Rayhawk Family

They dropped the price on our dream house!

2011-11-19T18:09:00.001-05:00

Oh My Goodness our family fell in love with this house and property when we first saw it. It's absolutely perfect for our Crippled Critter sanctuary, the interior has everything to give our adult disabled son his own home on the upper level while Me and Amy would live on the lower level with easy mobility access to all rooms and to the outside. The land is precious and perfect for all of our animals...it's our DREAM HOME and they just dropped the price again.....if only we could find a private lender!!

We can't get into this house with traditional banks because first, it's under 50K and it's not a mobile home and second our family structure is non-traditional. We must each qualify independently to be included on a loan so we can't combine our individual incomes to qualify.

Is there anyone out there willing to lend for this property?

We have solid evidence of income and of paying two mortgages for the past 7 years on a property that is in a family members name. Mortgages are in excellent standing. We have paid over 34K in 7 years on less income than we have now. Our family is going strong and ready to move forward. If you are a lender interested in helping a family into this property please send email to becky@rayhawkfam.com and let's talk

Amplify’d from www.homepath.com

511 Kennedy Dr

Wagener, South Carolina 29164

Aiken County

Price Reduced

$44,500

3 Beds, 2 Baths

2,332 sq. ft.

Property Details

Price:
$44,500

Bedrooms:
3

Bathrooms:
2

Living Area Size:
2,332

Sewer Type:
Well,Septic

Year Built:
1979

Description:
Unique opportunity on large acreage. Close to Aiken. House needs some renovations. THIS IS A FANNIE MAE PROPERTY.

See more at www.homepath.com

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Everything lost in the Vermont flood. Microgiving Project by Julia Garufi

2011-09-03T00:23:00.001-04:00

This is a VERIFIED cause! Please don't look away...a single $5 donation from you and a share of this page could make a world of difference. Imagine if you share this page and 100 people give just $5 each. Are you sure you can't give just $5...would you hope for a $5 random act of kindness if this was you or someone you knew?

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

About this Project

Can you imagine - one day you're fine, 24 hours later everything you own is gone. That is what happened to our good friend last week and we need everyone's support as soon as possible.

The bad news: The house was completely wiped out. All of their belongs were destroyed. The oil from the furnace leaked into the flood water and has made clean-up near impossible. We don't know if FEMA will help find them a new home but we know it will be a long haul.

More bad news: The place Julia works is damaged beyond repair and will be torn down. This will make life even more difficult.

The GOOD news: The outpouring of love and concern has been amazing but there is still a long struggle ahead.

Please give what you can afford. Any amount is appreciated and will be rewarded by good karma 10 times over.

Thanks - we are in this together.

Read more at www.microgiving.com

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Woman’s yard sale to pay medical bills gets shut down

2011-08-18T21:57:00.001-04:00

Let me be clear: this isn't about the yard sale. Well, in a sense, it is about the yard sale. How dare any country force a person with terminal bone cancer to hold an effing yard sale in order to stay alive? This is savage, cruel, and anti-life. ~dailykos.com

Amplify’d from salem.katu.com

A woman fighting a terminal form of bone cancer is trying to raise money to help pay bills with a few weekend garage sales, but the city of Salem says she’s breaking the law and is shutting her down.

Jan Cline had no idea, but the city of Salem has a clear law that states a person can only have three yard sales a year.

Cline has been selling her stuff in the backyard for a few weekends and said she thought she’d be fine by keeping the sale out of everyone’s way.

“It’s a struggle,” Cline says. “It’s a struggle for me because I’m very independent, used to taking care of myself.”

She’s run businesses and supported herself for years but this summer she was diagnosed with bone cancer.

“It’s a bone marrow cancer that eats through the bones and causes holes in the bones so that just by walking I can break a bone,” she says.

In one day she lost her independence, her ability to work and earn an income that could pay for all those medical bills.

So she decided to sell what she owned. The sale was bringing in several hundred dollars each weekend until one neighbor complained and she got a visit from the city.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry. Rules are rules.’”

Cline says she understands the city is trying to prevent nuisances in neighborhoods but she doesn’t think she’s causing any trouble.

“We make such an effort of making it back here (backyard) so that it’s not goobering up the neighborhood, so it’s not like a garage sale all laid out day after day after day,” she says.

Cline says she’s not looking for special treatment but maybe some understanding.

“I just hope that nobody else has to go through this kind of thing. I hope no one else has to give their lives away for nickels and dimes and then be told they can’t even do that. I hope nobody else has to do this ever.”

According to the Community Development Department, there is a reason for the law. In the past some people had set up what ended up being permanent flea-market-type sales on their property.

After hearing more about Cline’s situation, a supervisor said he is going to take another look to see if there’s anything she can do to operate within the law. But if she reopens now, it is a misdemeanor and about a $300 fine.

If You Would Like To Help

Help Jane Cline Facebook Page

Online donation page

See more at salem.katu.com

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Unique Fundraising Ideas from the Micro Giving Foundation

2011-08-16T17:03:00.001-04:00

Thanks goes to the Autograph Store Charity Fundraising for their awesome blog post supporting Microgiving! The Autograph Store Charity serves more than 1,800 non-profits worldwide, providing autographed memorabilia and once-in-a-lifetime experiences to support our partners' charity auction fundraising efforts.

Amplify’d from charityfundraising.autographstore.com

We’re proud of the thousands of amazing foundations our fundraising ideas have been able to help support, but we also recognize there are individuals in the world facing hardships who are unable to receive support from some of the larger organizations out there. It’s in cases like these when the notion of crowd funding and an organization like the Micro Giving Foundation can make a major difference in the world.

Founded in 2007, the Micro Giving Foundation started with the basic concept of connecting people who have financial resources with people in need. Since its founding, the organization has built an online community of over 50,000 people, expanding rapidly and constantly looking for growth opportunities in the world of philanthropy and fundraising. All users can create individual Web pages dedicated to specific hardships or causes — medical treatments, funerals, school fundraisers, personal projects, etc. In addition to that, users can upload videos, photos, and even entire address books to more efficiently reach out to potential supporters. This makes it easier for individuals in need to connect with the people who can truly identify with their struggle and offer much needed support.

Recently, the Micro Giving Foundation began reaching out to the music and film industry, making promotion and fundraising possible for aspiring artists. The organization also encourages those pursuing personal projects to donate some of their proceeds back to different charities or individuals in need. This interactive community helps donors and recipients connect directly, allowing donors to identify with specific causes and form life-changing relationships with the people they’re helping. As expansion continues, the organization hopes to increase their interaction with nonprofits, even going as far as supporting online ticket sales for nonprofit events and charity auctions.

So if you have a great fundraising idea, are facing a hardship of your own, or are simply looking to give back to someone less fortunate, check out the Micro Giving Foundation today. There’s no cause too big or too small, and every dollar counts!
Read more at charityfundraising.autographstore.com

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One of the World's Richest Men Says, "Raise My Taxes!"

2011-08-15T12:26:00.001-04:00

And to those who argue that higher rates hurt job creation, I would note that a net of nearly 40 million jobs were added between 1980 and 2000. You know what’s happened since then: lower tax rates and far lower job creation. ~Warren Buffet

Amplify’d from modestneeds.typepad.com

One of the most talked about, linked to and Twittered news articles today is one written by one of the wealthiest men in the world. He's renowned investor, phenonimally rich, personally frugal and the creator of The Giving Pledge, which urges billionaires to give away huge swaths of their fortune to the less fortunate.

And today, in the New York Times, he's asked to have his taxes raised. Substantially.

You'd be hard pressed to find many people who want their taxes raised, but Warren Buffet thinks the super-rich in America have been "coddled" for far too long:

While the poor and middle class fight for us in Afghanistan, and while most Americans struggle to make ends meet, we mega-rich continue to get our extraordinary tax breaks. Some of us are investment managers who earn billions from our daily labors but are allowed to classify our income as “carried interest,” thereby getting a bargain 15 percent tax rate. Others own stock index futures for 10 minutes and have 60 percent of their gain taxed at 15 percent, as if they’d been long-term investors.

I encourage you to read this article in full. It's not very long, and it's a really powerful piece of writing that simply spells out exactly how unfair the current system is.

What do you think about Buffet's piece? Do you agree that the uber-wealthy should pay more into the American tax system? Let us know your thoughts on this "hot topic" in the comments.
Read more at modestneeds.typepad.com

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LGBT Wedding Expo Microgiving Project by Edgard Gallardo

2011-08-12T15:57:00.001-04:00

Let's support the businesses who take part in this expo! With the recent passage of gay marriage in New York, this is a historic time in this state’s history. GVCCC would like to incorporate local, city-wide and regional businesses, helping them connect to the LGBT community. The event will be a sure way to connect with potential business clients in a more personal, community-oriented feel.

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

About this Project

As a cake designer and owner of Heavenly Cakes in Hell's Kitchen I have been invited by the Greenwich Village/Chelsea Chamber of Commerce to participate in the 1st LGBT Wedding Expo in Manhattan, taking place in October 2011 at The Altman Building. The fee to be a vendor at the fair is a little out of my reach in such a short time. I'm reaching out to friends and family to help me raise the $2000 i need to be able to be part of this incredible opportunity which could greatly benefit my business.

$1 - VERIFIED BY THE MICROGIVING TEAM!
This member has provided all necessary documents to verify legal identity and fundraising cause as written. You can donate with confidence. ~The MicroGiving Team

Read more at www.microgiving.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1arxd

test

2011-08-12T15:44:00.001-04:00

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

About this Project

As a cake designer and owner of Heavenly Cakes in Hell's Kitchen I have been invited by the Greenwich Village/Chelsea Chamber of Commerce to participate in the 1st LGBT Wedding Expo in Manhattan, taking place in October 2011 at The Altman Building. The fee to be a vendor at the fair is a little out of my reach in such a short time. I'm reaching out to friends and family to help me raise the $2000 i need to be able to be part of this incredible opportunity which could greatly benefit my business.

$1 - VERIFIED BY THE MICROGIVING TEAM!
This member has provided all necessary documents to verify legal identity and fundraising cause as written. You can donate with confidence. ~The MicroGiving Team

Read more at www.microgiving.com

See this Amp at http://amplify.com/u/a1arxd

Reaching Out to the Unreachable...

2011-08-05T01:19:00.001-04:00

I am a team member at Microgiving.com John Ferber is the founder. John was also in an episode of Secret Millionaire. This is a blog post from a view of the Secret Millionaire episode and this viewer is reaching deep inside to see how charity fits into the lives of people who identify as Christian. These are just clips from the article, please click on the link below to read more.

Amplify’d from 63angel.blogspot.com

John Ferber, spent a week in Los Angeles's Skid Row

There was one episode where the man that was helping the poor by feeding and clothing them seen a man who needed shoes... This man took his own shoes off his feet and gave them to the homeless man without thinking twice... I wonder how many times if we seen people like this that we as Christians would stop and give them the shoes off our feet or would we look down at them with pity and walk away?

In our own area here in St. George you can walk down the street and see homeless people with families... You can tell who they are, and for some reason people will go to the other side of the street to get away from them and look away... Is this what our world has come to where people look away from those who are in need... I know many have put themselves in the situation they are in, but many haven't... No matter what the reason may be that they are there, shouldn't someone be willing to help them and show them that there are others that care...

I think there is a stigma when it comes to the poor, homeless and the not so pleasant people... Maybe it's because of the news..

I was reading this other blog and I liked what he said, "It's time for Christians to start acting like Christians." And that is where I am going to leave this... Maybe that will be my affirmation thought for today...
Read more at 63angel.blogspot.com

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Senseless Ramblings of the Mindless: Christians Reaching Out to the Unreachable...

2011-08-05T01:07:00.000-04:00

Senseless Ramblings of the Mindless: Christians Reaching Out to the Unreachable...: "John Ferber, spent a week in Los Angeles's Skid Row When I think of the word 'outreach' I think of reaching out those around us... I have..."

Microgiving Man and His Dog Hungry and Nearly Homeless

2011-08-02T20:49:00.001-04:00

This gentleman is a full verified member of Microgiving. He has been unemployed due to lay off. His benefits have been expired and he's been living on only food stamps for one person and charitable donations he's received through Microgiving. He is now in ill health and has no help for medical care, there isn't enough help coming through for quality food for himself and his dog. Please consider helping this man...there is no help out there for single people without children...too old to hire too young to retire and not disabled enough for help. There are simply no jobs! This is a man who has worked hard for years.

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

I was laid off for a while and finally found a job.

I was laid off again from my new job due to my company not getting a contract.

I was denied unemployment because I didn't have enough hours to qualify.

I already went through my savings. I'm trying to keep a roof over my

head and pay the bills.

Me and my pup need to get by for a little longer until I can find another job.

*Update: I still haven't found a regular job. Thanks to Brady (who has been a guardian angel to me in many ways) I was able to earn some money helping him with transporting materials for his company, but that was a one time project. I am still looking for steady employment, but so far I haven't found anything. I am down to my last dollar and I will be receiving an eviction notice soon if I don't have any money to pay my rent.

To make a contribution by credit card, click on Donate Now button on

the right side of the page.

If you prefer not to donate by credit card, you can also donate by check.

Make the check out to: MicroGiving Foundation Inc.

In the memo line please include: Donation for Ken profile/kallabur

Checks should be sent to:

Micro Giving Foundation

777 East Atlantic Ave, Suite 312,

Delray Beach, FL, 33483
Read more at www.microgiving.com

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Microgiving Family lost everything in a recent house fire for the 2nd time!

2011-07-13T21:40:00.001-04:00

This cause has been documented by Microgiving. The family recently lost their belongings in a fire, have just begun to replace those belongings with insurance money and unfortunately came home to find firefighters trying to save their home...all was lost...Again. The family needs a little help this time.

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

About this Project

Please help the Martin family, James, Jessica and Jordyn out due to their recent house fire on 07/12/2011.

Martin and his wife, who were on vacation for the week and preparing for their son's wedding this weekend, had taken their boat into the shop when their tire blew and returned to the house for the spare. That's when they saw their house in flames.

This is the second time in four months the Martin family drove up to find their house burned.

Not only have they lost their home but have also lost two 4 legged family members Rosie and Rusty. "Their daughter, Jordyn, shrieked and knelt in the field when she drove up" ~ Weatherford Democrat News

Any amount big or small will be appreciated All monies will be directly deposited into Jessica Martin's bank account. Please don't hesitate if you have any questions or would like to donate in another form!

News Article and photos related to the fire can be found here: http://weatherforddemocrat.com/local/x1422810529/Twice-unlucky

Read more at www.microgiving.com

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Microgiving Member Kimberly Johnston needs a little help after husbands heart attack

2011-07-13T01:35:00.001-04:00

Kimberly is a verified member. This means she has submitted documentation to prove her legal US identity, true need and circumstances surrounding the need. Offering a little help could prevent the situation from getting even worse. Just $5 and a click on the share link could change a life.

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

About this Project

My husband Steve suffered a heart attack in Dec. of 2010, and as a result was unable to work for several weeks. Due to this, we fell behind on all of our bills. What little savings we had is gone. We just need enough to pay off our back bills--rent, utilities, car insurance and medical bills not covered by our insurance. Any amount would be greatly appreciated! Please spread the word by using the "Share" buttons on my profile. Thank you and God Bless!

Read more at www.microgiving.com

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NCCPR Child Welfare Blog: Foster care in Houston: The “majestic equality” of...

2011-07-12T03:21:00.000-04:00

Monday, July 11, 2011

Foster care in Houston: The “majestic equality” of Texas CPS

“The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.”

– Anatole France, 1894

"You could live in a mansion and be in an unsafe living environment. It's not the place as much as it was the circumstances."

– Gwen Carter, spokeswoman, Texas Child Protective Services, 2011.

Perhaps you’ve heard about the case in Texas, a case that captures perfectly the biggest single failing in American child welfare – the confusion of poverty with “neglect.”

KHOU-TV, to its credit, broke the story, but Anita Hassan of the Houston Chronicletold it best. Here’s an excerpt:

Tucked behind an iron gate at the end of a long gravel driveway in east Houston sits a small storage shed.

Outside, the corrugated steel structure is identical to the 76 others next to it, but the inside holds more than someone's possessions.

It is a home.

Inside the 12-by-25-foot shed are hand-built shelves where children's clothes are folded neatly next to canned goods, boxes of cereal and a stack of family photos. On another shelf, beside two king-size beds, textbooks lie next to board games.

Despite the cramped conditions, it overflows with love, said Charlomane Leonard, 35, as she stood in front of the shed that she, her husband, Prince Leonard, and six children have called home for years.

"That's what makes it comfortable," she said. …

Prince Leonard built all the shelving and a makeshift loft. There's a refrigerator, an air conditioner and wood-burning heater. On land behind the storage units, the children and their mother plant a garden every summer, harvesting squash, tomatoes, okra and peppers.

We all know where this is going, right?

Yes, somebody called CPS. The caller probably meant well. Perhaps he or she had read one of the countless news stories in which CPS agencies tell us to report even the slightest suspicion and then let the “professionals”decide.

In this case the “professional” decided not to lift a finger to help the family get a better place to live. The “professional” decided not to move the entire family to a motel. Instead, the “professional” decided that the best thing to do was to confiscate the children on the spot and force them into foster care. That was on June 17. There was not even going to be a court hearing until mid-August until the case started getting media attention.

In addition to being terrible for the children, this appears to be a clear-cut case of violating federal law, which requires that CPS agencies make “reasonable efforts” to keep families together. In this case CPS made no effort at all.

The good news: The children were placed with grandparents. (If anyone needs a reminder of what Texas foster care with strangers can do to a child, it’s here.)

The bad news: Even when placement is with a relative, suddenly being uprooted by force from loving parents is an enormous emotional trauma for a child – the younger the child the greater the potential trauma.

More bad news: For no conceivable reason other than malice or idiocy the parents are only allowed to visit the children for an average of less than an hour a day.

STEALING ATTENTION FROM CHILDREN IN REAL DANGER

Texas is a state where child advocates constantly are complaining about lack of money for child welfare and high caseloads for CPS workers. They’re right. But their solution was all wrong: In 2005, they pressured the Legislature into a child abuse investigator hiring binge. But hiring more caseworkers only works when it’s part of a comprehensive reform plan that emphasizes curbing wrongful removal. In a report we released at the time, we said that hiring more caseworkers alone would simply widen the net of needless intervention into families and the state would wind up with the same lousy system only bigger.

That is what happened, and the Leonard case is a prime example. But children like the Leonard children aren’t the only ones to suffer. All the time, money and effort wasted doing so much harm to the Leonard family and so many others like them is, in effect, being stolen from other children in real danger who really should be taken from their parents. That, of course, is the real reason for the horror stories about child abuse deaths that make headlines. And that is why the way Texas CPS is behaving in cases like this makes all children less safe.

It gets worse: Texas is the latest state to face a McLawsuit from the group that so arrogantly calls itself Children’s Rights. Lately their suits have tended to result in settlements requiring exactly the kind of hiring binge for child abuse investigators and foster care workers that’s already failed in Texas. And since CR doesn’t care how such hiring is paid for, it’s likely to happen at the expense of programs to help poor people – such as, say, help with housing.

It goes without saying, of course, that there are no families like the Leonards among the named plaintiffs in CR’s suit – and not a word of concern expressed by CR about such cases. On the contrary, the lawsuit falsely contends that all foster children in Texas were abused or neglected – adding insult to the emotional injuries (and sometimes worse) endured by the Leonard children and so many others.

SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW?

And there are, indeed, many others. There is nothing new about taking away children when family poverty is confused with neglect. Three major studies have found that at least 30 percent of America’s foster children could be home right now if the parents just had decent housing. (For citations see this NCCPR Issue Paper.) What’s unusual is for a newspaper to pay attention, especially in Texas.

In case anyone thinks this is some kind of aberration, Anita Hassan of the Chroniclealso wrote a follow-up story, which included something almost never seen in a Texas newspaper, and certainly not the Houston Chronicle: The perspective of lawyers who defend parents in these cases.

Here’s the lead from that story:

As a family law attorney, Julie Ketterman has worked countless cases in which Child Protective Services took children away from parents for reasons that range from a family using an outhouse instead of indoor plumbing to keeping clothes in boxes instead of dressers.

Ketterman said CPS caseworkers deem those instances as unsafe and cramped living conditions, which is grounds for removal by the agency's standards.

"But to me, they are being picked up because they are poor," she said.

Legally, CPS cannot cite poverty as a reason to remove children from parental custody.

"But do they do it? Absolutely, all the time," said Ketterman, who has worked as a defense attorney in CPS cases in Houston for more than five years.

As noted at the top of this post, CPS says that of course they didn’t take away the children because they were poor. CPS claims they took the children away because their living environment allegedly was unsafe. Or, to paraphrase Anatole France, Texas CPS, in its majestic equality, prohibits rich and poor equally from living in storage sheds.

As for spokeswoman Gwen Carter’s claim that “You could live in a mansion and be in an unsafe living environment” of course she’s got a point. After all, you never know when the water might get too hot in the Jacuzzi.

THE USUAL PATTERN

Now that the case has gotten media attention, things are following the usual pattern:

A community activist got someone to donate a house. And CPS appears to be backing down – though not before exacting an additional price from the family: The Chronicle reports that they signed a “confidentiality” agreement.

Why, exactly would that suddenly be a top priority for CPS?

Fortunately, before the gag order was imposed the family talked again to KHOU and toKPRC and KUHF public radio in Houston. So you can see the parents and see for yourself how the family lived.

But what about all the other children taken away because their families were poor – the ones who don’t get media attention?

Even the media attention that is likely to reunite the Leonard family comes with its own downside: Now the parents will be under two microscopes. CPS will watch them for months waiting for what foster parent Mary Callahan calls the “gotcha moment” – when the parent slips up and CPS can say “gotcha” – and, in this case “we told you so.”

And now, precisely because reporters have cast the parents in a favorable light, they’re going to have to live up to that image 24/7 – or else. One slip up, one loss of temper, one bout of, say excessive drinking, or God forbid, one of them caves under the pressure and lashes out physically, and the media will turn on them in an instant. Just ask a guy in Nebraska named Gary Staton.

The media find it hard to grasp that children generally do best with their own parents, even when they are not only poor, but also flawed, fallible, and human.

Microgiving at it's best! A stranger donates house to family living in a shed after CPS took the kids

2011-07-12T02:56:00.001-04:00

An update to a story I posted earlier. A wonderful stranger donated a house to the family whose children were taken by CPS just because they were living in a storage shed. We know there are strangers out there with good hearts. To this wonderful person...Thank You!

Amplify’d from www.khou.com

Good Samaritan donates house to couple who lived in storage shed with 6 kids

HOUSTON—A KHOU 11 News viewer donated a house to a married couple who lived in a northeast Houston storage shed with six children.

The donation came just days after the couple was featured on KHOU 11 News because Child Protective Services had taken custody of their kids. The parents said they believed they were being punished because they’re poor.　

You shouldn’t take our kids because we’ve fallen on hard times," said Prince Leonard.

The Leonards moved in three years ago after the father, an unemployed welder, was hired as a maintenance worker.　

The family had already lost an apartment and believed the homeless shelter wasn’t safe enough.

ccording to CPS, the children were removed because the storage shed was

According to CPS, the children were removed because the storage shed was a dangerous living environment. The shed, which lacked running water, was about 12 feet wide and 25 feet long. It had an air conditioner, a refrigerator and two personal computers.

Someone who saw their story donated a four-bedroom donated the house, which the Leonards plan to move into this weekend.
Read more at www.khou.com

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the single biggest problem in American child welfare: the confusion of poverty with "neglect"

2011-07-12T02:20:00.001-04:00

I see this as a HUGE problem...just because a family is poor doesn't mean they neglect their children. Parents should NOT lose their kids or be faced with CPS breathing down your neck just because you can't provide things our great-great grandparents managed to live without such as electricity, running water or even a manufactured home for that matter. Low income is not neglect.

Amplify’d from www.prnewswire.com

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The case of a loving Houston family torn apart solely because the parents could not afford adequate housing illustrates the single biggest problem in American child welfare: the confusion of poverty with "neglect" according to a national non-profit child advocacy organization.

"No one ever accused the parents, Prince and Charlomane Leonard of abusing their children," said Richard Wexler, executive director of the National Coalition for Child Protection Reform. "They were not bruised or battered. They were not ill or hungry. On the contrary, they were healthy, happy, and getting good grades. But the only safe place to live that the unemployed welder could afford was a storage shed.

"The shed had electricity heat and even air conditioning, and Leonard built a makeshift loft. That wasn't enough for Texas Child Protective Services. But instead of helping the family with housing, they confiscated the children."

Though the children were placed with grandparents "that lessens but does not eliminate the enormous trauma of being separated by force from loving parents, trauma compounded by the astoundingly cruel decision to limit visits with the children to an average of less than an hour a week," Wexler said.

He said the only thing unusual about this case is the fact that it got media attention. Three separate studies have found that nearly one-third of America's foster children could be home right now if their parents just had decent housing.

"And it's not just the children wrongfully removed who suffer," Wexler said. "All the time, effort and money wasted tearing apart these families is, in effect, stolen from finding children in real danger. That's the real reason for the horror stories about brutal abuse that so often make headlines. Confusing poverty with neglect makes all children less safe.

"Unfortunately, some in America's child welfare establishment have exploited those horror stories to push for diverting scarce funds away from real help for families like the Leonards and into further bloating the child welfare bureaucracy. That will only create the same lousy system only bigger," Wexler said.

There is more about the Texas case in this post to NCCPR's Child Welfare Blog, http://bit.ly/oAKBEo and comprehensive, real solutions at www.nccpr.org

SOURCE National Coalition for Child Protection Reform

See more at www.prnewswire.com

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Can we help a handyman support himself? Verified Microgiving.com member

2011-07-10T15:43:00.001-04:00

Can we help a handyman support himself? He just needs a used car and some new tools, let's get him out of the shelter system and doing something to support himself. It's taking way too long to find a job. The public support system is trying to help him find a job but if he could be supporting himself by doing cheap handyman work while he waits. Let's help keep these folks OUT OF THE OVERBURDENED SYSTEM! All it takes is $5 and share the page. If you can't spare a dime...can you spare some time? Just a quick click to spread the word...time and dimes add up. It all counts!

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

Society's Helper Squared

Project by Glenn Walker.

About this Project

I have been told that I am a great handyman and would like to open my own business. I can fix almost anything around the house or small business, from fixing a squeaky door to rewiring it completely to installing or repairing a computer. I need a truck and tools to start this business. I have been able to do a few small jobs. Though without a vehicle and the correct tools I have had to turn down work.

I had a vehicle and tools until it broke down on the highway. It broke the ring gear in the rearend and locked up the axles and bent the frame. I had to let it go because I could not repair it. I also lost all my tools because I had no way to transport them anywhere. I was homeless at the time.

I have also for the last several years asked for donations to help out our homeless brethen. I have collected blankets, sleeping bags, jackets, sweatshirts, etc. to hand out to the less fortunate using my own assets to do it. I never charge for the things I give away.

$0 - Donations in your name
I will donate my collection of supplies to the homeless and less fortunate in your name, if you so choose. I will donate my services to those in need when possible in your name, if you so choose.

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Microgiving Member Wishes to Help Fund Your Unselfish Dream

2011-07-08T12:09:00.001-04:00

Rob of is interested in seeing people with dreams or wishes to help other people succeed. Please check him out and support his Microgiving.com project.

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

Your unselfish dream

Project by Rob Hartley.

About this Project

I am not looking for money from this worthy website. I love what it does and the opportunity for all of us to find ways to reach out to each other. But rather, I am looking for dreams from people to help other people who are very sincere, have a focused project that needs money, effort and are willing to work towards making the dream happen.

It is July 8, 2011, and between now and October 1, 2011, I'd like to see your unselfish dream that explains to us in 250 words or less something you want to do for someone else. If it is truly unselfish and will help someone else, we will put it on our list of a dreams that count. In October we will honor a dreamer with a $500.00 to support your dream. The funds we give will be given through this website to honor what they are doing and to help you. If your dream is selfish and doesn't reach out to the hearts of others please don't send us your information. Microgiving.com is an excellent resource and it is our goal to support their endeavors and hopefully we will be able to offer this again. We'll look for your dreams and we will respond. The funds we send again will come through this website as we want them to give credit for the great work they are doing.

We look forward to your dreams. God bless you.

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$500 - The Dream Award
$500.00 to support your unselfish dream. The funds will be sent through this site in October.

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End the Shame of Asking for Money!

2011-06-26T05:14:00.001-04:00

This is a great Modest Needs article about people helping people!

Amplify’d from modestneeds.typepad.com

Asking for help, especially financial help, often comes with a great deal of shame. Asking for a hand with money can be embarrassing. In fact, we see many applicants at Modest Needs who wait until their situations are incredibly dire before coming to us for help. It is unfortunate, because asking for help is one of the best ways to help yourself. It takes bravery.

We feel strongly that this “charity case” stigma needs to end! And it needs to end today. According to a recent study by Duke University, the average cancer patient pays over $8500 a year in out of pocket expenses not covered by insurance. If 75% of Americans can’t come up with $2000 in an emergency, imagine how few can come up with $8,500. I’d wager that for 99.5% of Americans an expense of this nature would be devastating.

Such a great message to remember and to share and spread around. Don't wait for others to ask for help when you can tell they need it. Save them the embarrassment. And contribute to a future world where there is no shame in asking for help one genuinely needs.

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Kentucky: Bible justifies removing gay couple from public pool? Continue reading on Examiner.com Kentucky: Bible justifies removing gay couple from public pool?

2011-06-15T16:17:00.001-04:00

Wow new low...picking on a developmentally disabled homosexual couple!!

Amplify’d from www.examiner.com

According to reports, when the two developmentally and intellectually disabled young men entered the pool, they were ridiculed and told that “we own this place and can tell you to leave if we want to” by the staff at The Pavilion, a public pool funded by tax dollars. When pressed for a reason for the ejection, the two were told that the Bible justified banning gays from sharing public pools.

Bible used to justify discrimination in Kentucky
Credits:
flicker

The story is enough to make one's blood boil. The discrimination, the religious homophobia, the bullying of the intellectually and developmentally disabled, are all despicable.

What an atrocious display of hatred and ignorance. Seriously. Who in their right mind would push anyone to the brink of tears just because they're gay and they want to be like everyone else?

I'm an LGBT person. I also work in the field of disability services/support. This is one of the most disgusting things I have ever heard. Maybe those individuals should lose their jobs. Or be charged.

When contacted, a receptionist at The Pavilion claimed that everyone was welcome, but would not answer any questions about the particular episode in question, instead directing all questions about the particular incident to the city attorney's office. When contacted, the city attorney was not available for comment.
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This Is What We Mean When We Say Your Gifts Change Lives

2011-06-13T20:02:00.001-04:00

What a heart warming story! Strangers from all over the USA chipping in a few bucks at a time changed this mans life! Really...that $5 bill you don't think could make a difference (so you buy a soft drink and bag of chips instead) could make a world of difference to someone like this Iraq war vet. Think about it the next time you say...I wish I could help but I can't. Yeah you can! You just have to want to care about a fellow human being you have never met and click a button, give up the soft drink and chips and share that $5 with someone who really does need it more.

Amplify’d from modestneeds.typepad.com

We talk about how your donations, no matter how small, can change a life. We stress that you can make an enormous impact. So much so, in fact, that "change a life" can become somewhat of a tired phrase. With repeated use, it can lose its impact.

Today, I'd like to tell you about a recent applicant who truly, genuinely had his world bettered by your gifts of compassion.

He is an Iraq war veteran who "suffered a head injury, gunshot wound, and shrapnel in [his] left side. As a result of [his] head injury, [he] lost some vision, hearing, and has chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder." As if that wasn't enough, he was also a victim of identity theft, which left him with unpaid debt and creditors breathing down his neck.

Because he could no longer climb the stairs, (the bullet in his leg prevents it, but removing the bullet would mean amputation) this veteran also had to move. All of these awful occurances caused, quite understandably, a financial shortfall. Without help with his mortgage, on top of it all, he could have lost his home.

But, you stepped in. You gave what you could. You saw this modest need, with so many atrocious consequences if gone unmet, and you filled it. As a result, this veteran tells us, explicitly, that his life was changed:

Dear Modest Needs and Contributors,

Melody and I are overwhelmed at the generosity and kindness of the American people. By funding our need, your organization and the wonderful contributors have allowed us to breathe a sigh of relief, and also have renewed our faith in the fact that the trials we are going through surely cannot last. Modest Needs has allowed us to believe in the goodness and generosity of this great Nation, and the American people. Hope is now restored in our lives, and mere words cannot describe the gratitude that we both feel in our hearts. Thank you, Modest Needs, and thank you contributors; you have made a difference, and a lasting impact in our lives.

So, if you ever doubt what your dollars do for others when you give through Modest Needs, don't. It's huge. It's remarkable. It's actually, sincerely life-changing.
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Blacks And Poor Americans List Unemployment As Larger Problem Than General Economy: Gallup

2011-06-12T21:43:00.001-04:00

I'm not sure the title of the article should have separated blacks from the overall "Poor Americans" unemployed or underemployed people of any color are all the same boat. Aside from that I agree that the biggest problem for people who were making less than 30K is jobs not the economy. Those living at or below 30K know how to survive at that level and don't worry too much...until they lose that job and can't find another one. People used to living at above 30K are taking unskilled labor positions as second jobs to keep their standard of living. This leaves the unskilled people moving into the already overburdened welfare system. Where else are they going to go when there are no unskilled labor jobs available?

Amplify’d from www.huffingtonpost.com

Overall, 55 percent of Americans picked either the general economy (29 percent) or joblessness (26 percent) as the country's most important problem, according to a Gallup poll released Friday, making this the fifth straight month of the year that Americans put the economy and unemployment atop their list.

But now, there are a number of demographic groups that are identifying unemployment as an even bigger concern than the broader economy. Indeed, unemployment, not the general economy, was the top issue of concern for blacks, senior citizens, and people who earned $30,000 or less per year, according to the Gallup poll.

Meanwhile, men, white respondents, adults under age 65, and individuals earning at least $30,000 per year were all more likely to say that the broader economy is, right now, more important than jobs.

The Gallup poll's findings are the results of surveys conducted between January and May. For the surveys, 5,149 adults around the country were contacted by cell phone and landline.

Comments
Read more at www.huffingtonpost.com

17 minutes ago (8:10 PM)

Our economy is the result of over 30 years of supply side economics and laws turning our public wealth over to private hands; it's become a corporate welfare state. This started long before Obama's presidency.
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21 minutes ago (8:06 PM)

Unemployment is like the weather; everybody talks about it but no one does anything. The problem is so simple a "Cave Man" can understand it. That is, we allowed all of our manufacuring to move out of the country---the result is obvious: "Unemployment". Take away the incentives for out of the country manufacturing and jobs will return with in-country manufacturing. But, that's too simple for the "egg heads" who advise the government - or could it be their liberal intent is to force the country into a communist type economy?
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Charley Barnes and Motorcycle Buddies Go Behind Enemy Lines at Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka Kansas

2011-06-09T13:42:00.001-04:00

Job Well Done!!! Give'em a taste of their own medicine, I love it!

Amplify’d from k99.com

I decided when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church months ago that I was going to make a trip to Topeka Kansas and express my right to free speech as well; on their doorstep. True to my word, I made that trip this weekend and let’s just say that we were heard!

Our Arrival in Topeka

We arrived in Topeka early Saturday evening, set up camp at Forbes Landing RV Park and then went in search of the Westboro Baptist Church to see what was up, how hard it was going to be to even find and how to execute the plan. What was the plan? No idea! But we were there to execute it…

Now, we knew they were there, because the flags were all down Saturday evening when we first got to WBC and now the flags were all up so we knew they were close, but where?

Would Fred Phelps bring us weary travelers from Colorado donuts and coffee? I hope so…I needed some coffee.

Well, there was no coffee service so I made a trip down to the corner to get some java and some old guys that had passed by earlier as we waved our flags gave me the skinny on their compound. Turns out that every house on that block, with the exception of one, is owned by WBC and all fenced off into one big compound.

Things Turn Ugly With the WBC

I know your asking yourself if the Topeka Police Department was called so let me answer that now by saying, yes, yes they were.

So Topeka’s finest arrived and talked with “the man with no name”and assured him that we were more than in the right to walk down the sidewalk with our flags without permits. The ‘man with no name’ got so mad he changed the time of their service to start at 9:30am {it was 9:18am at this point} because you can’t protest or picket within 50 feet while a “church” is in service.

We agreed to leave on our own accord after the police explained to us what our rights were so we just walked the sidewalk for a few minutes and then began to pack up our flags and head down to a park where we knew another group of them were picketing a very well known War Memorial there.

So as we moved across the street the ‘man with no name’ made the Topeka Police department MEASURE the distance. The officer stopped about 10 feet from us and said, with a thumbs up and smile, “You’re Good.”

You know, I found it very odd that he would not come out and confront me. In the hour he and I were there together, hoping I would punch him so he could sue me but he never did. Strange, I invited him to do so and even promised I would NOT call the police.

Time now for stage II and head to the park for more flag waving!

They didn’t like us very much there either and we were constantly filmed, especially me, as Fred’s daughter actually followed me around! At one point I stopped right in front of her so my flag draped right down across her camera. It was obvious, very quickly, that we were not going away as I stood on that corner {pic included} and whistled “God Bless America” and the “Star Spangled Banner.”

Was It Worth It?

I have to say that on the ride home I felt 10 times better than I thought I would. I knew I would feel good but ‘good’ doesn’t do it justice. We DID make a difference and we were only 4 bodies from 600 miles away and we rocked their entire day! Was the 1300 mile trip worth it in high humidity with temps at 101? You bet!

Another job well done and our voice WAS heard…next?
Read more at k99.com

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SC mom lied about daughter's cancer

2011-06-09T12:06:00.001-04:00

Always rely on a service such as microgiving.com which verifies the identity, cause and circumstances of people claiming hardships! In this economy it is very easy to prove your financial hardship. The sad truth is nobody cares about helping someone keep their electricity on, or prevent eviction, or help with car repairs so a person can keep working....sickness and injury especially to children is what captures the attention of people so everybody tends to use that plea. If it's real...there is some kind of document to prove it. Always..Please...make sure a recipient has been verified by a reputable organization before you donate!

Amplify’d from chronicle.augusta.com

Money from donations she collected will go to charity

COLUMBIA — A Newberry County woman charged with lying about her 15-year-old daughter's health has been convicted of taking donations for her treatment.

Sheriff Lee Foster says 35-year-old Angela Ann Chapman of Whitmire was found guilty Wednesday of breach of trust and ordered to pay more than $1,800 in restitution or face a possible 30-day jail sentence.

Foster says his office is donating about $1,500 of that amount to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn., with the rest going to people who gave the money to Chapman. Foster says Chapman told people that her daughter had been diagnosed with cancer and was treated at St. Jude's last month.

Deputies say Chapman did not have an attorney. A working phone number for her could not be found.
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Greg Weiss Emergency Neck Surgery Project

2011-06-07T15:54:00.001-04:00

Even a single dollar can help. Do you have one to spare?

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

Hello,

This is Greg Weiss, musician, composer, producer, and bass instructor at Musician's Institute in Los Angeles, CA.

I recently became severely afflicted by bulging disk in my neck which is pushing directly on my spinal chord. This has caused severe weakness in my left hand/arm, and weakness in both legs, as well as numbness, weakness, and pain throughout my entire nervous system. After consulting my neurosurgeon, he stated that I must have spinal fusion surgery immediately to avoid paralysis. The surgery will take place this Friday June 10th.

As a result of this disability, and my planned rehabilitation, I have incurred medical expenses beyond my means, while working my way through a Chapter 13 bankruptcy to save my home from foreclosure.

In these desperate times that we all are experiencing, we sometimes wonder where to turn to in times of need ... family, friends, and loved ones. It is in this spirit that I humbly ask for any small donation that may help my situation.

Sincere Thanks,

Greg Weiss

$1 - VERIFIED BY THE MICROGIVING TEAM!
This member has provided all necessary documents to verify legal identity and fundraising cause as written. You can donate with confidence. ~The MicroGiving Team

http://www.microgiving.com/profile/band
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Keep the Home Fires Burning in Tennessee Project by Vicki Norwood

2011-06-06T18:10:00.001-04:00

This is a great family that has had it pretty rough. They have a great deal of trouble keeping their electric and shelter costs paid. They rarely complain about their situation and understand that times are hard for everyone. They are fundraising so they can get at least one bill caught up so they can try to work on catching up on another one. They have taken steps to reduce their consumption to bring the bills down but while you are still paying on back balances....well many of us know what that is like. Microgiving means what the title implies...giving in MICRO amounts towards the need of another. You don't have to be rich to make a huge difference. I single dollar from 100 people is enough to put a large dent in the pile of bills. Would you consider giving a single dollar and passing on this post to others?

Amplify’d from www.microgiving.com

We are a regular couple who need a little help getting back on our feet. We have both been out of work for more than 2 years and really need help to get the bills paid. We are now behind on the utility bill and will lose our power and water if we can't get it paid. We have tried to get help in several places but due to the economy and great need of many people, the funds have run out. Even our local churches have run out of money.

$0 - VERIFIED FUNDRAISER!!
This member has provided all necessary documents to verify legal identity and fundraising cause as written. You can donate with confidence. ~The MicroGiving Team

http://www.microgiving.com/profile/tndozer
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JOPLIN, MISSOURI DONATIONS POSTPONED

2011-06-06T17:48:00.001-04:00

Oh..What horrible luck!

Amplify’d from www.whiznews.com

Local donations for Joplin, Missouri tornado victims will not be picked-up Monday as planned.

A semi- truck from Missouri was originally scheduled to pick-up and deliver hundreds of donated items to the tornado victims, but the semi broke down on its way to Zanesville. Now, volunteers are asking for you to help, by making monetary donations. The donations will go toward sending a U-haul to Missouri, as well as pay for gas expenses. The trip is expected to cost over $1,000 dollars, and volunteers say that pre-paid credit cards, such as Visa, are the best way to donate. The delivery is scheduled to take place Tuesday. If you would like to make a donation, you can call 740-297-5422.
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Untitled

2011-04-25T22:22:00.001-04:00

What a beautiful evening!

Posted via email from Becky & Amy (Rayhawk)

April 2011 Newsletter | MicroGiving.com

2011-04-18T15:53:00.000-04:00

April 2011 Newsletter | MicroGiving.com

Go Green Organic Campaign Club | MicroGiving.com

2011-03-24T16:14:00.000-04:00

Go Green Organic Campaign Club | MicroGiving.com

Untitled

2011-01-09T22:40:00.001-05:00

Ugh, network is out, it is starting to snow. I really don't like snow...