Antonia Dorsay

I head out to pick up the shuttle early next week from its shake down cruise, and will finish that task with a trip back to my current homebase in southern California's deserts. Been unable to locate a pup carrier that would work for traveling with April for my trip (likely early next week) to pick up the shuttle Telly. Also have been hunting a spot to stop over along the way -- it is a long drive and I don't do long drives in a single day. It has to be early next week as that's when I start to see a little coin come in. I will be bringing with me a few things, but not much. Camera stuff is a certainty. I will take video of the trip and such. As a precaution I need to remember to bring one of my spare memory cards -- for the dash camera. The trip will be a two day affair coming back -- since I am uncertain still on getting there, I am not sure of the time there. I have to head towards SF to grab the shuttle, which will be available to get starting on the 11th. The general plan once I get it back is to fix things identified by the shakedown trip, and get busy on the rest of it. The rest of it is easy to see what I am doing -- I've included the general plans for everything in the images, along with a new video of the cleanup aftermath. I was asked if there is way to send me money directly, as well as for a full set of links, so.... The GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/a72541646 My Venmo: @aedyssonance The wishlists are separated, because I am prioritizing the electrical first, then the water system. General Stuff: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1RNZR3WHMZODC?ref_=wl_share Electrical System: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZFTDPGKQ86K2?ref_=wl_share When you order from the wishlist, it is shipped directly to me. It may take a couple days for me to physically get the stuff -- I have to rely on the kindness of others for the use of their postal address. But you do have to order from the wishlist. Donations sent go towards getting the stuff in those lists and paying off the extra costs associated with the effort that have me essentially having to cut my food budget down to a third (roughly 85 bucks a month right now).

Finally got a video of the initial build out. More to come.

Telly is on a long term shakedown test, and the existing water system failed. It wasn't complicated, but the rigged up power System simply cannot sustain it. She returns to me around the 10 or so of September (with daily updates as I reclaim her and prep her for return), and that's when will have to do the hard work that is really key to bring her up to real functionality. It is also when I have to ger her outfitted -- and both things have to happen before October! The Electrical system diagram is here -- I have to cram it all into a slim, 16 inch wide by 50 inch tall space but will turn it into a closet with access panels on the front. The electrical system has an Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2ZFTDPGKQ86K2?ref_=wl_share As does the rest of everything else: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1RNZR3WHMZODC?ref_=wl_share The water system was already on edge and a bit more complicated than it needed to be, so I have moved to a more useful situation that will allow the provision of hot water as well. The layout is pretty basic and fairly tight -- I am going to improve the existing table, but it is still going to be very much the same practical size. I also have a general color scheme for things -- I am aware it is not "trans colors" -- it is not meant to be. It is meant to be welcoming and bright colors. And yes, I did use a photo of the actual plywood for the foundation.

Heya, This one is for my @followers and for folks following the rescue Shuttle project, here's a @highlight She is out on a rough and tumble 10 day excursion to test the basics done already, but she will be coming back and getting fixed up properly and tested in other ways in order to be ready for the October start date of real runs. I need a lot of stuff still for her. I have taken a bunch of stuff I have already and set it aside, but it still needs more -- and my limited funds are going to be paying off a lot of the stuff I have already done, as well as fixing up the electrical system properly. So, I have two links for you: GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/.../shuttle-bus-rescue.../cl/o... Amazon Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1RNZR3WHMZODC... The first is just coin -- and it will go towards getting all the little things. The second is the list of non-electrical system items that will go into it. It does include some stuff to do an improved water system. I still need to find something better for the drain, but it is what it is for now. The electrical system is more involved, but needs a boost, and while I do have a list for that, it is a lot more involved and I think I can handle it at least in part. The amazon list is items selected for assorted reasons, and whole there are a couple power stations (with links to what I really want off amazon in the description), and a generator, the bulk of it is little stuff that is going to be really useful for folks whose lives have just been uprooted in a hope that they can start over somewhere safer. This is not a project being done for those who can afford to leave, or for those who seek to stay -- this is for those who cannot afford to leave, or who have complications that slow them down. It is based on the same model used when we were doing rescue of women fleeing abusive folks -- and the process and related aspects are the same. So much so that I won't lie -- if such a situation arises, I will help them too. Because make no mistake: what is being done to trans folk *is* abuse. And if you get angry about women being abused or kids being abused, and you aren't angry about this, then there's a level of hypocrisy there you'll have to deal with.

Initial shakedown has begun, and the first steps were a little rough! One of the inner dually tires blew out, and so we had to replace it. We reached the shakeout ready stage late, and I will have a full update later today after I get a little more recovered. There was a major heartbreak with the electrical and I am going to have to work on it first thing once it returns to me.

Good Evening! Long day, and I am in my most distracted and accomplishing stuff mode, so it can be wild. I always say that my plans start out looking like chaos and then suddenly start to come together at the end, and this is no exception. Yes, I did a temp cover of the rear window with the insulation stuff --and we haven't finished the back section behind the beds yet. Have to make a template for that backwall. This set up does place all the weight on the driver side of "stuff" -- but in travel mode, there are only the four seats, and the biggest weight issue will be the water. Which I just now remembered I have to make an access for. Oi. First picture is the counter alone, second is where things go -- final order is (front to back) fridge, sink, stove, storage. Storage is really just an example right now, not the final thing (though the pieces will be used). There will be two outlets in the storage area, inset into the countertop or underneath it. I think I forgot the damn boxes for the outlets. Solar Panels are stored behind the passenger seats at the front -- roughly where April's little shaggy butt is. We cut the dining table as well, but it still need some little work that will be done later tonight. This will leave tomorrow for cutting holes in the sides, finishing up some of the annoying stuff, light trim work, hanging the seco9nd bunks, and finally the electrical and very, very simple plumbing and gas hookups. Then the front panels on the cabinets (no doors for now) Finally, a light sanding. Then, cleanup. Compressor blow out, blower blow out, wiping, washing, hanging curtains, and similar little things. It is a day late from my plans. I have been cranky now for three days about it. It is still within the allowance I gave myself, but *just barely*. I am way overspent on this. It has wiped out my personal funds, and put a massive dent in a friend's funds, so everything that anyone can help out with would be greatly appreciated.

I’m Toni, and I’m part of a team working to build out a rescue vehicle for trans and gender diverse people who are impacted by societal violence. This will help serve as a lifeline, transporting individuals from hostile areas to safer places along the I-10 and I-40 corridor. The funds raised go directly toward finishing the shuttle. This includes materials, inclusions, systems, and structural work to make the vehicle fully functional for rescue support. Every dollar, every share, and every bit of support helps us move closer to providing safety and hope for trans and gender diverse people facing injustice. This shuttle is a 2000 Thor Industries Shuttle Bus built on a Ford E450 V10 Triton chassis that has the critical ability to tow up to 4000 pounds – perfect for small rental trailers and trailer boxes. We’ve managed to build out the vehicle to support travel for four people at a time, with custom mattresses, a full 4800 watt electrical system, brand new tires, and more. We started off with a generous 3500 dollar donation, and then were able to get short term loans to help out by folks hoping for success and helping out on the effort with time and labor. We still have more to do, and more things needed. As of this writing, the Shuttle, named Tellurium, or Telly, for short (who loves ya, baby?) is on a shakedown run to check the mechanical and basic systems. If you’re able to donate, your contribution will make a real difference. If you can’t donate, sharing this fundraiser or spreading the word means the world to me. To keep everyone updated and involved, I’ll be posting updates every three days, sharing progress, explaining the process, and discussing the decisions behind each step. Thank you for believing in this mission and for standing with those who need a lifeline. For those who want to help by providing materials, there is a wishlist available. Now, the story so far: The shuttle became available earlier this year at a bargain price of 5500, and after taking care of a few other things, I started to do the work on her in early August to convert her as a means of operating as a rescue shuttle. Th shuttle has a great heater system – it came down from the cold north, and so among the first tasks was addressing a lot of the undercarriage effects of being in a cold weather environment. That environment also means it has a phenomenal heating system. It has four seats still present from the original, and they are mounted along one side with a table between them. We built a long counter and started adding in a full electrical, water, and propane system. Then we had the first donation that started things, with a deadline for the shakedown cruise that it is out on now – 10 days. That created a rush system for us, and I was working 14 hour days and at one point worked 50 hours straight to try and get her ready for that. Then, near the deadline, a disaster hit: the electrical system was built around a hybrid inverter, and it was bad. I tried several things, but was only able to cobble together a very basic system for power, which is essential to be able to run the AC unit. The failure of the inverter means that I have to put more into the system, but it will be a solid system and with a small generator can operate for up to a week without having to stop off anywhere. The original water system was impacted by this as well, but it was also a very simple system that we have found a new way to do it that is much improved and more effective – and include a shower! We then had a blow out during the early start of the test run – despite the tires looking and feeling and testing out well, they were still older and had been exposed to harsh desert weather long enough that we had to spend 2000 to replace all six of them. The deadline and delays in getting materials meant that we also needed to bring in help – and that added the first labor costs. That will be around two thousand as well – not for me, but for someone who has fallen on hard times. On the positive side, we were able to get custom mattresses made from the custom bunks we have built, and they came out phenomenally well. The rest of the systems are doing well, but we want to make the place something that feels more welcoming to the people we rescue. Once the Shuttle comes back from the shakedown cruise, we will share daily updates as I move forward – but I can only move forward as funds come in, and we are all in serious debt from this and it is threatening simple things like eating food. So, now, without the pressure of the first deadline, we have the pressure of the second one: our first rescue mission starts on October 7th. So, please, give us a hand with this -- it will change lives.