Paris Hilton

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Kalina Silverman / @makebigtalk on Instagram

The Dogist

Patriotic Kenny Foundation

Pattie Gonia

Little Miss Flint

Carlos Eduardo Espina

Samuel Weidenhofer

Ben Saunders - Flawless Cleaning

Peter Bond

That Good News Girl

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Amy Jandrisevits

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Tess Bohne

Latonja and Taylor Richardson

Officer Richard Craig

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<div>}Hello everyone, friends, family, and kind-hearted people:
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<div>Today we reach out to you with completely broken hearts. Our beloved cousin, Melida Valladares, has passed away after a long and tireless battle with cancer. She fought like a warrior until her last breath, driven by her love for her son. Sadly, today we must say goodbye to her, leaving behind a young baby boy of just a year and a half old.
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<div>Melida Valladares' greatest wish was to return to her homeland, and our absolute priority is to fulfill her last wish: that she may rest in peace in her native country of Ecuador, surrounded by her loved ones.
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<div>Unfortunately, her family in Ecuador is of very limited means and does not have the financial resources to cover the very high costs of repatriation and funeral expenses. This situation is completely beyond our capabilities at this time of such vulnerability and grief.
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<div>We appeal to your generosity and solidarity to bring her home and, as much as possible, provide support for her young son's future. Any donation, no matter how small, is a great relief to us. If you are unable to contribute financially, we sincerely ask that you help us share this message and keep us in your prayers.
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<div>We are eternally grateful for every expression of love, every prayer, and every little bit of help during this dark time. May God bless you and multiply your support.
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<div>  }Español:Hola a todos, amigos, familiares y personas de buen corazón:
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<div>Hoy nos dirigimos a ustedes con el corazón completamente roto. Nuestra querida prima, Melida Valladares, ha fallecido tras una dura e incansable batalla contra el cáncer. Luchó como una guerrera hasta el último suspiro, impulsada por el amor a su hijo. Lamentablemente, hoy nos toca despedirla, y deja en la orfandad a un pequeño bebé de apenas un año y medio de edad.
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<div>El mayor deseo de Melida Valladares era regresar a su tierra, y nuestra prioridad absoluta es cumplir su última voluntad: que pueda descansar en paz en su país natal, Ecuador, cerca de los suyos.
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<div>Lamentablemente, su familia en Ecuador es de recursos muy humildes y no cuenta con la solvencia económica para cubrir los altísimos costos de la repatriación y los gastos fúnebres. Esta situación supera por completo nuestras posibilidades en este momento de tanta vulnerabilidad y dolor.
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<div>Acudimos a su generosidad y solidaridad para poder llevarla de regreso a casa y, en la medida de lo posible, brindar un soporte para el futuro de su pequeño hijo. Cualquier donación, por pequeña que sea, es un gran alivio para nosotros. Si no les es posible aportar económicamente, les pedimos de todo corazón que nos ayuden a compartir este mensaje y que nos tengan en sus oraciones.
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<div>Agradecemos infinitamente cada muestra de cariño, cada oración y cada grano de arena en este momento tan oscuro.
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<div>Que Dios los bendiga y multiplique su ayuda.
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Ayuda para repatriar a Melida Valladares  a Ecuador

<div>Hello, and thank you for being here! My stage name is Jenn Vix, and I'm an alt-pop recording artist and songwriter.
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<div>I'm raising money for my dear friend, Catherine Ashton, and her two teenaged kids. Catherine is still going through an extremely difficult divorce, and she and her kids have gone without heat, hot water, and bill payments in their upstate NY home. The family is at risk of losing their home of 26 years, starting in 3 months time, as of August 1, 2026. 
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<div>Catherine is working, but it's not enough money to get them through this, least until the divorce is settled, and even then they're facing some major setbacks.
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<div>I've made the first donation.
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<div>Every dollar and share helps.
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<div>Thank you.
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<div>With love,
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<div>Jenn
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Hope and Help for Catherine Ashton and Her Kids

<div>Our community has suffered greatly in recent days, and the outpouring of generosity has been beautiful to witness. I am so grateful to be part of this community as I know that we will, again, stand together to rally around a family in need of love, support and encouragement.
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<div>On Thursday, July 2nd, Robert and Ashley Coreno were moving into their new home on Cleary Road in Fairfax with Chris (15), Lily (10), and Ari (6). Robert lost his life while saving his daughter in the river.
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<div>That evening I was fortunate to meet these children and have been spending a great deal of time with them since this happened. It is with Ashley’s reluctant permission that I share this information. I urged her to do so because I know people are concerned about the children and that this community wants to help.
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<div>Ashley and Robert had a large, blended family and had devised a bit of an unconventional plan to have Robert and the three youngest children live in Fairfax while Ashley and the oldest were living in another location close by. The plan was for Ashley to divide time between both households and be mom to all the kids across both settings.
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<div>Currently, Ashley is working to create a new plan for the family. She no longer has her husband to partner with around caring for the kids when she is not there. She is working hard to adjust and make plans for their future. Financial constraints are significant barrier to her planning and her options are limited. Any contribution could lighten the load while she tries to figure out next steps. She would like to be able to maintain the current living situation, even temporarily, to allow for a thoughtful plan around living arrangements going forward. She needs to repair her vehicle to allow her to keep it running and to meet the needs of all the children. Without Robert’s income, these basic living expenses are giant barriers to helping this family navigate this extremely delicate situation.
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<div>In the short time I’ve known Ashley and the children, I am struck by their extraordinary connection to one another. I have children of my own and have been around a lot of kids in my life – these are not typical kids! They are incredibly sweet and kind. They offer to cook with me, and they offer to set the table. They ask to say grace and hold hands before we eat. They are kind to one another and look out for each other. They giggle and smile and are playful and loving. They have a light in their eyes and I hope we can help them keep it.
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<div>They have experienced a tremendous loss, and they have not yet started to process witnessing their father’s death. Anything that can be done to lighten the load and help create options for this family will make the difference between this being one horrific tragedy or a series of hardships that this family must endure.
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Support for the Coreno Family

<div>A friend of mine is currently caring for a baby whose mother is receiving treatment for a serious mental health condition. During this difficult season, this child has been blessed with a safe, loving, and stable caregiver who is committed to meeting her needs.
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<div>The baby does not yet have a childcare placement and is on a waitlist until the end of the summer. In the meantime, <strong>we are seeking financial assistance to help cover the cost of consistent, quality care</strong> and ensure that this child remains in a nurturing and supportive environment.
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<div><strong>This caregiver has opened her heart and home to provide stability, love, and security during a critical time in the baby’s life.</strong> Any contribution, no matter the amount, will help ensure that the baby continues to receive the care and attention she needs until a childcare placement becomes available.
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<div>Thank you for considering supporting this child and the compassionate person who is helping care for her during this season of transition.
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Help Provide Stability for a Baby in Transition

<div>Hello All,
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<div>Our beloved Skyla is really, really sick. She has been diagnosed with a very rare and unusual type of cancer that is aggressively attacking her CNS (Central Nervous System). It is having prolonged effects on her and the future is feeling pretty unknown right now. Skyla has been in the hospital for over two weeks and needing intensive care for most of the time. Her spouse Kathleen left a toxic job and is not able to work while they both navigate all of these sudden changes. 
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<div> This diagnosis has turned their world upside down. The uncertainty and intensity of Skyla’s illness means that both she and Kathleen are facing not only emotional and physical challenges, but also financial ones. With Kathleen supporting Skyla with the fast paced medical changes, they are basically unable to work, meaning their household is under strain, and the costs of medical care, housing, and daily needs are mounting. They are doing everything they can to stay strong and present for each other, but the stress of financial insecurity makes this journey even harder. 
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<div>Any and all financial support would be so unbelievably helpful so they can spend time together without concern for losing their housing and other forms of security.  We are thankful for all support to allow them dignity while they navigate these huge transitions of ability and health. Your kindness will help Skyla and Kathleen focus on what matters most: spending precious time together and finding comfort in each other during this difficult time.
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Support for Skyla's Care and Dignity

Fardowsa’s uncle recently passed away overseas, leaving his family facing a difficult transition. While Fardowsa’s father, the uncle’s brother, is here in the US, the rest of the family is struggling to take on the financial responsibilities that her uncle used to handle. The loss has been especially hard because Fardowsa cannot be with her uncle’s family in person, but she wants to do everything she can to support them from afar. 
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 The funds raised through this GoFundMe will help cover groceries, bills, and other essential expenses for the uncle’s family as they adjust to life without him. These contributions will make a real difference, helping the family stay afloat and easing the burden during a time of grief and uncertainty. 
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 Fardowsa and her family are deeply grateful for any support. Even though she feels helpless being so far away, this fundraiser is a way to show love and solidarity. Thank you for considering a donation and for helping her uncle’s family through this difficult time.

Support for My Uncle’s Family After Loss

<div>Burlington ONE Arts Community School will be closed for the following week. Teachers will be going without pay for most of the week. We are urgently asking for the community to support us in replacing lost wages so our educators can make ends meet. 
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<div>*This was created by teachers for teachers and has no formal affiliation with ONE Arts*
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Support Burlington ONE Arts Teachers' Lost Wages

<div>Lily May Lavallee, 5, of Swanton passed away on Tuesday April 28, 2026. She was born on August 4, 2020 in Burlington, Vermont, daughter of Matthew Lavallee and Katlyn Bullis, sister of Violet Lavallee, and her pet kitties Longboy (Salmon) and Ginger Sparkles (Trout).

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<div>Lily brought so much into this world with her contagious joy and outlook on life. She was the most beautiful girl in the whole world and lived every moment to the fullest, bringing so much happiness to everyone around her. Lily’s smile is certainly something no person could ever forget, it could light up even the darkest room, creating boundless energy and love.

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<div><a href="https://www.awrichfuneralhomes.com/book-of-memories/5709128/Lavallee-Lily/index.php" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Read full obituary here</a>

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<div>These funds will support the family in paying for services for Lily, as well as lost wages while they take all of the time they need away from work. Losing a child is an unimaginable heartbreak and they deserve all of the time and space they need to grieve. Please support them in doing so.

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Support for Lily’s Family in Their Time of Loss

<div>Hello friends and family
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<div>My name is Abdullahi (Lahi), and I’m writing to ask for your support during one of the toughest moments of my life.
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<div>I recently underwent major surgery for a knee injury I sustained while playing soccer—a sport that has always brought me joy, stress relief, and a deep connection with my community. Unfortunately, the medical costs are far beyond what I can afford right now.
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<div>As a chef, being on my feet is not just part of my job; it’s part of who I am. Cooking brings me purpose, creativity, and happiness. This surgery is my chance to return to work, regain my independence, and reclaim my joy. Your support will help cover the costs of the surgery, physical therapy, and essential living expenses while I recover and am unable to work.
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<div>Every contribution, no matter the amount, brings me one step closer to healing, stability, and getting back to the life I love. If you are able to donate, share this message, or simply spread the word, it would mean more to me than you know. <a href="https://gofund.me/5320b230e" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://gofund.me/5320b230e</a>
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to read my story and for supporting my recovery.
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<div>Best regards,
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<div>Lahi Ibrahim
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<div>Rate this suggestion:
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Help Chef Lahi Get Back on His Feet

<div>My name is José Jerez, I'm 18 years old, and I came to Vermont looking for a better future. After losing my best friend to gun violence in New Orleans, I was searching for safety and a sense of stability. But within five months of arriving, my Uncle, the only family I had here, was taken from me as well. On Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 <a href="https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/dozens-protest-at-scene-of-ice-action-in-south-burlington/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">my life was upended by a violent ICE raid</a>.
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<div>Federal immigration agents broke down the door of our home on Dorset Street in South Burlington. They were <a href="https://www.sevendaysvt.com/news/immigration-news/man-sought-by-ice-wasnt-in-besieged-south-burlington-home/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">searching for someone else entirely</a>. That person was not there. But when ICE left, they took my Uncle, Christian, with them anyway. His attorney has since filed court petitions arguing that his detention was unlawful, and federal judges have issued emergency orders blocking authorities from moving him out of state. Christian is still detained. We are still fighting.
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<div>I was there that day. I did nothing wrong. And what happened to me in my own home, I want you to know it, because it matters.
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<div>It was chaotic. I thought I was going to die. They put a gun in my face. The door was open the whole time; I don't know why they needed to use force to get into the house. They grabbed us and threw us on the floor. They handcuffed me. They slammed me against the wall. They didn't take me out of handcuffs until they saw my ID. And then they forced their way into my pockets and took my phone. They took my ID, and they left with it. I asked for my ID back five times. He never gave it back.
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<div>I couldn't stop them. I couldn't protect my Uncle. I couldn't do anything but watch as they took him away.
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<div>And then they were gone. And so was Christian, my Uncle.
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<div>I was left alone in that house with nothing; ICE had detained everyone else. I had no phone to call anyone. No ID to prove who I am. No Uncle who has been my only family here in Vermont. Just a broken door, and silence, and a kind of fear that never leaves you even after the chaos does.
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<div>I did nothing wrong. I was just home.
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<div>I am asking for your help because I cannot do this alone. The money raised here will go directly to me, and I will make sure it reaches where it is needed most, including support for my Uncle Christian as he fights for his freedom. Here is what we need:
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<div>— Legal fees for my Uncle's ongoing court hearings and his fight for release
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<div>— Replacement of my stolen phone and ID
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<div>— Basic living expenses for me as I navigate this without my Uncle
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<div>— Emergency support for me, my Uncle, his wife, and kids as we fight for his release
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<div>I know that on March 11, hundreds of people stood outside that house in the rain. They stood there for us. They sang. They linked arms. They said that our lives matter and that we would not be left alone.
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<div>I felt that. I still feel it.
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<div>If you were one of those people, or if you wish you had been, this is another way to stand with us. Please give what you can. Please share this widely. Every dollar tells us that this community has not forgotten us. That you see us. That you are still here.
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<div>We are still here, too.
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<div>— José
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<div>Soy José Jerez, tengo 18 años y vine a Vermont buscando un mejor futuro. Después de perder a mi mejor amigo en un asalto armado en Nueva Orleans, busqué seguridad y una sensación de estabilidad. Pero a los cinco meses de llegar, mi tío Christian- la única familia que tengo aquí - fue detenido por ICE. <a href="https://www-sevendaysvt-com.translate.goog/news/dozens-protest-at-scene-of-ice-action-in-south-burlington/?_x_tr_sl=en&amp;_x_tr_tl=es&amp;_x_tr_hl=en-US&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">El miércoles 11 de marzo</a> de este año mi vida cambió drásticamente debido a una violenta redada de agentes del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE).
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<div>Los agentes ICE tumbaron la puerta de nuestra casa en la Calle Dorset en South Burlington. Entraron en búsqueda de una <a href="https://www-sevendaysvt-com.translate.goog/news/immigration-news/man-sought-by-ice-wasnt-in-besieged-south-burlington-home/?_x_tr_sl=en&amp;_x_tr_tl=es&amp;_x_tr_hl=en-US&amp;_x_tr_pto=wapp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">persona totalmente distinta</a>, que no estaba en nuestra casa. Pero aun así, al marcharse, ICE se llevó a mi tío de todos modos. Desde entonces su abogado ha presentado peticiones judiciales explicando que su detención fue ilegal y los jueces federales han emitido órdenes de emergencia que impiden a las autoridades trasladarlo fuera del estado. Christian sigue detenido y seguimos luchando.
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<div>Yo, por coincidencia, estuve en la casa ese día. No hice nada mal. Y quiero que sepan lo que me ocurrió en mi propia casa, porque es importante.
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<div>Fue un caos. Pensé que iba a morir. Me apuntaron con un arma a la cara. La puerta estuvo abierta todo el tiempo, no sé por qué usaron fuerza para entrar. Nos agarraron y nos arrojaron al suelo. Me esposaron. Me tiraron contra la pared. No me quitaron las esposas hasta ver mi identificación. A la fuerza buscaron en mis bolsillos y se llevaron mi teléfono. También se llevaron mi identificación y se marcharon con ella. Les pedí cinco veces que me la devolvieran pero nunca me la devolvieron.
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<div>No pude detenerlos. Ni pude proteger a mi tío. No pude hacer nada más que mirar mientras se lo llevaban.
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<div>Quedé solo en esa casa sin nada: sin teléfono para llamar a nadie, sin identificación para demostrar quién soy, sin mi tío que es mi única familia aquí. Solo me quedo con una puerta destrozada, el silencio y un tipo de miedo que no me abandona, ni siquiera ahora que el caos ya ha pasado.
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<div>No hice nada mal. Simplemente estaba en casa.
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<div>Les pido su ayuda porque no puedo hacer esto solo. El dinero recaudado aquí en GoFundMe llegará directamente a mí y yo mismo me aseguraré de que se use  donde más hay necesidad, sobre todo para apoyar a mi tío Christian mientras luchamos por su libertad.
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<div>Un resumen de lo que se necesita:
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<div>-Gastos legales para las audiencias judiciales de Christian
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<div>-El remplazo de mi teléfono y mi identificación, los cuales fueron robados
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<div>-Gastos básicos de subsistencia para mí, mientras atravieso esta situación sin mi tío
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<div>-Apoyo de emergencia mientras esperamos y mantenemos la esperanza
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<div>Sé que el 11 de marzo cientos de personas permanecieron presente bajo la lluvia frente a nuestra casa. Estuvieron allí por nosotros. Cantaron. Se tomaron de los brazos. Dijeron que nuestras vidas importan y que no nos dejarían solos.
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<div>Sentí ese apoyo. Y todavía lo siento, con agradecimiento 
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<div>Si eres una de esas personas - o te hubiese gustado ser - esta es otra manera de apoyarnos. Por favor, dona lo que puedas y ayudanos con compartir esto ampliamente. Cada donación nos dice que esta comunidad no nos ha olvidado y que ustedes nos reconocen y que siguen aquí, apoyandonos.
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<div>Nosotros también seguimos aquí.
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<div>-José
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Support the Jerez Family after Violent ICE Raid

<div>On Wednesday March 11, at 5:30pm our friends Johana Patin (mother of 2)  and her younger sister Camila Patin were stolen out of their home by ICE agents that took them without a warrant, after police smashed into the house.  Read the message from her husband and see more information below:


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<div>"I am the husband of Johana. She is the mama of two girls. They depend on their mama to take care of them. They are 4 and 8. It is very painful because it is difficult to explain what happened and where their mama is. Johana is a very loving mother and it is very traumatic to be separated."


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<div>At their request, we are collecting money to support Johana and Camila's family. They have legal fees, possible bond payments and lost income and many other expenses related to safety. Please share whatever you can. 100% of money raised will go directly to the family to Johana and Camila.


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<div>El miércoles 11 de marzo a las 17:30, nuestros amigas Johana (madre de 2) y su hermanita Camila Patin fueron sacados de su casa por agentes del ICE, después de que la Policía Estatal de Vermont forzaron la seguridad de la puerta y se los llevara sin una orden judicial. Para leer más sobre esta historia, consulte a continuación, pero antes queremos compartir un mensaje del esposo de Johana.


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<div>"Hola, soy el esposo de Johana. Ella es la mama de dos niñas. Ellas dependen del cuidado de su mami. Ellas tienen 4 and 8 anos. Esto es muy doloroso por que es muy dificil a explicar que paso y donde esta su mami. Johana es una mama muy cariñosa y es muy traumatico estar separadas."


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<div>A petición de la familia, estamos recaudando fondos para apoyar a la familia de Johana y Camila. Tienen gastos legales, pérdida de ingresos y muchos otros gastos relacionados con su seguridad. Por favor, compartan lo que puedan. El 100% del dinero recaudado se destinará a la familia de Johana y Camila.


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<div>The language below is from an email sent by Migrant Justice:


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<div>"South Burlington, Vermont.


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<div>Just before 8:00 am on March 11, 2026, Migrant Justice received word on our emergency line about an attempted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention in progress at 337 Dorset St, South Burlington. A Migrant Justice volunteer arrived on the scene and confirmed that there were at least 3 ICE agents on site. We then activated our Rapid Response Network at approximately 8:30 am.


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<div>For hours, dozens – and then hundreds – of allies rallied in front of the Dorset St home. We sang, shared food, and made sure that the people inside knew they were not alone. Protestors self-organized to keep each other fed, warm, and relatively dry despite the cold rain. Throughout the day, dozens of ICE, Border Patrol, Vermont State Police, South Burlington Police, and Burlington Police officers were present.


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<div>At approximately 5:30 pm, heavily armed Vermont State Troopers smashed down the door to the home, allowing ICE agents to rush inside. From outside, protestors could hear loud banging. A witness inside (a minor, so we are not sharing his name) watched armed officers chase people through the home. One officer tripped and fired their service weapon. Luckily, no one was struck by the bullet.


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<div>Federal agents detained three people:


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<div>Christian Jerez-Andrade, age 31, of Honduras


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<div>Camila Patin Patin, age 20, of Ecuador


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<div>Jissela Johana Patin Patin (“Johana”), age 31, of Ecuador


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<div>None of the three was named on the warrant that agents used to enter the home, nor were any of them the driver of the car allegedly involved in an accident earlier that morning. The man named in the warrant – Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez – is the car’s previous owner. He was never present on the scene yesterday, nor was he the driver at the time of the accident. The Patin Patin sisters are both in the US seeking asylum.


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<div>As officers dragged Jerez-Andrade and the Patin Patin sisters out of the house, protestors chanted and called for their release, and ultimately engaged in civil disobedience in an attempt to stop the officers from removing them from the scene. Officers fired chemical weapons, flash-bangs, and rubber bullets, brutalizing protesters – even striking at least one with a car – and detaining eight. The eight were removed from the scene but ultimately released.


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<div>The three people immigration officers detained from inside the house remain in custody and are currently being held in Vermont state prisons: Jerez-Andrade in Northwest State Correctional Facility (NWSCF) and the Patin Patin sisters in Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility (CRCF).


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<div>Yesterday, Vermont law enforcement agents leveraged state power to support federal immigration agents in what we believe to be a clear violation of the state’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. Together, police and immigration officers violently separated families, ripped immigrant Vermonters from their home, and attacked protestors who bravely stood in solidarity with their neighbors.


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<div>This marks a drastic escalation of longstanding patterns of human rights abuses and violence carried out against our community by local, state, and federal law enforcement. We demand the immediate release of Christian Jerez-Andrade, Camila Patin Patin, and Johana Patin Patin, as well as a thorough investigation into the officers’ misconduct and violations of Vermont’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policies. We also demand that any charges against protesters be dropped.


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<div>“¡La migra, la policía, la misma porquería! We cannot allow police and federal agents to violently attack and separate families. Yesterday’s protest was a deeply moving show of solidarity by Vermonters who believe that everyone, regardless of immigration status or where they’re from, deserves dignity and safety. We will keep fighting until our friends are home with our community and the officers involved in this disgusting show of brutality are held accountable.” – Thelma Gomez, Migrant Justice"


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<div>South Burlington, Vermont.


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<div>Justo antes de las 8:00 a. m. del 11 de marzo de 2026, Migrant Justice recibió un aviso a través de nuestra línea de emergencia sobre un intento de detención por parte del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas (ICE) que estaba ocurriendo en el 337 de Dorset St., en South Burlington. Un voluntario de Migrant Justice llegó al lugar y confirmó que había al menos tres agentes del ICE presentes. Acto seguido, activamos nuestra Red de Respuesta Rápida aproximadamente a las 8:30 a. m.


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<div>Durante horas, docenas —y luego cientos— de aliados se congregaron frente a la vivienda de Dorset St. Cantamos, compartimos comida y nos aseguramos de que las personas que se encontraban en el interior supieran que no estaban solas. Los manifestantes se autoorganizaron para asegurarse mutuamente comida, abrigo y mantenerse relativamente secos, a pesar de la lluvia fría. A lo largo del día, estuvieron presentes docenas de agentes del ICE, de la Patrulla Fronteriza, de la Policía Estatal de Vermont, de la Policía de South Burlington y de la Policía de Burlington.


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<div>Aproximadamente a las 5:30 p. m., agentes de la Policía Estatal de Vermont, fuertemente armados, derribaron la puerta de la vivienda, permitiendo que los agentes del ICE irrumpieran en el interior. Desde el exterior, los manifestantes pudieron escuchar fuertes estruendos. Un testigo que se encontraba dentro (un menor de edad, por lo que no revelamos su nombre) observó cómo los agentes armados perseguían a las personas por toda la casa. Uno de los agentes tropezó y disparó su arma reglamentaria. Afortunadamente, nadie resultó herido por el proyectil.


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<div>Los agentes federales detuvieron a tres personas:


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<div>Christian Jerez-Andrade, de 31 años, originario de Honduras.


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<div>Camila Patin Patin, de 20 años, originaria de Ecuador.


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<div>Jissela Johana Patin Patin («Johana»), de 31 años, originaria de Ecuador.


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<div>Ninguna de las tres personas figuraba en la orden judicial que los agentes utilizaron para entrar en la vivienda; tampoco era ninguna de ellas la conductora del vehículo supuestamente implicado en un accidente ocurrido esa misma mañana. El hombre que sí figuraba en la orden —Deyvi Daniel Corona-Sanchez— es el propietario anterior del vehículo. Él no estuvo presente en el lugar de los hechos en ningún momento del día de ayer, ni tampoco era el conductor en el momento en que ocurrió el accidente. Las hermanas Patin Patin se encuentran ambas en los Estados Unidos solicitando asilo.


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<div>Mientras los agentes sacaban a rastras de la casa a Jerez-Andrade y a las hermanas Patin Patin, los manifestantes coreaban consignas exigiendo su liberación y, finalmente, recurrieron a la desobediencia civil en un intento por impedir que los agentes se los llevaran del lugar. Los agentes dispararon armas químicas, granadas aturdidoras y balas de goma, brutalizando a los manifestantes —llegando incluso a atropellar a al menos uno con un vehículo— y deteniendo a ocho personas. Las ocho personas fueron retiradas del lugar, pero finalmente puestas en libertad.


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<div>Las tres personas que los agentes de inmigración detuvieron dentro de la vivienda permanecen bajo custodia y se encuentran actualmente recluidas en prisiones estatales de Vermont: Jerez-Andrade en el Centro Correccional Estatal del Noroeste (NWSCF) y las hermanas Patin Patin en el Centro Correccional Regional de Chittenden (CRCF).


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<div>Ayer, los agentes del orden público de Vermont utilizaron el poder estatal para respaldar a los agentes federales de inmigración en lo que consideramos una clara violación de la Política de Actuación Policial Justa e Imparcial del estado. De manera conjunta, la policía y los agentes de inmigración separaron violentamente a familias, arrancaron a inmigrantes residentes de Vermont de sus hogares y atacaron a los manifestantes que valientemente se solidarizaron con sus vecinos.


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<div>Esto marca una escalada drástica de patrones de larga data de abusos contra los derechos humanos y violencia perpetrados contra nuestra comunidad por las fuerzas del orden locales, estatales y federales. Exigimos la liberación inmediata de Christian Jerez-Andrade, Camila Patin Patin y Johana Patin Patin, así como una investigación exhaustiva sobre la conducta indebida de los agentes y las violaciones de las Políticas de Actuación Policial Justa e Imparcial de Vermont. También exigimos que se retiren todos los cargos presentados contra los manifestantes.


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<div>«¡La migra, la policía, la misma porquería! No podemos permitir que la policía y los agentes federales ataquen violentamente y separen a las familias. La protesta de ayer fue una muestra de solidaridad profundamente conmovedora por parte de los habitantes de Vermont que creen que toda persona —independientemente de su estatus migratorio o de su lugar de origen— merece dignidad y seguridad. Seguiremos luchando hasta que nuestros amigos regresen a casa junto a nuestra comunidad y hasta que los agentes implicados en esta repugnante muestra de brutalidad rindan cuentas por sus actos». — Thelma Gomez, Migrant Justice


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Emergency Support for Johana & Camila’s Family

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<div>Hi! My name is Cassie Dimmick, and I’m an educator in the Burlington School District in Burlington, Vermont.
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<div>I'm creating this page to support a former student of mine, Abdi Sharif, as he works toward achieving his goals in both academics and athletics.
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<div>I had the pleasure of teaching Abdi when I first began my journey at the Integrated Arts Academy, formerly H.O. Wheeler. From the beginning, he stood out as a charismatic, energetic, and hardworking individual—someone who brings passion and perseverance to everything he does.
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<div>Recently, Abdi played a key role in leading his team to victory in the Division I high school basketball championships. His outstanding performance earned him the major honor of: Mr. Basketball as well as being a highly ranked contender for Gatorade Player of the Year.
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<div>Abdi's next goal is to attend a prep school for a year. This opportunity will allow him to continue building academic momentum while also refining his basketball skills, with the ultimate goal of earning a spot at a strong collegiate program.
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<div>Abdi is a humble, dedicated young man who has worked hard to get where he is. With the support of his community, I believe he can take the next big step toward his dreams. Please consider helping Abdi continue his journey through education and his passion for basketball.
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<div><a href="https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/sports/high-school/varsityinsider/2025/03/31/vermont-free-press-mr-basketball-burlington-abdi-sharif/82590556007/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Free Press Mr Basketball returns home</a>
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Support Abdi Sharif: Mr. Basketball's Next Step

<div>A Manchester family is in crisis after an ICE raid led to the detention of a mother who had been working and caring for her three children, ages 15, 8, and 18 months. Overnight, these kids lost the stability of having their mom at home.

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<div>This fundraiser is to stand with them in this moment. Your contribution will go directly to supporting the children while their family faces an uncertain road ahead.

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<div>Please give what you can. Together, we can show up for them.

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Support for family separated by ICE

<div>Dear Friends and Supporters
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<div>My name is Habiba Awayle, and I am reaching out to you during one of the most challenging times in my family's lives. This morning, I received a heartbreaking call from my sisters informing me that their the home was  in flames. The fire tragically destroyed parts of the home, leaving us devastated and without a place to call our own at the moment. As an immigrant family, we have worked tirelessly to build a new life in this country, and now we find ourselves facing an uncertain future. My stepmother, who is also a single mother, is especially devastated by this loss.
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<div>The fire took not only our belongings but also the heart of our home, where we shared laughter, meals, and cherished moments together. As we navigate this difficult time, we are facing additional challenges. We have been informed that we need to cover expenses related to the fire, even though we currently have no housing and are struggling to find a place to stay.
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<div>We are reaching out for help because we cannot do this alone. The support of our friends, family, and community means everything to us. With your generous contributions, we hope to cover immediate expenses, secure temporary housing, and begin the process of rebuilding partial of the home our lives.
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<div>Every donation, no matter how small, will make a significant difference in helping my family get back on their feet. We are deeply grateful for your kindness and support during this difficult time. Please share our story with your network, as your help can provide us with the hope and stability we urgently need.
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<div>Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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<div>With gratitude,
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<div>Habiba Awayle
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Habiba's Family Needs Your Support After Fire

<div>Hi, I’m Ylan, a licensed early educator, a grandmother, a gardener, and a disability advocate.
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<div>March 15 marks the fifth anniversary of COVID-19, and yet, millions of people with Long COVID are still waiting for a cure—with very little hope in sight.
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<div>I am one of those people. Long COVID has left me disabled, struggling to care for myself, and in need of mobility aids to get through daily life. But I am not alone.
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<div>After teaching through the pandemic, I developed Long COVID and ME/CFS, which have severely impacted my mobility. I struggle to stand long enough to cook, and my stairs have become nearly impossible. Most of my time is often confined to my room because I cannot safely move around my home.
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<div>I have been medically approved for a power wheelchair, but my insurance requires me to pay a $3,000 deductible before receiving any medical coverage this year.
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</div><img alt="" media_type="3" src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/89341359_1741118522972942_r.jpeg" width="100%" />
<div>photo above- at UVM medical center being fitted for my power wheelchair
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<div>I also desperately need home modifications (stair climber, ramps to get outside, kitchen adaptations) so that I am not trapped upstairs, unable to cook, garden, or go outside.
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<div>These mobility aids will allow me to:
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<div>Move freely in my home without exhaustion and pain.
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<div>Cook and take care of myself again.
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<div>Get outside to my garden, which I have been unable to reach
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<div>Prevent further loss of mobility and independence.
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<div>Spend time with my granddaughter again – Right now, I have to say no to visits when I am too weak to move around. With a wheelchair, I could be present for her, play with her, and enjoy our time together.
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<div>Though I have worked 2 and 3 jobs since my teenage years, I have learned how easily one falls from a fully benefited career/stability to debt and financial struggle. As my goal remains to regain my health, I am receiving medical treatment at Beth Israel's COVID Survivorship program in Boston. These expenses add up. I honestly cannot afford these costs on my disability income. I am setting a goal of $5,000 to cover the wheelchair, a stair climber, and any associated fees or modifications.
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<div>Here are the ways you can help- many are not financial. Please DO NOT donate if you are struggling yourself. I understand many are experiencing hardship. As there are millions of Americans disabled like myself, I hope you will consider:
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<li>Contact your state and local leaders, and let them know you are concerned about Long COVID. We are not getting better. We need funding for research and pharmaceutical treatment.
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<li>Stay in touch with your friends with Long COVID, but please be aware that reinfections (any virus- definitely COVID) can put us in bed for a week—test before visiting. Stay home when sick. Wear a KN95 mask if you have symptoms and can not stay home. Someone's life may depend on it.
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<li>Educate yourself. <a href="https://polybio.org/consortium-project-explorer/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PolyBio- Long COVID and post-viral illness</a> <a href="https://www.longhauler-advocacy.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Longhauler Advocacy- by and for patients</a>
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<li>Share this drive. It was a difficult decision to ask for help. I appreciate your willingness to raise awareness by sharing.
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<div>Thank you for taking the time to read this and for any support you can offer. I sincerely appreciate it.
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<div>May 2024- NIH- Senate testimony
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<div>Long Covid Campaign
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<div>photo credit- Leigh Vogel
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Join Ylan's Fight Against Long COVID

<div>On Thursday, 2/20/25, my car was broken into and <strong>my mobility aid scooter was stolen out of my trunk</strong>. My scooter was the thing that has given me hope and opened my world up again after being confined to my house due to chronic long COVID, POTS, and MCAS, and an inability to stand or walk for long periods of time before getting woozy, nauseous, and out of breath.

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<div>I was hoping that my renter's insurance would cover a replacement of my scooter, but they told me in Oregon, mobility aids are considered “motor vehicles” unless they are manually powered without an electric component.

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<div>I know times are really hard and funds are low for all of us. <strong>But if you have the ability to help me get back in the world, that would be amazing.</strong> And if not, please help spread the word.

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<div>I try to finance most everything I do for myself and the community and share it widely, but I’m at a loss and need some help and support.

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<div>Thank you for any and everything.

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<div>With care,

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<div>Anna

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Help Anna Replace her Stolen Mobility Scooter

<div><strong>Hi everyone,</strong>
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<div>A few of us—community members and Winooski school staff who work closely with families—are organizing this fundraiser to support a local family facing the devastating impact of family separation due to unjust anti-immigrant policies. 
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<div>Previously we raised $2000 that went directly to rent and bills for the month of March. Now an additional $3000 is needed to go towards April rent and bills.  
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<div>Your support will make a real difference during this incredibly difficult time.
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<div>Thank you for standing with them!
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Emergency Aid Needed for Winooski Family

<div>One bitter cold afternoon, Juno and I were driving in downtown Burlington. Juno looked out the window at two people, one standing behind the other in a wheelchair, wearing layers of dark, tattered clothing. With concern in her voice, she asked "Aba why are they standing so still." I responded that they were probably very cold and likely didn't have a home. Without hesitation, she replied, <strong>we need to help them.</strong>
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<div>We brainstormed some ideas of what we could do and came up with this plan to raise money to buy hats, gloves, and scarves for people in Burlington who don't have a home. I called the local shelter to ask if this would be helpful, and they confirmed that it would indeed be very helpful. So we made this GoFundMe to raise money to buy hats, gloves, and scarves. Our goal is to buy 20 quality sets for $50 each and then to bring them to the local shelter to distribute. <strong>Please help us reach our goal. We would so appreciate a donation of any size!</strong>
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Help Juno, help Burlington Stay Warm This Winter

<div><strong>Gina, Mark-Anthony, and their children Askia (5) and Adisa (3) lost their home in Altadena to the Eaton fire on January 8.</strong>
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<div>Tragically, Gina's parents also lost their home the same night. After safely evacuating with only their clothes, they are now starting the long process of rebuilding their lives and this precious community.
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<div>In coordination with Gina, Mark-Anthony, and friends supporting them in this moment, Michael Dwyer, Dana Underwood, and Benedict Nelson setup this effort to help with reestablishing this precious family. Gina and Mark-Anthony have brought so much vision and magic to our community and we hope you will join us in supporting them on their way back to normalcy. Every donation will go directly to them in order to cover the mounting unexpected costs beyond what FEMA or insurance will cover.
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<div><strong>Please join me in supporting this family and maintaining the deep roots of community in Altadena!</strong>
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Help Gina & Mark-Anthony After Eaton Fire

<div>Em is getting a reverse boob job (aka top surgery) for those of you haven't heard :) But the top surgery comes with the price of a high deductible. Em and Kandra are also doing official name and gender changes, which cost $435 each for California court fees. We don't have the time to wait for a waiver because we want to get these done as soon as possible with cheeto head taking office and all.
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<div>Neither of us have had a gofundme before and we are reaching out to our community for some support in this moment.
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<div>We are asking for $3120 in the hopes to get some financial help for these necessary steps in our trans journeys. $1750 for the surgery, $870 for the gender and name change fees, and $500 for Em's post-op support (ie time off work, food and care).
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<div>We are also making a little meal train which will also be posted here if you want to directly bring over some food or send a doordash for Em.
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<div>Thank you so so much for your support! It is hard to ask for but your $5, $10, $500 ;) goes so far when we help each other through mutual aid &lt;3 E+K
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Support Em's Top Surgery and Our Name Change Fees

<span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);">Demetria Hester (Sanga) is a long time community member and the woman who helped families seek and receive justice by providing crucial testimony about Jeremy Christian. In May of 2017, Demetria was physically assaulted by the convicted murderer and right wing tr*mper on a  public transit train in Portland, Oregon. She approached authorities who detained and interrogated her as the assailant was allowed to leave the max platform.  This allowed him to ride the train the very next morning when he attacked three people, two of whom lost their lives.  <br /><br />Demetria has shown up for our community time and time again to help lead organizers, and in support of families affected by racism and violence.  This work has not sustained her health or peace of mind.  We know that Black Women are more prone to early death and depression, but her experience makes her so much more vulnerable. <br /><br />Demetria has made a plan to move to Ghana and has community ready to receive her as she moves toward a well deserved era of healing. We have ALL benefited from her heroic actions on the night of her assault, as her experience and witnessing helped to highlight the violence of white supremacy in Oregon.  Her experience also highlights our complacency as no one stood up for her that night.  That fact alone means we should do better.  WE CAN DO BETTER. <br /><br />Help Demetria make her dream come true.  Support this GoFundMe to send her away with all of the resources she will need for a successful landing.  We love you and thank you for your courage, Sanga. </span>

Support Sanga’s Move To Ghana

<div>We’re raising funds to support our beloved Vanessa Lewis in facing a recent diagnosis of advanced uterine cancer. Whether or not you know Vanessa personally, this faerie princess mermaid gangsta for the revolution has touched so many lives in our communities through her brilliant writing, performances, workshops, and truly epic social media statuses. Vanessa is a visionary who weaves deep spells of liberation, transformation, and healing through her work – and she needs our support as she fights cancer with everything she’s got.
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<div>So let’s show her some love - if you can’t make a donation right now, we’ve shared some ideas of other ways to support (see below).
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<div>Learn more about Vanessa’s work at her <a href="https://www.ReclaimUGLY.org" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Reclaim UGLY</a> project, check out an <a href="https://jacket2.org/commentary/black-queer-healing-poetics-vanessa-rochelle-lewis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">interview</a>, follow her on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/black.woman.blooming/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">social media</a> , or check out <a href="https://tiny.cc/vanessalove" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">this doc</a> w/ links to lots more of her work:
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<div>Funds raised will support medical bills, healthy foods, rent and other basic needs as Vanessa is taking time off from work during chemo, surgery, and radiation.
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<div><strong>OTHER WAYS TO HELP</strong>
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<div>Whether or not you can donate funds today, there’s lots of other ways to support Vanessa &amp; this campaign!
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<div>• Share this on social media
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<div>• Take a picture of you holding a sign about why you appreciate Vanessa, or what you learned from Vanessa’s work (“Vanessa taught me”), share it on socials with the hashtags: #VanessaTaughtMe #FaeriePrincessMermaidGangstaForTheRevolution
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<div>• Support Vanessa’s work!
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<div>⋆ <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/reclaiming-ugly-a-radically-joyful-guide-to-unlearn-oppression-and-uplift-glorify-and-love-yourself-vanessa-rochelle-lewis/20035452" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Pre-order Vanessa’s book</a>, add it to your curriculum, recommend it to your book club, gift a copy to a young person, request your local library and independent bookstores to carry it.
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<div>⋆ Book Vanessa to speak at your class, conference, workshop, etc in 2024
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<div>⋆ Join <a href="https://www.patreon.com/VanessaRochelleLewis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Vanessa’s Patreon</a> (but if you can only give once, this fundraiser is more important!)
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<div>• Practice self or community care
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<div>• Cast a spell, or add a prayer or blessing for Vanessa’s healing to your altar
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<div>• Learn more about health equity &amp; support organizations like Women's Cancer Resource Center
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<div><strong>QUESTIONS?</strong>
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<div>Press the "Contact" button under the Organizers list to get in touch with the fundraising crew!
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HELP VANESSA FIGHT CANCER!

<div>Please Help long time community support person Rosie Senna, who needs our support right now. Rosie needs a new car to help care for her grandson who she is raising on her own and to continue to be able to work. Rosie has given to our community in so many ways, now it's our turn to give back to her.She has found a car that is $3500.  Anything helps.  Thank you so much for considering your donation! Peace and Love, 
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<div>Rosie and her family and friends
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Help Rosie Get a New Car!

<div>Hi, we are Sam Carlson and Linda McGinnis. We are raising funds for the Family of Enwa Asende, whose house burned down on January 31, 2023.
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<div>They lost everything, including lots of important documents linked to their emigration to the United States.
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<div>Enwa is originally from the troubled area of Eastern Congo. He arrived in the United States in 2011 after 14 years in refugee camps in Tanzania and Mozambique. He came as a single father with 10 dependents, including two orphan girls he agreed to bring as their legal guardians. His wife died shortly before they left Mozambique in a car accident. For 11 years Enwa has worked steadily at City Market in Burlington.
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<div>He remarried a few years ago to a wonderful woman named Alzira (who also works at City Market). His family members are now American citizens, with one daughter in college.
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<div>Enwa has been renting the same house in Winooski, Vermont for the past 11 years. The fire destroyed everything, including bedding, clothing, furniture, kitchen appliances, television, phones, computers, etc. Unfortunately, he did not have renter's insurance.
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<div>Any funds raised will be used to replace these items burned in the fire, and to help Enwa secure new rental housing (not easy in the Burlington-Winooski market).
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<div>We guarantee that these funds will be used carefully and wisely. Thank you so much for your kindness and consideration. Sam and Linda
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The Family of Enwa Asende

<div>On December 4th, Bruce Wilson lost all of his belongings in a 3-alarm fire at his Winooski, VT apartment. For several days before this fire, Bruce was hospitalized with a serious health condition and will need further medical treatment.
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<div>He has spent his life giving back to our community and now he needs our help. For the past 30 years, Bruce has been inspiring Vermont youth and helping them to reach their goals. Bruce was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois and graduated from Northwestern University, with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology.
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<div>As a young person whose future was at risk, Bruce knows the importance of having role models and opportunities to build skills and self-esteem. He has always focused on giving back to the community and creating opportunities for young people to develop into caring and productive adults. His organization (Arts So Wonderful) created spaces for young people to be themselves make new friends, and create lasting memories through art, music and curating events.
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<div>Your donation will help Bruce begin to replace all of his clothing, shoes and household items. He will never be able to replace family hierlooms or photos of his deceased parents, but your help will enable Bruce to begin rebuilding his life.
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Bruce Wilson needs our help

<div>Hi my name is Hamara Mubarak, I tragically lost my brother last night as he was murderd, my family is asking for help to pay for his funeral expenses. Thank you so much!
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Funeral Expenses

<p>My name is Gail Ann Dorsey. I am a singer/songwriter/composer/bass guitarist. I also happen to love writing, and helping my friends. That is why I did not hesitate when my friend Catherine Ashton asked if I would initiate this GoFundMe campaign to help her and her family in a time of dire need… Yes, I <em>love </em>writing, but this is a topic, a situation, a reality that I really wish I could have avoided <em>ever</em> spelling out in words.
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<p>Chapter 1: <strong>John Ashton has cancer.</strong>
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<p><em>The Back Story…</em>
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<p>The first time I met John, and at the time his soon-to-be-wife, Catherine was in 1993. I had just started spending time in the Woodstock area as a visitor. I was still living in London, England where I had been living for 11 years prior to my eventually relocating to the Hudson Valley in 1994, and settling in Uptown Kingston where I have put down roots since 1996. I had plans set in motion to return to The States from the UK, but wasn’t sure exactly where I wanted to live. John was next door neighbours with bassist Sara Lee (<em>B-52’s</em>, <em>Indigo Girls</em>, <em>Gang Of Four</em>), who is one of my closest and dearest friends, and how I discovered and ended up coming to live in this creative and progressive community. I remember thinking how cool that the bass player from<em> The B-52’s</em> was living right next door to the guitarist from <em>The Psychedelic Furs!</em> Surely, this <em>must</em> be the place to be if you’re a musician in The United States!
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<p>I attended John and Catherine's wedding in 1993 on one of my visits to Woodstock (I even have a bunch of home videos of the event!), and since that time they have turned out to be two of the kindest, most loving, and loyal friends I could ever wish to have.
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<p>In 2007, their first child, Oliver, was born. The Great “REVILO”! A sweet little genius that I’m certain will contribute something truly wonderful to this world. I mean, I can remember this little thinker reading War and Peace when he was 10 years old! Then came their second child, Tallulah, in 2010. A spirited little beauty with the biggest, warmest heart, and smarts to boot! I call her “Lady T.”! The kids have called me “Auntie Gail” since they were able to speak, and I can tell you, it fills me with joy to see their drawings on my refrigerator everyday!
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<p><br /><br />John is also a much loved <em>"Grandfather"! </em> I met his first born child, daughter Sophie, when she was around 9 years old and visiting the USA from Ireland to attend her father's wedding to Catherine.  Sophie is John's daughter from a previous union and has lived her entire life in Ireland where she is now a mother with five children of her own! ~ From left to right in the photo below, Baby Lexi,  Sophie, Chloe, Luke, <em>(Uncle) </em>Oliver, Conor, Mia and <em>(Aunt)</em> Tallulah!<br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59452101_1630528848478087_r.jpeg" alt="59452101_1630528848478087_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br /><br />I have only once had a chance to see Sophie with her children when they came to New York for a visit a few years ago.  The family "Love-Fest" was unmistakeable when I met them all for a classic "American Diner" breakfast experience in Kingston.  It goes without saying how much John's grand kids would like the chance to spend many, many more years getting to know their super cool Grand Dad, and without question, that wish, and that pray runs both ways...<br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59452101_1630530120684048_r.jpeg" alt="59452101_1630530120684048_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/59452101_1630530176210381_r.jpeg" alt="59452101_1630530176210381_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br />John has one sister back in the UK who is also praying for John's speedy recovery.  Margaret "Mags" Stocks, and John's nephew and twin nieces, Jonny, Lizzie and Sarah, have already had to face the horrible tragedy of losing a loved one to this awful disease when she lost her husband and their father Dean to lung cancer in June of 2018.<br /><br /><br />
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<p>Born in London, England in 1957, John Ashton has been a permanent US resident and member of the Hudson Valley community since 1991. He fell in love with The Catskills in 1982 when his band spent 6 weeks recording their classic ‘Forever Now’ album with producer Todd Rundgren. John is one of the original guitarists and songwriters of one of the most well-known, influential, and highly acclaimed British bands of the 20th Century, <em>The Psychedelic Furs</em>; a band that gave the world such classic gems as “Heaven”, “Love My Way”, “The Ghost In You” and of course “Pretty In Pink”. Although John has not been an active member of <em>The Furs</em> for some time now, he has remained active and in love with music. His musical history as guitarist/producer includes projects with <em>Sisters Of Mercy</em> and <em>Marianne Faithful</em>, as well as collaborations with fellow local bands like <em>Mercury Rev</em>.
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<p>Together, John and I worked with some of our local youth aspiring musicians conducting songwriting and various music workshops for ‘School Of Rock’ founder Paul Green, who helped established the still active and thriving ‘Rock Academy’ of Woodstock. In 2016, John wrote, produced, and recorded an album of brand new material under the name <em>Satellite Paradiso</em>; a bold and classic “rock” album in the true sense of the tradition with an awesome line up of musicians, including bassist Sara Lee, vocalist Fred Schreck, and drummer Frank Coleman, as well as guests musicians from Mercury Rev, Anthony Molina, Grasshopper, and Jonathan Donahue, to name a few… and of course, yours truly also appearing on bass and vocals on a few tunes! ;-)
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<p>As most can imagine, unless you are exploding on the streaming charts, or out touring “on the road” for six months a year (or perhaps even more!), supporting a family as a musician is becoming increasingly more difficult and uncertain—especially in these pandemic times! To supplement the pay check-to-pay check income that still remains from John’s musical endeavours, he has been working in the film industry since 1998. This employment has  been a reliable solution for keeping John and his family afloat, while still affording him the opportunity to continue to work at what he loves and does best, music.
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<p>Now, it<em> all</em> must stop.
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<p><em>The Present Scenario…</em>
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<p>On June 8th of this year John was diagnosed with Stage 4 Prostate Cancer that had spread to his lymph nodes, therefore making treatment more challenging. Surgery is not an option. He has just begun what will be an indefinite series of treatments involving radiation, hormone therapies, and possibly access to clinical trials through Sloan Kettering in New York City.  Most health insurance policies for the average person are often never enough to cover the unexpected and inevitable snowballing expenses in situations such as this.
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<p>For a condition like John’s we already know that the costs of his treatments will be overwhelming and astronomical. Starting now, John will also be unable to continue working on a regular basis, and there is no safety net to realistically support or break an approaching financial fall. He has already weakened his condition and stretched himself thin continuing to show up for work up until this point. For John, all exertions, stresses, and worries must be minimized, if not eliminated for the critical months ahead. He needs help to support his family, keep his home, keep is dignity, and pay for any unfortunate surprises that health insurance may not cover. The Ashton Family needs financial help to nurse and comfort their state of mind… one of the <em>most</em> important factors in the healing process that faces this family.
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<p><em>Love My Way…</em>
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<p>It never feels quite appropriate to me to equate love with money, but in unfortunate and stressful circumstances like this, where your donations, however big or small, can help alleviate the current and looming financial burdens on John and his family, I can think of no better way to express <em>your</em> love and compassion. Healing requires not only what takes place physically, but just as important, if not more so, a mental and emotional state that is calm, focused, and free of stress. The ominous clouds of consequences that persistently hover above, threatening to rain, are the last thing the Ashton Family needs to contend with while entering a battle with such a formidable foe as cancer. I want to see my friends free of those fears and worries. Most of all, I want to see my friend John embarking on his mission to regain his health and well-being with <em>all </em>of the physical, mental, and emotion ammunition he can muster, and all fear of potential worldly ruin laid to rest. This is what ALL human beings deserve in times of an unavoidable health crisis. The unexpected arrival of illness should <em>never</em> have such a hefty price tag.  Unfortunately, that is often not the reality that faces a person with serious illness in the United States.  The cost of care itself can become an additional crippling affliction. 
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<p>So, here we are.
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<p>Human Being Lovers. Music Lovers. Lovers of Family and Friendships. I humbly ask you to please help my friend <strong>John Ashton</strong> and his family get through this harrowing and uncertain chapter of their lives if you are able. Your donation is the way to show <em>your </em>love... Love <em>this</em> way... Please spread the word…<em> I Thank You…</em> <em>I Pray…</em>
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<p>… <em>I desperately want to write a happy ending to this story…</em>
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Love My Way... For My Friends In Need

<p>I am reaching out for support with my mom who has recently been diagnosed with dementia to move her from New Mexico to Oregon. ❤️ please share this. Thank you for your help! Sending love. <a href="https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRJF45N3" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><a href="https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRJF45N3/" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRJF45N3/</a></a>


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<p>If you don’t have tiktok watch this one. <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12WdnKWeCeFOTTmCCw2sIahqaD-uZraRs/view?usp=drivesdk"><a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/12WdnKWeCeFOTTmCCw2sIahqaD-uZraRs/view?usp=drivesdk" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://drive.google.com/file/d/12WdnKWeCeFOTTmCCw2sIahqaD-uZraRs/view?usp=drivesdk</a></a><br />
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We need support to move my mom across the country

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<p>Help is needed for a beloved Family in our community.
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<p>Maximillian Gabriel, son of Linda Gabriel and nephew of Judy and Peter Dougan has suffered a fractured skull with an associated traumatic brain injury along with multiple other fractures from a horrific motor accident. He has been in Westchester Medical Hospital since May30th.
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<p>Max is a 16 year old Sophomore at Kingston High and he and his family need our help.
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<p>These are difficult times for the family and this is how you can help.
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<p>There are mounting costs for medical treatments not covered by insurance, along with funds needed to sustain the family while they commute back and forth from Max’s next phase of care at the Helen Hayes Rehab Hospital in Rockland county N.Y.
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<p>Max is an active snowboarder, basketball player and drummer that is working hard to get back to his life and family.
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<p>Linda, his mother, widowed 14 years ago is a single mother who has raised her three children in the Woodstock community. Maximillian is her youngest. She is alone working to balance the needs of her family while at Max’s bedside daily.
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<p>It would take an entire CHAPTER to share what the Gabriel and Dougan extended family has given and meant to our community. Max’s Uncle Peter, the much loved Woodstock Day School music teacher and his Aunt Judy, Dr. Judy as she is known have served the community for over 20 years. Both are helping Linda manage during this difficult time.
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<p>This is a family that needs our help NOW!
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<p>It is uncertain how long Linda will be unable to work and the loss of both salary and supplemental income is just unthinkable. We cannot allow this to happen to one of our own.
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<p>This family needs us to rally around them at this most difficult time.
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Help Maximillian Gabriel

It's with deep regret and profound sorrow that we announce the sudden and tragic passing of Maxwell Verspyck. The 19 year old son of Angela Lattrell and Chipman Verspyck. <br />He was a sweet, sensitive, intelligent young man who struggled with depression for most of his young adulthood. <br />His fight came to an end yesterday when he took his own life. <br />The intense sadness of this is amplified by the reality that so many of our precious, deep feeling children are facing unspeakable stressors in their daily lives and it’s frightening to realize how many we are losing. <br />His family is overcome with grief, bewildered, and in shock. None of us can ever truly understand Maxwell’s choice, but his family that he left behind must somehow face what tomorrow brings without their beloved boy and be present for their youngest son, Wyatt. <br />Angela and Chipman lost their son, and there are no words that can possibly express the suffering that they will have to endure in the coming months and years. No parent should ever have to experience this kind of loss. <br />We have an opportunity now to join together as a community and help them to face the financial burden in the wake of this unspeakable tragedy. <br />Please help or share. <br />And be kind to one another. This ride can be short and difficult for so many of us.

Help for Maxwell's family

My name is Chester, my pronouns are He/Him, and I am a trans man. I got the news that I finally get to have my top surgery! However, due to pre-existing medical bills and the pandemic, I’ll need help accomplishing this goal of getting this life changing surgery. <br /><br />I have been looking forward to top surgery for as long as I can remember and since before I had the words for it. I started taking testosterone in January 2020, and I have been dreaming of and asking my doctor about top surgery since the beginning of my transition. This surgery means everything to me, so any help I can get will be going towards helping me finally feeling confident, making this dream come true, and making the process as easy and as stress free as possible. <br /><br />I officially have June 10th as the date set for my surgery and luckily my insurance will be covering part of the costs, but I will still owe an estimated $2761.00 at my pre-op appointment on May 17th. I will also have additional fees from the hospital facility itself after my hospital visit/surgery that are unknown as of right now. I am hoping to be as transparent as possible and update this GoFundMe with costs as they come. <br /><br />Although it’s very exciting that the date is so soon, I won’t be able to cover these costs on my own in this short amount of time. Additionally, my estimated recovery time is about 6-8 weeks after surgery, then I will be able to return to work. Due to this hiatus of being able to earn an income, I am also hoping to raise a little extra money to cover living expenses during my recovery period and wanted to account for fees gofundme will take out. <br /><br />Everyone’s love and support along the way has meant everything. Please share this and donate if you can!

Chesters Top Surgery Fund

ALL HANDS ON DECK FOR THE DOUGAN FAMILY!  This beloved family in our Hudson Valley/Woodstock, NY community is currently experiencing the daunting heartbreak of seeing their eldest daughter, Delilah (20) through treatment for her just diagnosed Stage Four Hodgkin's Lymphoma.<br /><br />First, the good news. While Stage Four cancer is a very serious situation, Delilah's age and the aggressive treatment path on which they are now beginning to embark makes her prognosis very very good. <br /><br />However, there is difficult news to share and here is how you can help. <br /><br />There are mounting, almost crippling costs for medical treatments not covered by insurance, and these bills, along with the funds needed to sustain a family of five while they commute back and forth from doctors appointments at Albany Medical Center, already are proving to be nearly insurmountable for The Dougan Family.<br /><br />Peter, one of the most admired and caring music teachers in our community, cannot continue his private music lessons at this time in order to supplement his income at Woodstock Day School and now will be tasked with managing their household while Delilah and Debbie shuttle back and forth between doctors visits and hospital stays, in addition to attending those vital appointments himself.<br /><br />Debbie, a true daughter of Woodstock, the founder of Women Empowering Women and a day-to-day working partner at Glo Spa, cannot work at all right now and must focus entirely on being Delilah's advocate and partner on this journey back to good health.  Overnights at the hospital by Delilah's side already are part of Debbie's new normal and because of COVID19, returning to work in the spa is proving to be almost impossible, as she cannot risk transferring any germs to Delilah and her weakened immune system. <br /><br />It would take an entire CHAPTER on Go Fund Me to detail what The Dougans have generously given to our community over the years. Along with Delilah, Talullah and Willem are familiar young faces, known and loved by so many of your own children and families. <br /><br />This is family that needs funds to stay afloat, period. <br /><br />We estimate that Debbie will be out of work for the better part of six months -- that income would be sorely missed by the family in normal circumstances and under these circumstances, the loss of both salary/supplemental income is just unthinkable. Vital treatments that may be available to Delilah and not covered by insurance will NOT be an option unless we all band together and support The Dougan Family and Delilah on the road back to health.<br /><br />Can you help?

Let's All Help The Dougan Family

<p>Solidarity, not charity!<br /><br />This is a particularly difficult time for many members of the (greater) Burlington, Vermont community. BTV CopWatch is raising funds to help those most vulnerable stay healthy, fed, housed, etc.<br /><br />When we started mutual aid distributions in mid-March, we thought we might go out one or two times to hand out supplies. Now, as of April 7, we've gone out almost every single day for 3+ weeks, we've collaborated with Food Not Bombs Burlington , we've distributed food donations from New Moon &amp; KKDs &amp; August First , we've done multiple supply runs for clothes, toiletries, medicine, and special requests , we've handed out cash, we've done grocery runs for families who are acutely food insecure, we've gotten phone cards to people in need , and we've handed out tons of Know Your Rights flyers.
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<p>We wish we could tell you how often every day we see people's faces light up and hear heartfelt "thank you!"s... because in reality all that gratitude is for YOU all, who allow us to do this work.<br />"This just made my day!"<br />"You all are the best."<br />"Wow, this $5 is worth 100 bottles. Thank you!"<br />"I used that $10 for foot warmers and got the first night's sleep in days!"<br />We continue to let everyone know that this isn't just us, this is the community taking care of one another. Thank you to all the amazing comrades &amp; donors who have contributed to make all of this possible &lt;3 <br /><br />If we can keep the funds rolling in, we will be able to continue taking care of our fellow community members over the next few weeks.  So if you have some extra cash, please consider giving some!<br />If you are in need of some food or supplies, give a shout!<br /><br />You can either donate here or (to avoid transaction fees) <strong>venmo @jazmojica or paypal <a href="mailto:[email redacted].">[email redacted]</a></strong>
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<p><br />Protect &amp; serve each other. Strong communities make police obsolete!<br /><br /><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/47241352_1586282170556601_r.jpeg" alt="47241352_1586282170556601_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />
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Community Mutual Aid (BTV CopWatch)

<p><strong>This is for the community of people who love and care for Coya Crespin</strong>- <br />a badass community organizer, parent, and friend to many. (especially those impacted by injustice who need an accomplice to<strong> take action!</strong>)<br /><br />Maybe you, like me, have experienced a time when she showed up for <strong>you</strong> in a powerful way - <strong>this is our opportunity to show up for Coya!</strong>
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<p><img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/52977086_1606888346603296_r.jpeg" alt="52977086_1606888346603296_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" /><br />If you have not yet met her - let me tell you about a <strong>working-class hero</strong> who I am proud to call a friend.  Coya is active in the struggle for tenants rights and <strong>against</strong> the evil of gentrification endemic to communities across Oregon in her work on staff at the Community Alliance of Tenants. And as one who fights, Coya remains a <strong>joyous spirit</strong>, and supports her household a single parent with three kids.  Her home is filled with love and the <strong>connectedness</strong> of family and ancestors.
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<p>Coya's compassion extends <strong>further still</strong> as she fights for the rights of those who she works alongside! She and her coworkers formed the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/catlaborunion/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CAT  Labor Union</a>  (part of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/cwa7901" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">CWA Local 7901</a> ) and Coya was shortly thereafter elected to serve as a member of CLU's <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGvqM7ZAce9/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bargaining Committee</a> .  On top of everything she advocates (and continues to advocate) for... she continues courageously alongside her fellow workers <a href="https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/stop-union-busting-at-community-alliance-of-tenants" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">facing down union busters</a> , and as always, <strong>speaks truth</strong> to power.
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<p>As her friend and president of her Union, I am saddened to share (with her permission) that early on the morning of December 1st, while in her vehicle but still in the parking lot of her apartment complex, a driver lost control of their pickup while taking a corner too fast. Coya was parked in the spot closest to the street. the truck flew over the curb - impacted the side of her vehicle - <strong>hard</strong> -  and continued barreling forward until finally crashing into a poll holding a power like (knocking out power to the complex).
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<p>The driver of the truck <strong>exited their vehicle and ran</strong>.
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<p>To be clear, Coya <strong>is</strong> physically safe and  thankfully sustained no severe bodily injuries, and no children were in the vehicle.
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<p>However, Coya's car is<strong> completely totaled.   </strong>Like many working people in 2020... is not  comfortably sitting on tons of extra funds to replace ones means of transportation destroyed in an instant.<br /><br /><strong>No one</strong> deserves to have something like this start their day, but the overwhelming injustice of such a freak accident befalling someone who gives <strong>so much</strong> of themselves at every turn... is why I am asking you, my friends, <strong>the community who loves Coya,</strong> and the wider community of those who might be moved to offer support to a helper you do not yet personally know, because you sense they are making the communities they are a part of better... to <strong>please join me</strong> in doing that to today.<br /><br />“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’” - Fred Rogers 
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Support Coya in Aftermath of Hit & Run

In the midst of a <strong>deadly</strong>, global pandemic, while most of the state was ablaze and the air filled with toxic smoke, the Kinney family was forcibly removed from their fourth-generation home. In the morning of September 9th, 2020, Multnomah County Sheriffs bashed open the Kinney family door at gunpoint. Armed with assault rifles, they barked orders for the family to pack up their belongings and move within 30 minutes. The Kinneys were given no prior legal notice, as their case was still in litigation in a higher court. Multnomah County Judge Judith H. Matazarro authorized the eviction in direct violation of state and federal eviction moratoriums.<br /><br /><br />We <strong>refuse</strong> to let another eviction happen. Outraged at the treatment of this Afro-Indigenous family, the Portland community has united to save the Red House on Mississippi, rallying support around the family to reclaim the house and hold the land in a 24/7 eviction blockade. Since September, support has grown for the Red House and today we maintain an around-the-clock community presence along with onsite camping, a fully functional kitchen offering two free hot meals a day, and free programming centered in healing and abolition. This is what it looks like for neighbors to truly take care of each other.<br /><br /><br />Our Story<br /><br /><br />One of the oldest standing homes in the neighborhood, the Red House on Mississippi was built in 1896 and has belonged to the Kinney family for 65 years. In the 1950s, William and Pauline Kinney, an African-American couple, moved to Portland from Little Rock, Arkansas to escape deep South oppression. Like other Black families, they were redlined out of getting loans in North Portland and bought the home outright with cash in 1955. There, they raised their children, and a new generation of Kinneys made the Red House their family home.<br /><br />Their oldest son, William Kinney Jr. grew up in the house and remembers a time when the home was a rental for Black families and he would help his father to collect rents. He went on to become a security officer for Portland Community College, where he served from 1976 to 1992. After being excluded from training available to white employees, he spoke out. In retaliation, he was wrongfully demoted and eventually terminated. He filed a racial discrimination lawsuit against the college. A federal jury awarded him $900,000, though he accepted a settlement of a fraction of the award amount because the college threatened to appeal. <br /><br />Meanwhile, in 1983, he’d returned to the Red House with his wife Julie (an Indigenous Native of the Upper Skagit Tribe of Washington) and their four-year-old, Michele. William and Julie had two more children, William Kinney III two years later (1985) and youngest son Michael (in 1990). Family memories fill the house and the neighborhood, though the shiny new condos and expensive food carts of gentrification tell a different story.<br /><br />Before the community garden was built across the street, it was a vacant lot known as “the field,” used as a community baseball field amongst all the neighbors. All three of the Kinney siblings played for Peninsula Little League and proudly remember the year William’s team won the district and went on to state. One winter, Julie brought the kids over to the field during a heavy snow to build a snow-cat that was about 12 feet long. It was so huge that reporters showed up with cameras to put it on the evening news.<br /><br /><br />The Kinneys describe the attack on their family as beginning in 2002, when their son, William III was taken to prison at the young age of 17 for an automobile accident. In hopes of saving their child from the brutality of the prison system, the family was left with no choice but to take out a loan against their home to pay for costly legal fees. Despite their efforts to fight the system and keep their family together, the Kinneys' lives took a downward turn when William III was taken to prison for two 5-year sentences, totaling 10 years.<br /><br />During her son’s incarceration, Julie Metcalf Kinney was met with the untimely dissolution of the local nonprofit Low Income Housing for Native Americans of Portland, Oregon (LIHNAPO), where she served as Executive Director. A longtime housing organizer for Indigenous families, she’d been involved with LIHNAPO since its founding in the early 1990s and had served as an original board member in addition to being a member of the Interstate Urban Renewal Committee of Portland and a commissioner of the Housing Authority of Grand Ronde. Mrs. Metcalf Kinney dedicated her life to fighting against the gentrification of inner-city Portland where she was born and raised. Now, decades later, her family faces the tragedy of losing their home to criminal banking practices and a horrifying illegal eviction.<br /><br />Big Banks and Back-Room Deals<br /><br />The trouble for the Kinneys intensified in 2004 when they refinanced their second mortgage with Beneficial Oregon to pay off an adjustable rate mortgage that had an increasing interest rate. The first loan was paid off by the new one. In December 2016 the Kinneys received a notice that the loan had been transferred from Beneficial to MTGLQ Investors (a subsidiary of Goldman Sachs), but that they should continue to send payments to Beneficial as the servicer. The loan was evidently assigned from Beneficial Financial 1, Inc. ("BF1"), as successor through merger to Beneficial, to MTGLQ.<br /><br />The Kinneys then received paperwork from both entities for the next two months, each demanding payment, so the family sent a letter seeking to verify the new entity that was servicing the loan. In May 2017 the loan was sold again, this time to U.S. Bank Trust National Association ("U.S. Bank Trust"). It was then transferred to U.S. Bank Trust REO Trust. In May 2018, Clear Recon Corporation was appointed as successor trustee of the 2004 Deed of Trust and they initiated the process to foreclose on the Kinney’s home.<br /><br />The Kinneys continued to challenge the process, but their home was sold via auction as a nonjudicial foreclosure in October 2018. Owing only $97,000 on their home, they were denied their right to buy it back (their right of redemption) as protected by Oregon law. They even tried to bid on their own home at the auction but were refused on a technicality. According to Zillow, the empty lot directly adjacent to the Kinney family home is worth $10.2M.<br /><br />Their home was reportedly sold to a developer, Roman Ozeruga of Urban Housing Development, who got the deed in 2018. Urban Housing Development attempted to evict the Kinneys when it first got the deed, but the eviction was stalled by the Kinneys’ federal complaint and a state counterclaim. In February 2020, possession of the Kinneys’ home was awarded to Urban Housing Development. In March, Oregon declared a state of emergency due to COVID-19, issuing a statewide eviction moratorium on April 1st. A federal eviction moratorium followed on September 1st. Moratoriums at both state and federal levels should have halted the eviction.<br /><br />What’s Happening Now<br /><br /><br />In response to the community and family’s reclaiming of the land, Multnomah County initiated a new 30-day writ of execution to re-evict the family. While it was set to expire October 27th, sheriffs failed to evict the family by the court-ordered deadline. Instead, Multnomah County Judge Stephen Bushong made an unusual decision, extending the writ of execution an additional 120 days. As winter arrives and temperatures dip below freezing, the community remains resolute in their support, initiating weatherizing projects for those who continue to live and sleep outside the Red House in anticipation of a second eviction, which could happen anytime in the next four months. History shows the next eviction may be more devastating than the first.<br /><br /><br />The family’s litigation continues, too. On November 14th, a petition for a writ of certiorari was filed in the U.S. Supreme Court. Urban Housing Development has until December 23rd to respond. While the fight continues in the courts, we’re working in the community to leverage our people power. This is where you come in.<br /><br /><br />We Need Your Help<br /><br /><br />We don’t need another empty, high-rise, high-rent luxury condominium. The Kinneys are one of the last Black families remaining on Mississippi and their fight for their home is also a real-time fight against gentrification. In order to stand a chance against the big banks and developers who’ve systematically displaced Black families across North and Northeast Portland, we need leverage.<br /><br /><br />We need to raise $250,000 by [date], the last day of Multnomah County’s extended writ of execution. This money will be an essential bargaining tool to initiate negotiations with developer Roman Ozeruga and ensure the Kinney family can remain housed for generations to come. To reach our goal, we’ll need to raise $22,000 each week starting today, on Black Friday 2020. Will you put your dollars where your heart is?<br /><br /><br />Follow us on redhouseonmississippi.com, on IG at @redhouseonmississippi, and on Twitter at @RHonMississippi for updates. Reach out to us at [email redacted] if you’d like to help us spread the word and bring our fundraising efforts to your communities.

Save The Kinney Family Home

<p>My name is Elena, Hi there.
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<p>I'll try to be quick about this because I've tried several times in the past, but it seems like many people are starting to treat the critical lack of support felt by Black Trans Women and Trans Women of Color with the respect that our situations require.
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<p>Maybe now is finally my opportunity, and hopefully an opportunity for all of us.
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<p>I have been out as trans for 7 or 8 years now. The biggest and seemingly insurmountable hurdle to my transition is Facial Feminization Surgery (FFS). FFS is actual a catch-all for for any type of facial/cranial surgery meant to remove or reduce the effects of experiencing a testosterone induced puberty.
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<p>It's incredibly expensive and rarely covered by insurance. Most of the women I know of who were capable of getting FFS are white, upper middle class, or just filthy stinking rich.
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<p>I had all but given up when I saw that there was a surge of donations being made to Black Trans Women's GFMs. I am hoping to also be able to share in that wealth and appreciate anyone who wants to help me get the care that I need.
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Elena's Transition Fund

<strong>Help a BIPOC-owned business survive!</strong><br /><br />Patience Bannerman, owner of the Mawuhi African Market, was dealt a severe blow in October. Since 2007, Patience and her family have run the community market in the center of Burlington, Vt.’s Old North End, providing valuable goods and services to the African Diaspora of Vermont, New England, and the neighborhood. A community hub, woven into the fabric of the Old North End, the Mawuhi African Market is a staple in Burlington. When new owners purchased the building in the fall, they assured Ms. Bannerman that the lease that she has had for 13 years would be extended. That good faith was destroyed in early October when Ms. Bannerman was given notice to leave her property by the end of November. The new property owners are demanding that this prosperous BIPOC owned business vacate during their busiest time, the holidays and in the middle of the COVID pandemic. <br /><br /><br />The African Diaspora from across Vermont and the region come to the Mawuhi African Market to find food they can not find anywhere else: spices, shrimp and vegetables that taste like home. December is the busiest month for Ms. Bannerman, as customers come for the holiday gifts and to use MoneyGram. The Mawuhi African Market is the only location in the neighborhood that has MoneyGram, which people from across the world use to send money home to their families. <br /><br /><br />All funds raised will go toward finding  a new location, moving and set-up costs, as well as compensation for lost businesses during months of closing as well as to pay for what will certainly be an increase in rent.

Mawuhi African Market Moving & Transition Funds

Kevin (KP) Peterson Jr is my son.  Yesterday he was murdered by the police in Vancouver, WA. Kevin was only 21 years old and leaves behind a 4 month old daughter. He was a happy young man with his whole life ahead of him and now he’s become another face of racial injustice. <br /><br />We waited 12 hours in the cold before we were able to even identify him. Throughout the entire night the Vancouver Police had told us nothing. Today, unknown to us, Clark County Police held a press conference giving out more information to the public than they could give to us, his own family. I’m asking my community to come together and help as much as each person can. Whether it be sharing this post, donating for funeral costs, praying over us or even just saying his name when they want us to stay silent.  <br /><br />#JusticeforKevin

Kevin Peterson Jr

<div>On August 23rd my son was shot multiple times in the back by a Kenosha Police Department officer, after my son broke up an altercation by an unrelated party. The shooting has now left my son critically injured as he fights for his life. The extent of my son’s injuries is unknown, but we remain prayerful as he continues to undergo multiple rounds of operations to save his life.This fund is established to cover my son’s medical expenses, mental and grief counseling for our family and to assist our family in the days to come, as we continue to seek justice for Jacob. A portion of these proceeds will also be used to benefit my son’s 6 children, some of whom witnessed this horrific act of violence. Anyone wishing to send cards, letters of encouragement and/or contributions in the form of a money order or check, may do so by mail at: Edifye C/O Julia Jackson 330 N Wabash Ave FL 23 Chicago IL 60611
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Justice for Jacob Blake

Juju Montera

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Juju Montera

Juju Montera

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