HEY all you liberal, bleeding-heart, tree-huggin', pinko commies!!! (UPDATE w/link to most recent OP
This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by Le Taz Hot (a host of the General Discussion forum).
Last edited Thu Feb 14, 2013, 11:57 AM - Edit history (5)
[font color=red]NEW, MOST UP-TO-DATE "HELP A DUer" OP HERE.[/font]I'M TRYING TO GET YOUR ATTENTION WITHOUT USING PROFANITY (not that I'm averse to profanity whatsoever...just not in these threads)
[font color="brown"](I was previously given permission by Skinner to post periodically about http://www.wishadoo.org, especially when it involves DUers, with this required disclaimer: "The administrators of Democratic Underground have given permission for one discussion thread on this topic. The administrators of Democratic Underground make no claims regarding the legitimacy or illegitimacy of this fundraising effort. Permission was granted by Skinner on 8/6/2010, and the moderators have been notified."
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If you're not familiar with Wishadoo, please see my journal for previous posts.
Since we liberals/progressives/Democrats are concerned about others and The Common Good, these OPs, which Skinner graciously allows me to create here at DU, provide an opportunity to put our values into action and DO SOMETHING.
Many of the needs we see all around could be prevented with more humane policies and systems, not the least of which is Universal Healthcare and strengthening our safety nets to prevent homelessness and other forms of poverty resulting from the gross wealth inequality. We know this.
Yet as we pursue legislative changes and other means to change our society for the better...for The Common Good...Wishadoo! provides the opportunity to do what we can to show Love & Compassion NOW, even if we're suffering and struggling ourselves in some way.
[font color="black"][font size="3"]PLEASE:
[font color="green"]1. Recommend this thread and keep it kicked for visibility, as well as:[/font size][/font color]
* Share the Wishlist posts with your social networks (or share from here, of course)
* ACKNOWLEDGE these courageous people who have made themselves vulnerable by asking for help. Please offer whatever support you can (information, advice, well wishes, financial or other support, etc.)
* Share Wishadoo! with others (online and in person); after all, the more who gather...[/font]
[font color="green"][font size="3"]2. Read DUers' Wishlist Posts [/font size][/font color] [font color="black"](click the DU name to see their Wishlist post. You can contact them directly via Wishadoo or here at DU with any questions. Some posts have convenient donate widgets embedded for you to see the progress of their individual fundraising needs):
* VenusRising needs support with rent and bills. Many here offered moral support when her husband passed away suddenly three years ago. Please also see her recent DU thread for more information about her current situation.
* Another long-time DUer in good standing is asking for help. What he wants more than anything is to find an IT job but could use support in other ways now as well. He would prefer to not share his DU name but is indeed a member here.
There are more...
A. bakprkr, has posted the most recent request in the Wishlist. He is a vet, who has been struggling tremendously to avoid homelessness and needs transportation for employment (mass transit simply isn't available in many areas). His request is straightforward, and he's included a PayPal clickable icon. He has also permitted me to share his blog link, where you can follow his journey:
http://homelessvarmyvet.blogspot.com/
B. Deek's Wish needs much, much more attention. Not much has been raised thus far. You may remember deek's thread from April 2012, where she asked for votes to win a new wheelchair van for her daughter. DUers voted, but she didn't win. The engine on her van died and she needs a new one now, so she turned to Wishadoo! and DU for help.
C. Silvershadow has a dream to start a non-profit organization for those who have Multiple Sclerosis and other similar neurological diseases.
D. Akoto is a wonderful DUer I've interacted with behind the scenes; a very selfless young person, usually asking on behalf of others, but has a very real need for transportation.
E. Mtnleo2 is asking for dental help for her niece, who is homeless.
F. Oak2004 has a request to help a disabled/senior housing project.
[font color="blue"][font size="2"]EDIT TO ADD:[/font] We can also use the Wishlist as a jobs board. There is already a category for "JOB NEEDED" and another for "JOB OPENINGS." Just sayin'....
http://www.wishadoo.org/wishlist/category/49/job-needed/
http://www.wishadoo.org/wishlist/category/45/job-openings/
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Please consider reaching out to others at the Wishlist even if they aren't part of the DU Community.
THANK YOU!
[center][font color=green]ABOUT WISHADOO!: Anyone is welcome to use the tools at Wishadoo, so long as the Terms of Service are adhered to (basically "play nice" and don't lie). This includes creating posts in the Wishlist, a "craigslist of compassion." Most of us are struggling with one thing or another, and as you'll see, there are many categories in the Wishlist to cover a variety of issues/needs.
Wishadoo! is a comprehensive portal providing tools, resources and inspiration to connect, help/be helped, and cultivate compassion, cooperation and authentic community in myriad ways, online and in our own "backyards." Wishadoo!'s tools have been designed to integrate and be of service to all sectors of community: individuals, neighborhoods, schools, organizations and businesses.
The Wishlist is where we can ask, offer, give, receive and pay it forward. If you create a Wishlist post, let me know your DU name, and I can start to do weekly or biweekly threads such as this to highlight DUers' needs and offerings.
Any contributions to Wishadoo! itself go toward the cost of maintaining the site, NOT toward any Wishlist posts. That takes place one on one, between Wishadoo! members. If you are able to help with costs to keep the site going, we all appreciate your generosity tremendously, and I would be forever indebted.
http://www.wishadoo.org/support-wishadoo/
MANY, MANY thanks to those who have already
helped support Wishadoo! in various ways!
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= new reply since forum marked as read
... That Universe, she's a sly one. 
Thanks!
Keep it going! 
I'll answer to that.
I resemble that remark!
Thank you so much for trying to help me out. You cannot imagine the amount of gratitude I feel to you and others that do wonderful things like this.
May karma smile upon you all!
You need to remember E. that you are very special. You've hit a rough spot at this time, but time passes and takes those spots with it. You'll be back on your feet soon. I know it. Your hard work, ambition and zest for life will see you through.
R. would be so very proud of you!
Hang in there!
You're gonna make it just fine.
aA
kesha
I've got a killer case of the weepies.
I have such wonderful and good friends.
Thank you so much for your kindness and generosity, cate94.
But your onscreen confirmation number and PayPal email receipt verify that your payment went through.
Note that even PayPal has a delay in the transaction showing up in your account. They sent an email advising:
Patience, Grasshopper...
To both you and OGR. It did go through. And I am a tad embarrassed. I have a bit of a fever today and should have just waited a while.
Truthfully, even if I wasn't sick, I don't have much patience.
I'm battling the norovirus myself, and I keep checking the Wish List page and seeing no change--even after 6 hours. I just keep telling myself, "Patience, Grasshopper."
It also helps that I think I'm getting better, virus-wise. I hope you're getting better, too.
Getting over that nasty virus, too.
Hope you both feel much better soon.
Thanks for everything...including patience.
My being sick temporarily is nothing compared to the struggle you're going through. I hope this campaign helps to tide you over in your own temporary challenge.
And special thanks to my friend LiberalLoner, who made it happen.
Still, being sick sucks.
The campaign is slow going, but I will never complain. There are wonderful people who are so generous of spirit that I will keep fighting on.
As more and more people are struggling in various ways simply to survive, it's harder and harder to gather enough people to help. I'm brainstorming some non-legislative Robin Hood-esque (but legal, non-violent) ways of shifting resources and alleviating suffering -- a "Six Degrees of Compassion" idea -- but at present am left trying to gather "regular" people to help one another.
We can help in many ways that aren't financial, but when money is what is needed, it's increasingly difficult to meet the needs. That's obvious, of course.
But here's my question: I'm contemplating creating an OP in GD (and other groups here) but don't want to seem disrespectful to DU in any way. Just as DU is a huge community -- and people here come together as best they can via these Wishadoo posts -- surely DUers belong to other online communities as well, be they hobby-related, religious, health, parenting, etc.
I need to make headway with other online communities to show them how Wishadoo can be of service to their members; helping their community members via Wishadoo takes away liability for their site and cuts down approval time for such posts, which is why it works well here at DU for all involved.
But we need more to gather. Gathering existing communities is one way to do that.
I am a paycheck-to-paycheck person myself and am doing my best behind the scenes and working on various projects to spread the word, but if the DU community members could share Wishadoo with their OTHER networks and communities -- online and "real" world -- that would help tremendously since they see how it already works here at DU.
Thoughts on creating an OP to that effect, or any other suggestions as to how to reach other existing communities? I was a longstanding member here at DU, part of the community, before creating Wishadoo. I don't really belong to other online communities, not enough to be trusted or listened to. I need ambassadors.
Trying to keep these posts visible is a huge challenge. If I post them too often, I'll wear out my welcome with the admins and members will pay even less attention, I fear. This OP got more recs than the other similar posts recently, so I'm very grateful for that.
I did create an OP addressing this situation, asking for help spreading the word, which got very little attention.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022342217
It would be nice to be able to monitor progress on a Wish List page in something closer to real time, but the main thing is the good work you are doing and the help people are getting.
You're the best, and I hope you get well soon.
Love & Peace, pinboy3niner
Being under the weather is no fun.
It's been updated twice, with multiple contributions added each time. Rather than a delay in posting individual contributions, it looks like they're updated in batches at infrequent intervals.
I may have spoken too soon about getting better...
I am feeling better again today, though. Hope you and OGR are, too.
I hope you get all the support you need.
Love you, and love what you are doing!
Sorry, I don't have that information. But you can ask the people who have created Wishlist posts.
Thanks for everything.
I added the OP to add this info. Since one of the DUer Wishlist posts involved seeking a job, I wanted to point out that we can also use the Wishlist as a jobs board. There is already a category for "JOB NEEDED" and another for "JOB OPENINGS." Just sayin'....
http://www.wishadoo.org/wishlist/category/49/job-needed/
http://www.wishadoo.org/wishlist/category/45/job-openings/
To those generous souls who have helped me so far, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. It is amazing how wonderful people can be. I promise to pay it forward just as soon as I have the means.
He applied for several positions there after your suggestion; said he never thought of that until you posted.
Thank you for posting this. Best wishes to all.
no luck thus far.
Thank you so much for replying, mamayo!!!
Thanks for the thread, OneGrassRoot. 
in a moment to invite DUers who are interested to explore different ways we can come together to help one another.
This is an interesting suggestion, Sienna86, and I appreciate you thinking in this direction.
I'll share the link to the new OP here when I post it.
