, first dates, new friendships, and moments of joy. We are not just a store or café, we are a community hub.
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<div>We have so many plans for 2026 that we want to share with our community, from new book clubs, to new events &amp; opportunities for connection. While we’re eager to share details on these new happenings, we first need to get through this storm.
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<div>We love this community so much, and we are so grateful for the support that you all have shown us in the past few years since opening our permanent location in Highlandtown (and even longer when considering our pop ups around the city!). This is absolutely the best job either of us have ever had, and we love working tirelessly every day to give something back to our community. We do not take for granted each day we get to open our doors and have our space available for anyone who needs to come take a breath, hug a giant stuffed unicorn, get a free bite to eat, see themselves reflected in the books around them, or simply find joy in a world that often feels hellbent on squashing it. We don’t want to close these doors. Asking for help is hard, but community is the reason Dreamers exists, and it’s the reason we believe we can make it through this.
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<div>Thank you for reading. Thank you for being part of the Dreamers community. And thank you, truly, for giving whatever you can.
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<div>With love and gratitude,
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<div>Sam
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<div>Your Head Make-Believer
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Keep Dreamers' Doors Open for Our Community

<div>Dear friends: I need your help.
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<div>I’m proud of everything Books with Pictures has done so far. We won an Eisner Award in 2022. We have been in at least the Top Five in pretty much every Portland popular vote with a comic shop category, and some without one. The shop has been incredibly fortunate to have our manager, Nick Orr, with us since we opened. We were able to spin off the Books with Pictures brand and ethos into a sister store, Books with Pictures Eugene, opened in 2020 by my talented and brilliant business partner Andrea Gilroy. And we’ve built a phenomenal community of comics readers and creators.
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<div>Just this year, we were chosen to participate in downtown Portland’s Pop-Up Shop program, where I have (mostly single-handedly, over my sore body’s objections) built out a 2000-square-foot retail location with mostly borrowed or donated furniture, to participate in the ongoing revitalization of Portland’s beautiful downtown. We have been a part of Portland’s Pride celebrations nearly every year that we have been open, and hosted Book Fairs all over the state. We have thrown a mini-con for the past 4 years, and are already planning our best yet for 2026. And we have hosted an absolutely dreamy cast of comics creators for signings, book launches, talks, readings, book clubs, and more. I serve on the boards of ComicsPro, the trade organization for comics retail, and of Portland’s newest museum, the Northwest Museum of Cartoon Arts. When our customers were stuck at home in the early COVID times, I personally delivered comics to their doorsteps. We are pretty great. And yet.
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<div>Running a comics shop is hard. In some ways, it is hard in the way that all brick-and-mortar small business is hard: there is often a cheaper alternative online, we are never able to pay our staff as well as they deserve, unavoidable costs go up every year, and the bizarre economics of the present moment make everything uncertain. And it is also hard in unique ways: nearly all of our products have prices fixed by their publishers, so that we can’t just hike the cost of risotto when we need a better profit margin. We handle an almost unmatched number of new SKUs every week, requiring unique software and a great deal of hands-on work hours. Disruptions in distribution over the past handful of years have made every week feel like it has held a new crisis in data management, shipping dates, or the nuances of ordering products. Ordering timelines can vary from three weeks out to three months out, and can ship on schedules so variable that budgeting for each week or month’s product cost is virtually impossible: sometimes there is a trickle, and sometimes there is a flood. And of course, for reasons that continue to mystify me, sometimes the customers just don’t come in.
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<div>Books with Pictures is a comics store unlike any other, and there are challenges that come with that too. We’re not just serving traditionally underrepresented comics audiences, we’re trying to nurture them and grow them. If we were the sort of store that put the bulk of our resources into selling high-priced variants and slabs to speculators, we’d be having an easier time of it. But what we care about is readers, and finding comics for everyone to read and love–and that means we’re doing this on Hard Mode.
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<div>I’ve had personal struggles as well: since opening the shop, I’ve divorced, had a major shoulder surgery, been in two serious auto accidents (each of which left long-term effects), had a still-unsolved chronic pain issue arise, fell off a ladder and broke my foot, moved shop, moved house, lost friends, lost pets, and more. And I’ve raised two spectacular kids from ages 4 and 6 up to 14 and 16. And navigated a pandemic. You know. Life stuff.
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<div>Financially, the store has never done much better than breaking even, and our cash-flow situation has become exceptionally challenging at the moment. Comics stores’ payment terms with distributors range from 7 days to 90 days–with more stringent penalties and less grace given than there once was–and we don’t always have time to sell books before we have to pay for them. We’ve been making ends meet with short-term loans from friends, loans from our card processors, and other temporary infusions of cash, just to get bills paid on time. For a long time, I put personal money into the business, but, well, I’m out of that. For longer, I lived on personal credit in lean times in order to make sure that the shop could operate, but, well, I’m out of that, too. For a while, expenses kept going up, but sales also kept going up, so we were okay. But at the moment, sales are down. And expenses have stayed up. And we are stuck–just at the moment when we should be stocking up for the holiday shopping season.
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<div>The most frustrating thing is that we’ve got a lot to look forward to. Andrea and I are planning some things for 2026 that should shore us up against retail uncertainty and help us continue to fulfill our mission. (We’re brewing up a really fun book club idea, for one thing.) More on those very soon. But first, this crisis.
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<div>I’ve started a GoFundMe for the immediate problem. I’ve set a goal of $42,500, which is the magical amount that would get the shop current on all of our accounts, get us out of our frantic hole-digging mode, and allow us to look forward rather than scramble backward.
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<div>So, that’s it. That’s the pitch. On the one hand, this is the best job I’ve ever had the privilege to do, and I recognize that it isn’t owed to me. Books with Pictures is a for-profit business, at least in theory, and I am mortified that it is not, right now, making a profit. But at the same time, we work very hard to give back something of significant value to our neighborhood, to our city, and to the business of comics as a whole. And I don’t want to shut all of that down, if the cost of keeping it is just swallowing my pride and asking for help.
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<div>Thank you for listening. Thank you for giving what you can.
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Keep Books with Pictures Alive: Donate Now

<div>I never thought I’d find myself here, but I’m out of options—and I’m asking for help to save my home.
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<div>My name is Desirée Rincón. I’m a U.S. Army veteran who served for 12 years and on 3 combat tours, a lifelong professional, and the proud handler of a medical service dog named Sydney.
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<div>Due to industry-wide layoffs, I have lost two jobs in three years, and have been fighting to stay afloat ever since. I’m currently in final interview rounds with two companies and was recently given a disability rating, but now I’m also facing the very real possibility of losing my home.
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<div>I’ve been given a deadline of October 6 to reinstate my VA-backed mortgage, which now totals about $65,500 in back payments, interest, and fees. If I can’t make that happen, my house will be auctioned off on October 17.
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<div>I’ve already emptied all of my savings and retirement accounts. I’ve applied for multiple veteran hardship grants, contacted the VA loan technician team, and reached out to my mortgage servicer for help. But the systems designed to support people like me—veterans, caregivers, and those hit by economic instability—are increasingly out of reach.
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<div>On top of this, I’m also a caregiver for both of my elderly parents, one of whom is a lawful permanent resident. Over the past few years, I’ve spent thousands of dollars in legal fees and documentation costs to manage her immigration status, ensuring she can remain safely and legally in the country she’s lived and worked in for decades. Meanwhile, the current administration has aggressively cut access to vital public benefits, targeted Medicaid and Social Security protections, and continues to erode immigrant protections, making it harder for people like my mother to access the safety nets she’s earned through years of work in this country.
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<div>I don’t want pity; I want a chance. I’m just a veteran trying to save her home before it’s sold out from under her. I am not asking for a bailout. I’m asking for time... and help. I want to save my home, not just for myself, but for my family. For the people who rely on me. For the one stable thing I have left after a long two years of financial setbacks, legal battles, and loss.
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<div>If you are able to help—with a donation or simply by sharing this story—you would be making a real difference in the life of someone who’s still doing everything possible to hold the line.
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<div>All funds raised will go directly toward reinstating my mortgage and stopping the foreclosure. If I’m able to land a job or receive VA disability support in time, I plan to pay it forward to others who find themselves in this same impossible position.
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<div>Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for standing with veterans, caregivers, and immigrant families, especially now.
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Veteran Facing Foreclosure — Help Save My Home by Oct 6

<div>September 3rd is when I received the news that my 2-year-old has brain cancer. She was flown to Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital for emergency surgery. She had a tube put in her head to drain the fluid from her brain because the tumor was so big it was blocking the fluid from flowing and draining like normal brains do. The next day, my little soldier had brain surgery to remove the tumor. We went home for about 3 weeks, and now we are back at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital starting her chemo. She will be doing 6 months of chemo where we will have to be admitted for weeks at a time to monitor her during the chemo. With me being away to get my baby girl right, my boyfriend is at home taking care of my other 3 kids and working as well. Besides my 2-year-old princess, I also have an 11-year-old girl, a 9-year-old boy, and a 5-month-old baby girl. They are in good hands, but it ain't mama taking care of them, so it's not the same lol. Having to pay for medical bills, traveling, food, rent, and utilities while still trying to make my baby girl feel at home away from home, things have been difficult. Anything will be greatly appreciated. The journey has just begun and will be a tough one, but my warrior princess got this. She's so strong. She's a fighter.
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Support a Brave 2-Year-Old's Battle with Cancer

<div><strong>Help Us Bring Superman Home!</strong>
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<div><strong>The Siegel &amp; Shuster Society,</strong> an all volunteer nonprofit 501(c)3 public charity organization, <strong>has launched a $660,000 project to complete the Siegel &amp; Shuster Superman Plaza</strong> honoring Cleveland's hometown hero, along with his creators, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, who grew up in the Glenville Neighborhood of Cleveland. The Superman Plaza will be located in downtown Cleveland at the corner of Ontario Street and St. Clair Avenue, outside of the Cleveland Convention Center.
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<div>In 2007, the Siegel &amp; Shuster Society was established with the mission to honor the creators of Superman. To commemorate the duo’s achievement, the Siegel &amp; Shuster Superman Plaza will include:
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<li>The construction of a stainless steel Superman statue 18 feet up
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<li>Bronze statues of Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster, and Joanne Siegel, the original model for Lois Lane
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<li>An iconic telephone booth that Jerry and Joe used to transform the mild mannered Clark Kent into Superman.
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<div>The dynamic composition of the statues, with Superman seemingly in flight above Jerry and Joanne, while Joe is depicted sketching Action Comics No. 1, captures the essence of their creative process and the iconic imagery of the superhero. This plaza will not only celebrate the origins of Superman but also enrich Cleveland’s cultural landscape.
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<div>Superman stands as a symbol of hope and inspiration, recognized globally for his unwavering commitment to justice. The Siegel &amp; Shuster Superman Plaza aims to evoke these sentiments, instilling pride and optimism within the Cleveland community while attracting tourists to experience the birthplace of a legend. The dedication of the Siegel and Shuster Tribute Plaza mirrors the determination of its namesakes, emphasizing the enduring significance of Superman and the creators behind him.
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<div>Your support for this endeavor is greatly appreciated, as together, we honor a legacy that continues to inspire generations. <strong>With the help of Super donors, we have so far raised over $900,000. </strong>But, we still need your help to reach our goal!
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<div><strong>After you make your donation, please create and post your own video to social media saying “Bring Superman Home.” Tag us on social media and use the hashtag #BringSupermanHome #SiegelShusterSociety</strong>
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<div>"Back in 1933, two 17-year-olds, writer Jerry Siegel and artist Joe Shuster, came up with the idea of a young man in red and blue tights who could leap over tall buildings in a single bound. They called him Superman. They didn’t just give us the world’s first Superhero, they gave us something to believe in.”
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<div>-Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling author of thrillers, nonfiction, comic books, and the bestselling Ordinary People Change the World series of children's books with artist Chris Eliopoulos.
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<div>Thank you in advance for any support you can provide to help Bring Superman Home!
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<div><strong>****Thank You to Brad Meltzer and Jason Sherry for creating this video!</strong>
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<div>The Siegel &amp; Shuster Society is dedicated to commemorating and celebrating the creation of Superman in Cleveland, Ohio by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. No goods or services were received for the donation, so your donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. <strong>Our EIN is 26-2414105.</strong>
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<div><strong>***Learn more about the project and become a member of the Siegel &amp; Shuster Society at SupermanStatueCleveland - supermanstatuecleveland.org</strong>
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Help Us Bring Superman Home! Siegel & Shuster Superman Plaza

<div>Hi everyone, I'm Tini Howard, and this is for my friend, and your favorite comic writer's favorite comic writer, <strong>Vita Ayala.</strong>
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<div>Vita is the writer of comics like <strong>FINDERS//KEEPERS</strong> and <strong>Submerged.</strong> You might know them from their work helping to build the mutant city-state of Krakoa, where they wrote <strong>New Mutants</strong>, or from their amazing comics work on<strong> Nubia, Star Trek, Xena: Warrior Princess, Prisoner X, Morbius</strong>, and more.
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<div>This week, Vita's apartment building caught fire when the building next door burned down, and their unit was heavily damaged. Vita and their family will likely be displaced from their home for at least a month while the damage from both the fire itself and the water from firefighting efforts is cleaned up.
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<div>Thankfully there are things like insurance in play, but as anyone who has ever had to evacuate knows - it's beyond expensive and stressful. In addition to having to front the costs of lodging, you're replacing groceries, clothing, electronics, personal effects destroyed or rendered unusable, and hours/days of work that Vita will have to put off while they focus on their family and rebuilding.
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<div>Those of us who know Vita know that they're community-focused to their core, it's one of their deepest values. It's an honor for us to be able to come forward and support them and their family after this sudden crisis.
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<div>Thank you again for your help!
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Support Vita Ayala After Fire Displacement

<div>Thank you for taking the time to view this campaign. Whether you’re able to donate or simply share this with friends and family who might, your support is deeply appreciated by all of us who loved <strong>Mike Haun</strong>.
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<div>It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our dear friend, Mike Haun. Mike left us on Monday, December 23, 2024, at the age of 50. Mike was an incredible man—genuine, generous, and always willing to support those around him. With a long-term career in network administration and years spent working in broadcast radio, Mike left a meaningful mark on both his professional and personal circles. He was a beloved figure on the North Shore of Staten Island and a steadfast supporter of original Staten Island hardcore music.
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<div>Mike was one of the most supportive people we've ever known, always quick with a “You got this!” and a helping hand when needed. Sadly, in recent years, he experienced the loss of his parents and both siblings, leaving him the last member of his immediate family. Now it’s our turn to rally around him. We are raising funds to cover Mike’s burial costs and final expenses so he can be laid to rest with the respect and dignity he deserves.
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<div>Please consider donating whatever you can or sharing this campaign to help us reach those who might contribute. Any support you provide means the world to us as we come together to honor Mike’s memory and legacy.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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Celebrating Mike Haun’s Life with a Proper Goodbye

<div>Since June of this year, <strong>Reese has spent well over 2 months in the hospital</strong>. He was diagnosed with severe Crohn's Disease, complications of which have caused abscesses to develop. Every time we think he is better and goes home, he is home for a short time and then gets critically ill again. We have spent time in the PICU as well as the regular pediatric floor. He has a central line and is receiving all of his nutrition through there. He is not allowed to eat or drink save for 4 ounces of clear liquids three times a day. There is one abscess left and it is stubborn. The first antibiotic he was on for months he developed an allergy to and had an anaphylactic reaction to. It was terrifying. He is now on 2 different antibiotics attempting to penetrate the abscess and get rid of the infection that has made him septic twice. Once the infection is completely gone and the doctors think it is safe to do so, he will likely need to have part of his bowel resected. This has been a very long, scary journey. He has been exceptionally brave throughout! He has his down days, but he manages to pull himself out of them rather quickly. 

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<div>Unfortunately, <strong>his medical care has been extremely expensive and will continue to be</strong>. You all know us and you know that we hate to ask for help. However, we are in need of help now. If you can spare a little money, we would greatly appreciate it. If you cannot, you can still help us by sharing our story. Thank you for listening and thank you for helping in our time of need!

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Support Reese's Brave Battle with Crohn's

<div>Calling all fellow Magic players, graphic novel heads, comic book lovers, board game enthusiasts, and TTRPG friends alike!
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<div>Kyle and Avia's shop, Main Street Comics and Games, is located in the heart of downtown Marshall, North Carolina, and serves as the lightning rod for one's inner child in Madison County. My friends opened their doors in 2021 with a concept and a dream: to give a rural community the ability to express itself in a space of creativity and imagination. Providing a safe haven to all who walked through their doors, young and old alike found themselves a place within this community. With the freedom to be themselves--regardless of age, race, gender, or sexuality, no matter if you prefer Marvel or DC (or don't care for either), or wherever you fall on whatever spectrum--you could call their shop home.
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<div>Due to the devastating flooding of the French Broad River by Hurricane Helene, we no longer have that home. The flood water, which crested at over 22 feet, destroyed all the contents of the shop--leaving behind a wake of mud, toxic muck from factories up the river, loss of livelihood, and a dream shattered.
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<div>To anyone who cherishes their third space--help Kyle and Avia reopen their shop by donating, liking, and sharing with anyone who wants to help restore the only comic book shop in Madison County.
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<div>-Shasta
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<div><strong>PS: The owners ask that no one who was impacted by the flood donate. If they could instead share this fundraiser on social media and tell anyone who might be interested, it would be helpful in getting the shop up and running.</strong>
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Revive Main Street Comics and Games in Downtown Marshall WNC

<div>The store has been broken into again.
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<div>Similar MO but a different person according to the camera footage. 
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<div>The thief stole cash, some Funko Pops and an SDCC 2023 exclusive Power Rangers Tiki Mugs. More costly, is the damage to our window/ door.
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<div>We had upgraded to safety glass, similar to car windows and while it didn't shatter as easily, the robbers tenacity paid off.
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<div>We are in a better financial state than we were in January (low sales, high bills) and thanks to the previous incident we have all the confidence that we will get past this. The purpose of the GoFundMe is to give people an avenue to support if they don't want to buy anything from the shop or simply can't reach us. 
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<div>It is not easy running a hobby shop in New York City in 2024, but your support and love has outweighed the damage we incurred.
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<div>Below is the text from the break in in January:
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<div>Yesterday Everyone Comics x Collectibles in Long Island City was broken into at 3am.
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<div>The thief stole cash, a laptop, and destroyed our window. The damage was costly, and our business was disrupted at the worst time.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/77862517_1706144898494023_r." width="100%" />
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<div>I started Everyone Comics x Collectibles with my long-time coworker and friend Alex Rae in 2022. We felt we could create an environment that would nurture the growth of our favorite hobby for others and help people meet with similar interests, all the while selling our favorite books.
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<div>While the real estate of LIC has proven to be a challenge for us, with the constant development and displacement of customers, we felt the proximity of the subway to the store, along with the accessibility for persons with disabilities, made our location a great place for growth.
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<div>It has been slow, but it has, in fact, been growing!
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<div>Between meeting a variety of personalities and being party to their expanding tastes and interests, to hosting events that nurture people's creativity it has been a gratifying experience. We love the people we meet and hope we have left a good impression with them.
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<div>Our financial situation is volatile, and this is a big setback for us.
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<div>We are trying to raise $3500. $600 to replace the window, $1200 to replace the computer, $300 to recoup the money stolen form the register and $1400 for the lost revenue.
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<div>Any money raised will be invested into the store. I welcome people who can come in and patron it but recognize that many people who can no longer reach us would like an avenue to support.
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<div>We appreciate all the help you give us, and hope it is returned to you in kind!
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Everyone Comics had Another Break in (Same GFM as before)

<div><strong>Help Us Save Danielle’s Life</strong> ❤️
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<div><strong>Our beautiful girl, Danielle, loves animals, being in nature, and everything Disney</strong>. She is a creative, loving spirit who has worked hard to pursue her dream career as a stylist. Unfortunately, frequent and serious illnesses have continually interrupted her dreams and kept her from living the life she deserves.
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<div><strong>Danielle has lived with Type 1 diabetes since she was just 9 years old. Now 36, this devastating disease has taken a tremendous toll on her body and has led to numerous complications—including diabetic ketoacidosis, severe diabetic retinopathy affecting her vision, loss of her teeth, an enlarged heart, and now end-stage kidney failure.</strong>
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<div>Today, a<strong> kidney-pancreas transplant is needed to save her life.</strong>
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<div><strong>We’re Asking for Help Again</strong>
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<div>It has been two years since we first reached out through this GoFundMe. We will forever be grateful for the generosity, prayers, and support we received. The money raised helped Danielle and our family tremendously through some very difficult times.
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<div><strong>Today, we find ourselves needing to ask for help once again.</strong>
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<div>Danielle is currently on the transplant list in Nevada, and we are working toward getting her evaluated and listed at a transplant center in Arizona as well. <strong>Being waitlisted at multiple transplant centers may give her the best chance of receiving a life-saving transplant.</strong>
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<div>The journey, however, comes with significant ongoing expenses. Danielle must travel regularly for transplant evaluations and medical appointments, and she will need supplemental insurance in addition to Medicare to participate in the Arizona program. She has been unable to work full-time since 2016 and is currently on disability.
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<div>She also faces the everyday costs of living with kidney failure and being on dialysis, including specialized food and nutritional support that insurance does not cover.
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<div><strong>The financial burden is overwhelming, but we are determined to give Danielle every possible chance at a future.</strong>
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<div>Your donations will help with medical expenses, travel, lodging, insurance, nutrition, and everyday living costs while Danielle waits for her transplant.
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<div>We know these are difficult times for many people, and we never take your generosity for granted. <strong>If you donated before, please know that your previous support helped us tremendously and meant more than we can ever express. </strong>If you are able to give again, any amount will help us continue this journey.
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<div>And if you cannot donate, please consider sharing Danielle’s story. A share can reach someone who may be able to help.
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<div><strong>Please Pray With Us</strong> ❤️
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<div>More than anything, we are praying that Danielle will receive her gift of life sooner rather than later.
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<div>Danielle is B+ and, if you are interested in learning more about becoming a potential organ donor for her, please contact us so we can provide information about the appropriate transplant-donor process.
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<div><strong>We are asking for your help because Danielle still needs us—and we still believe in her future.</strong>
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<div>From the bottom of our hearts, <strong>thank you</strong> for your prayers, generosity, encouragement, and continued support. Whether you donate, share, pray, or simply keep Danielle in your thoughts, you are helping us through this journey.
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<div><strong>Again, we thank you for all your support. God bless.</strong> ❤️
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Support Danielle's Transplant Journey

Alex never considered anyone "just a friend" because to him, we were all more than that. We are his family and now our brother needs our help.
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<div>Sadly, he has left us to spread that infectious smile throughout heaven and reunite with family and friends that have already departed, leaving us with the job of carrying on without him.
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<div>Transporting him from New Orleans to New York, holding services for him, and a ton miscellaneous items are all huge expenses and we want to help relieve some of the financial burden from his family.
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<div>With the blessing of his family, all money collected will pay for as much of the services and memorials as possible. Any money in excess will be used towards an education fund for his grand nieces and nephews.
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Help Alex Meaders be laid to rest

<div>After nearly four years of serving our community from our corner shop downtown, it's time to grow…And that means it's time to move!
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<div>We’re thrilled to announce we’ve found the perfect new home in the iconic Fifth Street Public Market.  Our new space is about 50% bigger than our current location, so the layout will be more accessible and we’ll be able to hold more and bigger events without feeling cramped. There's also a lot more parking for those of you who drive, a convenient bus stop, and plenty of bike parking!
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<div>However, moving a retail shop is no small feat, so we're reaching out to you–our incredible community–for support. We run on razor thin margins, and we manage our finances with care and transparency. Your contribution will have a significant impact on our relocation journey, and help us ensure a smooth and quick transition. Our main costs are:
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<li><strong>MOVING COSTS:</strong> this includes truck and equipment rentals, cash deposits, and more.  <em>(Approx. $500)</em>
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<li><strong>RENOVATION:</strong> we will require supplies for the renovations we’re doing ourselves as well as funds to pay contractors for the stuff that requires a professional touch. <em>(Approx. $3500)</em>
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<li><strong>NEW EQUIPMENT:</strong> More space means more we'll need some more shelving, and we'll also need a new front counter <em>(Approx. $2000)</em>
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<li><strong>EMPLOYEE PAY: </strong>the moving-out and moving-in process will require us to close the store for up to a week. We want to make sure that our team gets paid, even though we won’t be receiving income from sales. <em>(Approx. $1000)</em>
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<div>We assure you that every dollar raised in this campaign will go directly to the project of getting us set up and ready to open as soon as possible. Throughout the move-in process, we’ll provide regular updates so that you know where your dollars are going.
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<div>Also know that, if you want to help by volunteering, you can check out our <a href="https://forms.gle/nrxruZyEXoEK3CQX7" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>VOLUNTEER SIGN-UP</strong></a>!  
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<div>We know there are a lot of costs and causes vying for your attention. We are so grateful we are for any help you can provide and assure you that every contribution, no matter the size, is a huge help.
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<div>We're overwhelmed by the love and support we've received from you over the years. Help us take this next step, and let's continue creating community connections (and reading comics!) in our new &amp; improved home!
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<div>With heartfelt gratitude,
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<div>The Books With Pictures Eugene Team
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Help Books With Pictures Eugene Get A Move On!

<div>Hi, my name is Britney Frohlich, and I am fundraising for my stepmother, Lesley Frohlich.
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<div>If you don’t know Lesley, Lesley owns a comic bookstore here in Bismarck along with a coffee, and crystal store. She is a very smart, hardworking and caring person who never lets anything get her down, but in 2022 that has all changed.
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<div>In January of 2022, she got Covid-19 and later that year go it again. Ever since then she has been battling long term symptoms that have affected her day-to-day life. Lesley has had a variety of symptoms including fatigue, brain fog, dizziness, joint swelling, muscle pain, sensory issues, chest pain, heart rate issues, shortness of breath, insomnia, pins and needles feeling in her skin, mood changes, and so much more.
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<div>Lesley went to doctor after doctor, maxing out her insurance, spending thousands and thousands of dollars trying to get some answers and every time she was told that it was all in her head, it was due to her weight, it was due to her smoking, and even due to pre menopause. No one would listen to her, and she started to give up hope. Covid-19 had changed her life, and this was going to be her new normal. Being in pain every day, struggling to survive, struggling to do simple tasks like shower. Lesley reached out to a nutritionist who had finally listened to her and who wanted to help.
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<div>Lesley’s nutritionist talked with her about her symptoms, gave her things that could help, met on a regular basis. Lesley actually got accepted into the Mayo clinic to try and get some answers. Mayo clinic was doing tests on patients who had long term symptoms to try to narrow down what was causing all the different symptoms. Lesley and her husband, Beau, went to Minnesota and she went through 3 very long days of testing to try to narrow down the cause. Costing them thousands and thousands of dollars, on top of what she had already spent here in Bismarck. Lesley drained her savings and checking account, she was worried about her financials for not only her family but for her businesses.
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<div>If you know Lesley, she doesn’t ask for help, she has always had a hard time admitting she needs help, like a lot of us. Covid-19 has changed her life forever. Living with these symptoms is her new normal, she has lost her old life and must learn how to live in her new life. She has such a passion for her family and her work and most of all, her grandson. Her grandson, Sebastian, has been the reason she gets up in the mornings. She has stated that if it wasn’t for him, she doesn’t know how she would have made it through the last 14 months. She gets up every morning, goes into his room and he has the biggest smile on his face, and it brings her such joy.
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<div>I am asking every one of you to donate to help pay off some of her debt or share this page if you can’t donate. I can’t begin to imagine what she has gone through, I can only state what I have personally seen.
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<div>Thank you all.
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<div>After Lesley found out here is what she had to say about this: 
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<div>Well I found out.......probably not the best time to find out your
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<div>daughter did something so thoughtful for you at 3:00 a.m. when you are
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<div>struggling with insomnia.  Wow that was a flood of emotion but I think
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<div>I cried myself to sleep so that was a win.  Then seeing everyone's
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<div>kind words through the day overfilled my heart once again.  (Who's
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<div>cutting so many onions today)
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<div>This all feels really weird.  I have always prided myself on being a
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<div>very independent person.  Britney is right I don't ask for help.  My
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<div>last words will probably be "I got this".  So this is a weird feeling.
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<div>I am grateful that I have a daughter that cares so much to do
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<div>something like this and am thankful that I have such amazing people in
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<div>my life that have donated and shared with such kindness but it's still
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<div>a weird feeling.  I feel joy but also defeat.  This is one area I have
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<div>really been struggling with since all this started in January of 2022.
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<div>I can not do the things I was once able to.  Some days I can't do
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<div>simple things like take care of myself-cook, clean, shower, etc.  It
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<div>has been a battle of not pushing myself to the point I pass out or end
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<div>up so drained that I am bedridden but that requires me to ask for
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<div>help.  It's such a hard thing for me to do but I am learning and
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<div>trying to change my stubborn German habits.
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<div>I have wanted to tell my story for some time. I wanted to let people
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<div>know they are not alone and it's real.  What you are going through is
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<div>real and don't let anyone tell you differently.  People had me
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<div>believing I was crazy until I started to log my symptoms (110
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<div>different symptoms since positive Covid test) and did my own research.
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<div>I wanted to tell the non-believers what I have gone through so maybe
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<div>they could understand and empathize more with Long Covid and those in
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<div>their lives that are struggling day in and day out just to live.  So I
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<div>have decided to use this as a way to tell my story. I will post on my
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<div>Facebook page daily chronicling the events that have occurred over the
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<div>last 20 months.  Britney can then add them on here.  I think this
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<div>could be very therapeutic for me.
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<div>I thank everyone who has donated, shared, and said such kind words.
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<div>Please though promise that if you know someone who is going through
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<div>Long Covid be there for them.  I first hand understand not only what
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<div>it does to your physical health, your mental health, the strain it
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<div>puts on relationships and finances all while trying to find someone
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<div>who will work with you to attempt to get some answers and relief.
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<div>After 20 months Mayo and Dr. Katie have found some answers now here's
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<div>to possibly getting some relief.
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Lesley Frohlich and her medical debt

<div>Bill Messner-Loebs’s work in comics was beloved by fans for many years, but the circumstances of his life—illness and injuries—have conspired to make things financially quite difficult. 
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<div>Recently out of the hospital, Bill and his wife are now facing eviction. You can read the brutal details of his medical and legal situation in his own eloquent and painfully personal words on his Facebook:
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<div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/william.messnerloebs" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.facebook.com/william.messnerloebs</a>
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<div>I implore you to help this kind and gentle soul. He’s endured a terrible episode and needs human kindness and generosity now. Thank you, and may God bless our efforts together.
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Help writer-artist Bill Messner-Loebs

About a month and a half ago, I was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.  The tumor was successfully removed right away, and I’m starting to feel better than I have in a while in a lot of ways.  But there’s no way to be sure all of the cancerous cells were removed. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Next week starts a six month course of chemotherapy. My odds are pretty good. Doc says in the best case scenario - and the most likely one, I’m under close surveillance for a long life, but a decent chance of being back in a chemo Barcalounger at some point in the future. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Problem is although I have health insurance - and they’ve covered a ton - they haven’t covered everything. The bills are starting to pile up, and we might be just getting started. There are so many new expenses. I wasn’t prepared for this - my own fault. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I could use some help. I’m really not super happy to ask for it to be honest, and I really don’t know how, but what do I have to lose?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Shoot me a message anytime. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br />See you soon,<br /><br />Steve

Steve got cancer

<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);"><span><b>Scroll down for pictures</b><br /><br />On September 1st, Staten Island got hit with a storm like no other. Instantly we knew it would be bad, but little did we know it changed our lives as we knew it. It started slow, with just some water in our basement, but within minutes, it breached every wall, window, and crevice and it began to pour in. We rushed to grab everything we could but it became too dangerous as it started shocking us, while we trying to grab whatever we could in time. This basement holds the life of Sean. He has put hundreds of hours into building what was just a basement into his own little home. He lost thousands of dollars worth of electronics, clothing, Legos, collectors figures, and all of our family decorations, memorabilia, and storage was completely ruined. Sean no longer can stay in his room, and now is residing on our couch. This event has brought nothing but depression and anxiety to Our entire family, and especially Sean. </span><span>Our entire life was ruined because of it, and insurance will not cover a penny of damage. We can’t afford to replace anything. My mom is a single mother who raised 5 kids all on her own, all whilst having 2 jobs. Every bit of money you give to our family will be put to rebuilding our home. We appreciate everything everyone has done for us. Thank you.<br /><br /></span></span><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630616920321407_r.jpg" alt="Image" width="100%" media_type="3" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630616920445720_r.jpg" alt="Image" width="100%" media_type="3" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630616920398578_r.jpg" alt="Image" width="100%" media_type="3" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630616920588272_r.jpg" alt="Image" width="100%" media_type="3" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630616920626154_r.jpg" alt="Image" width="100%" media_type="3" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630616920497676_r.jpg" alt="Image" width="100%" media_type="3" /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59705263_1630620816412419_r.jpg" width="100%" media_type="3" alt="59705263_1630620816412419_r.jpg" /><br /><iframe media_type="0" media_id="g1qSTz6b_c8" class="youtube-replace" title="YouTube video player" style="margin-bottom:20px;width:560px;height:315px;" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/g1qSTz6b_c8/?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="1"></iframe>
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Help our family recover from Hurricane Ida

Hey everyone Michelle here,<br /><br />Well... what should have been a great exciting day quickly turned into an overwhelming nightmare. Tony didn't want me to do this, but after looking at all of his options and the time constraints of the tour starting, here we are.<br /><br />Yesterday I went with Tony to purchase an RV so that Tony can be on the road  and tour more. Every tour you must rent a vehicle if you do not own one. Touring in a van has taken its toll on his back. We looked around, got our Carfax report and settled on an RV with only 25,000 miles so it would last him several years of touring. Tony spent his savings to get this RV,  knowing some of that would be put back in after the tour for standard living expenses.  A musician/fathers savings is not just his savings but the money he must live off of and support our family  with. The bad news.....  Within 30 min of driving the RV home the engine blew. After calling a couple family members and friends that have more knowledge about RVs the news wasn't good. This is not a cheap fix. It was no longer drivable. This is going to cost several thousand dollars that he now doesn't have. Of course we called the seller IMMEDIATELY but he has been ignoring all calls and texts from us. (people suck!!) It's one of the scariest and hardest feelings in the world to know you spent everything you had on something to immediately have it break. We spent several hours waiting on a tow truck to tow the new RV back to sit in front of our house till we can get it fixed. <br /><br />Here is where the issue is... since Tony spent all of his savings we cannot fix the RV, he cannot rent something to tour in either because all the money was spent on the RV. Without the help of you guys Tony won't be able to go on tour. The stress has been real around here and Tony was against me doing this but with much convincing I got his approval. <br /><br /><br />Here is a message from Tony:<br /><br />Hey guys, <br />At the age of 38 with this many back problems that I have and wanting to get out on the road and consistently tour traveling in the van just doesn’t work. So I figured if I bought something that was reliable I could tour more often and tour semi comfortably. I took a risk using all my savings to buy something knowing that in the long run I would be able to tour more often and eventually replenish my savings. Bought what I thought was a reliable vehicle drove 30 miles and the motor broke. Tried to call the seller back but he stopped taking my phone calls. It sucks that people like this exist. I could NEVER do this to somebody. I do not have the money to get this fixed nor do I have money to rent a vehicle for this next-tour. I feel ashamed/ defeated/ripped off and embarrassed that I even have to do this. But I don’t know any other option at this point. <br /><br />I don’t feel like anything in life should be free and everybody should work for what they get. So in return for anybody that donates I’m going to record two of the songs that are on the new record acoustically and send them to you in an email. It does not matter how much you donate anything helps and you will receive the songs.  I would rather you not post these online as it is a THANK YOU from me to you for helping me in this time of need.  If you choose to post them, that is on you but this is me trying to say thank you. <br /><br />Hope to see you guys in a few weeks-<br /><br />Tony

Help Tony fix his MEST up RV

<strong>Please see our new campaign for more information here: <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49" target="_blank"><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49</a></a> </strong><br /><br />In the aftermath of the massacre at Pulse, Equality Florida made two promises.<br /><br />First, we would do everything we could to help the families of those killed and the survivors dealing with the physical and emotional pain of being targeted in the worst anti-LGBTQ hate crime in U.S. history.<br /><br />You helped us keep the first promise by contributing, online and in person, more than $9M.<br /><br />And we have kept our word that every penny we collected - even the interest that accrued on the funds - is going to the victims of Pulse. No staff or overhead. We’ve donated all of our time.<br /><br />On September 27th, those funds will be disbursed and now our attention must focus entirely on fulfilling the second promise - to honor the dead with action.<br /><br />Thoughts and prayers and symbols are not enough.<br /><br />We are committed to ensuring the lasting memorial is the real change of uprooting anti-LGBTQ hatred at the source.<br /><br />To keep this promise, we need you with us again.<br /><br />Our mission for the last 19 years has been to uproot bigotry and fight for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Florida. Indeed, we fight for freedom for all Floridians to live without fear of violence, harm to their family, being fired from a job or refused service because of their sexual orientation and gender identity.<br /><br />The massacre at Pulse has made this vision a priority for millions more people in the state of Florida. We have never been closer to a huge breakthrough in LGBTQ protections in a state that will have ripple effects nationally.<br /><br />It is time for us to demand huge strides, not tiny measures, in changing the culture and the laws in Florida to ensure we stop the discrimination and violence that anti-LGBTQ hatred makes inevitable.<br /><br />We are asking you now to join us in achieving two goals that are ambitious but achievable if we have the courage to stand together.<br /><br /><strong>Banning anti-LGBTQ discrimination in Florida and passing gun violence prevention policies in the third most populous state in the country.</strong><br /><br />Florida has a long and hateful history when it comes to the treatment of LGBTQ people and has been the springboard for national anti-gay campaigns from Anita Bryant to the Liberty Counsel. Florida-based groups have not only done harm here, they’ve exported their prejudice to states around the nation and other countries as well.<br /><br />But the tide has turned in our favor as hearts have softened and minds have opened in the wake of Pulse. Shame on us if we let this moment pass without pushing with all our might for the state to treat us all as equals under the law and to end easy access to weapons of mass slaughter.<br /><br />We are so very grateful to have found the resources to help these people and their families get services, make up for lost wages, heal wounds and begin to put their lives back together.<br /><br />Will you stand with us again and fulfill the promise of real change as the lasting memorial #ForThe49?<br /><br />Inspired by our work in the aftermath of Pulse, an anonymous donor will match the first $100,000 raised for this campaign. That means the gift you give today will be doubled!<br /><br /><strong>Please see our new campaign for more information here: </strong><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49"><strong><a href="https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.gofundme.com/forthe49</a></strong><br /><br /></a>_______________________________________<br /><br />This is the official Pulse Victims Fund page for Equality Florida, the state's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil rights organization. <strong>Equality Florida is collecting contributions via this GoFundMe page to support every single victim of the horrific shooting at Orlando's Pulse Nightclub. This includes victims’ families, survivors, and those in the club who may not have suffered physical injury but in need of support.  </strong><br /><br /><strong>For information regarding how funds will be disbursed directly to the victims' families and survivors, please refer to below links: </strong><br /><strong>English: <a href="http://www.eqfl.org/transparent" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.eqfl.org/transparent</a></strong><br /><strong>Espanol: <a href="http://www.eqfl.org/Transparencia" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.eqfl.org/Transparencia</a></strong><br /><br />Equality Florida, the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida (The Center) and the National Compassion Fund announced a partnership with OneOrlando to ensure all funds collected for victims are disbursed in a unified process that will expedite funds, ensure transparency and safeguard against fraud.<br /><br />We have made available emergency deployment of short-term disbursements from our fundraising efforts, and connected victims with the immediate funds available via state and federal resources. We are committed to raising as much as we can to ensure long-term support for the victims’ families and survivors. The money raised towards this fund directly supports the victims families and survivors. <br /><br /><strong>We ask all victims to call this hotline to begin this process: </strong><br /><strong>VictimConnect Resource Center</strong><br /><strong>855-4-Victim (855-484-2846)<br /></strong><strong><a href="http://victimconnect.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://victimconnect.org/</a></strong><br /><br />-------------------------- <br /><br />Esta es la página web oficial del fundo para las víctimas de “Pulse.” Esto fundo ha sido creado por el organization “Equality Florida”, el organizacion estatal para los derechos civiles de lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgéneros (LGBT). Equality Florida está recogiendo las contribuciones a través de esta página de GoFundMe para apoyar a cada víctima de los disparos horribles en la discoteca de “Pulse” en Orlando. Esto incluye las víctimas familiares, sobrevivientes y las personas en el club que no han sufrido daño físico pero que necesitan apoyo. <br /><br />Estamos trabajando con el Centro Nacional para Víctimas de Crimen (National Center for Victims of Crime) (NCVC) para distribuir las contribuciones a través de su Fondo Nacional de la Compasión (http:// nationalcompassionfund.org/ faq/). <br /><br />El Fondo primero fue creado por las víctimas y familiares de los crímenes siniestros en el pasado, incluyendo 9/11, Columbine, VA Tech, NIU, Aurora, Oak Creek y Newtown. Después de que experimentaban negociaciones prolongadas y estresantes tratando de recoger el dinero donado en su nombre, pidieron el Centro Nacional para Víctimas de Crimen para para desarrollar un nuevo modelo para las donaciones — un modelo que sirve genuinamente a las víctimas, los donantes y el público en general. <br /><br />NCVC ha comenzado la dispersión de los fondos a corto plazo de las víctimas de “Pulse” y estan conectando las víctimas con los fondos inmediatamente disponibles a través de recursos federales y estatales. Estamos comprometidos a recaudar todo lo que es posible para garantizar el apoyo a largo plazo para las familias de las víctimas y sobrevivientes. El dinero recaudado en eso fondo esta apoyando a las familias de las víctimas y sobrevivientes directamente.<br /><br /><strong>Le pedimos a todas las víctimas que llamen a este numero telefónico para comenzar el proceso: </strong><br /><strong>Centro de Recursos “VictimimConnect”</strong><br /><strong>855-4-víctima (855-484-2846) </strong><br /><strong><a href="http://victimconnect.org/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://victimconnect.org/</a></strong><br /><br />------------------------<br /><br />Please contribute and share this page. #WeAreOrlando<br /><br />For the latest information, visit: <br />-<a href="https://www.facebook.com/equalityfl" target="_blank">facebook.com/equalityfl</a> <br />-<a href="http://www.eqfl.org/news/pulse" target="_blank">eqfl.org/news/pulse</a> <br />-<a href="http://www.eqfl.org/news/pulse/spanish" target="_blank"><a href="http://www.eqfl.org/news/pulse/spanish" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">http://www.eqfl.org/news/pulse/spanish</a></a> <br /><br />For those who prefer to check, please see below:<br /><br />Equality Florida Institute, Inc.<br />P.O. Box 13184<br />St. Petersburg, Fl 33733<br />Memo should note Orlando Victims Fund<br /><br />Nadine Smith, Equality Florida's CEO will be managing the campaign and can be contacted with questions.<br /><br />A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE EQUALITY FLORIDA INSTITUTE MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES (WWW.800HELPFLA.COM) BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN FLORIDA (1.800.435.7352). REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. REGISTRATION #CH7992. <br />---------------------------<br />To ensure transparency, GoFundMe has requested we answer the following questions: <br /><br />1. Who you are: <br />Equality Florida, a registered 501c3 nonprofit organization and the state's LGBT civil rights organization: eqfl.org<br /><br />2. Where you're from<br />Founded in St. Petersburg, Florida, with staff and offices across the state including in Orlando, Florida. <br /><br />3. Your relationship to the parties you're raising funds for<br />We are advocates for the LGBT community in Florida. <br /><br />4. How the funds will be spent (be specific as possible)<br />Every penny raised will be distributed directly to the victims and their families. We are working with a team of attorneys and experts, including the National Center for Victims of Crime, which deployed funds in both Chattanooga and Aurora, to ensure funds are distributed correctly. <br /><br />--------------------------<br />Equality Florida statement on mass shooting at Orlando gay club:<br /><br />We are reeling from the tragic news that a gunman opened fire on the 2am capacity crowd at Pulse leaving 49 people dead and over 50 injured according to Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.<br /><br />We are heartbroken and angry that senseless violence has once again destroyed lives in our state and in our country.<br /><br />Gay clubs hold a significant place in LGBTQ history. They were often the only safe gathering place and this horrific act strikes directly at our sense of safety. June commemorates our community standing up to anti-LGBTQ violence at the Stonewall Inn, the nightclub that has become the first LGBTQ site recognized as a national monument.<br /><br />We have received a steady stream of emails and messages from those seeking to help or to make sense of the senseless. We make no assumptions on motive. We will await the details in tears of sadness and anger. We stand in solidarity and keep our thoughts on all whose lives have been lost or altered forever in this tragedy.<br /><br />Graphic designed by local artist Tony Chevy.

Danielle Ward

Danielle Ward

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