The Official Modest Needs Blog

Application of the Day: Help a Man Who Has No One Avoid Homelessness

The featured application today is a tragic illustration of how the unemployment epidemic in the United States has finanically crippled hard-working individuals. He is a 52-year-old accounting professional who has been out of work since 2008, and as a result lost his car and his home. He now lives in a trailer with no heat or air conditioning. Despite relentless job hunting, he is seen as "too old" or overqualified for open positions, and is rarely called back for interviews.

He has no one and no where to turn.

He is asking for help with his lot rental payment as his unemployment benefits have run out. Social services in his area are in crisis and out of funds.

Without your help he could end up homeless. Even a small gift could keep a roof over his head.

Application of the Day: Injured Veteran Getting Back on his Feet

Sometimes the requests we get for help speak for themselves. This is one of those:

After spending 22 years serving my country, I am retired from the U.S. Army. In 2005, I was injured in Iraq. I suffered a head injury, gunshot wound, and shrapnel in my left side. As a result of my head injury, I have lost some vision, hearing, and have chronic Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

I am requesting help paying my mortgage, because of a few unexpected occurrences that have been of great financial strain. The first one is because I am in a legal battle with my ex-wife due to the fact that she stole my identity and ran up credit cards, medical bills, and various other bills in my name, while I was out of the country. To date, attorney fees have cost me thousands of dollars. In addition to paying off the 'unknown debt,' I have been dealing with the credit bureaus for years trying to clear my name.

Also, we recently had to move, which was expensive. (I could not climb the stairs anymore to the bedrooms due to the bullet still in my leg, which if removed, would result in loss of my leg.) And to top it all off, our only means of reliable transportation had to have repairs such as tires, a radiator fan assembly, a battery, and an alignment.

All of these situations combined have left us in a short fall. Any help that you give will be greatly appreciated! If I receive help from the donors at Modest Needs, it will give me a chance to get my feet back on solid ground. I have had numerous setbacks since I came home from Iraq; but through it all, I have never lost faith in God, this great Nation, and the American people. ~Sgt.

To donate to this resilient military vet, you can do so behind this link.

One Word Sunday

Breakdown.

Application of the Day: Help Abused Wife and Mother Escape Husband

She is a brave mother of two who endured 10 years of emotional and physical abuse from her husband. But, she's moving on and moving out. She just got a three-year restraining order against her abuser, and it currently in the process of divorce.

This applicant is "so proud that [to] have finally stood up for [her]self and [her] children!" Unfortunately, she lost her job when her company filed for bankruptcy. This resilient woman already has a new job that allows her to spend more time with her children.

This mother is asking for help with the cost of a moving truck so that she can get herself and her children into a new, safe place out of the state and far from her abusive husband.

If you'd like to assist this woman in her mission to break free from abuse, please read the application in full.

Take Heed: Be Selfish, Be Generous

Listening to these individuals discuss their experiences in giving lit a fire under me to become more thoughtful and generous in my daily life. I hope it will do the same for you:

Application of the Day: Help This Mom Get a Prosthetic Leg

The Applicant of the Day is a remarkable woman with a positive outlook on life, despite having her leg amputated following the premature birth of her son:

When he was born, my system basically shut down, and a disease called DIC (Disseminated intravascular coagulation) attacked my kidneys, legs, and lungs with thousands of blood clots. It turns out that I have ulcerative colitis, which worked in conjunction with the delivery to cause the DIC. The doctors at the hospital are all very talented and were able to save my life. In return, they had to amputate my left leg from the calf down.

[...]

We never in our wildest dreams would have imagined paying for three full medical deductions along with a $15,000 to $20,000 leg every five years. I understand that you cannot help pay on my leg due to it costing more than what you could donate, but if you could please just help me pay on one more bill, then I can put more money towards my prosthesis.

This leg will help me carry and walk my son in the park and allow for my relatives to return back to their normal life.

Her outlook is commendable. Such a resilient attitude. To donate to this mother's medical bill so that she can afford a prosthetic leg for her--and for her son--just visit the link.

Someone Wants to Thank You for Giving Her "a Renewed Sense of Hope in Everything"

The faces below are of Modest Needs grant recipients from this week, and they want to thank you for helping them avoid the cycle of poverty before it starts.

"You have renewed my faith in humanity. In the economic times effecting us all, for you to reach out and help my family be able to become self sufficiant has brought tears of joy to our eyes. This will mean that I will be able to return to my nursing and take care of our financial obligations and his continued medical needs/expenses. I have a renewed sense of hope in everything. Thank you does not say enough-I intend to 'pay it forward'. I will fall asleep tonight with hope for all of our futures that YOU have made possible."

"I would to thank the Modest needs Foundation and Donors for your help!!!!!!! You are truly amazing people who give myself and others in need hope. I will be forever grateful for your thoughtfulness and kind generosity. Not only by helping me financially, but also spiritually. I appreciate this more than words could say... Thank you so much, from the bottom of my heart for your help, thank you for being you :)"

"Please accept my heartfelt 'Thank You', to the Modest Needs donors and the Modest Needs team who helped me when I needed it the most. Today had been a difficult day. My day at the hospital didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. I found I urgently needed my vehicle fixed, but I was out of ideas on how to make this happen. Tonight I received my notification and the timing was a true miracle. I am so overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the wonderful people that cared enough to help. The words I write, can not tell you just how grateful and blessed I feel. This will never be forgotten and will always be appreciated. Again, Thank You, all."

You can read more testimonials and see more of the faces you have helped, as always and as they come in, on the Testimonials page at the Modest Needs website.

Application of the Day: Help Disabled Vet Who Was Dealt a Financial Blow

He is a disabled military veteran who was dealt a harsh blow: due to a new ruling by the House and Senate, veterans with retroactive disability claims now had them combined with their military retirement. This means that expected and essential back pay was waived.

This meant this veteran's gas & electric bill became overdue. He has just started a new job, and with assistance from Modest Needs things should be back to on his feet in no time.

If you'd like to assist this vet with this bill and set him up for success, just follow the link.

Set to Expire: 16 Chances to Change a Life Today

When you give to Modest Needs, you directly change a life. Your gifts go straight to the person in need so that they may remain self-sufficient, get back to work or ease their disability. You intervene when the possibility of poverty rears its head.

If you wish to change a life today, but are overwhelmed by the number of requests for assistance, then one of the applications below, all of which are set to expire in three days, is a great place to start.

1. Need To Pay Rent
2. February Rent Help - One Income
3. Desperately Needed Car Repair
4. Emergency Surgery For Pregnant Dog
5. Need Rent Help
6. Sick Mommy on a Mission: Rent
7. Vehicle Broke: Need Rent Help
8. Repaired Car: Need Condo Fees Help
9. Missed Work: Need Help to Catch Up
10. Disabled - Need Car Motor Installed
11. Rent Help
12. New Job: Need Mortgage Help
13. Temporary Layoff, Behind on Rent
14. Broken Water Pipes!
15. Medical Bill
16. Pregnant - Lost health Insurance

[Photo by mahalie]

Application of the Day: Caretaker Wife Needs Help Returning to Work

The Applicant of the Day is a nurse who let her license lapse in order to stay home and take care of her husband. However, they can no longer subsist on his Social Security income, so she is planning to go back into nursing in order to remain self-sufficient.

She just needs help with the cost of renewing her nursing license.

If you'd like to help this couple remain independent and self-sufficient, you can do so by donating as little as $2 to the cause. Read more about the Applicant of the Day here.