The Official Modest Needs Blog

Application of the Day: Our Children Need a Place to go to the Bathroom

Today's modest need is practically the definition of neccessity: a place for a family of five to go to the bathroom.

Previously self-sufficient, this family fell on hard times when their only vehicle and household septic system both gave out within weeks of one another. While they were able to obtain a loan to cover the cost of a new car, they've been unable to find the funds to fix their broken septic system, ultimately rendering their bathroom unusable. They've been relying on friends, neighbors and public restrooms when nature calls ever since. Today, their request is simple: help them raise the money to fix their septic system so they can use their own toilet again.

Read on to learn more about this family's modest need in their own words, then click the link below to help:

"I am a homeschooling mother of three. Our children are 13, 9, and 7. My husband and I have been married for 17 years and he works at a hospital doing I.T. work. We are very blessed that our family is healthy, but we are in a real pinch with our septic system.

We need Modest Needs help to afford a septic system repair bill that happened completely out of the blue right before winter set in. We are unable to use any water or the toilet until the problem is resolved.

This is a completely unexpected expense. We have lived in our starter home for 11 years now and things have been working up till the last few months. A few weeks ago we had plumbing problems that needed to be fixed. Now, suddenly, the old leach system that was in place stopped working and everything is backed up. We budget very well, but this is a sudden expense that we just do not have the money for. Our van died a couple months ago and we had to buy a very modest used vehicle which the bank was generous to give us a loan for. That expense has made it impossible to cover the cost of this new problem. My husband has been trying to carpool to work and we changed our cell phone plans to limited calling to save money. We are trying our best to stay afloat.

Times are stressful as we have been taking the family to the neighbors, friends, and public places to use the facilities. We have been determined not to let the children know how concerned we are about this dire situation.

This funding would really help us out of a hole. We have been married for 17 years and I can't remember a more difficult financial time. It would mean a great deal to myself and our family. Please consider our modest need if you can."

Click here to help this family get back on their feet.

Application of the Day: Help Me Escape This Dangerous Living Environment

Modest Needs was created to protect members of the working poor from hitting the poverty line. More often than not, however, we get requests from individuals who already have slipped into the cycle of poverty and now need help getting out of it. Today's applicant of the day is one such individual.

Our Application of the Day comes from a single man living alone with disability payments as his lone source of income. Limited by income, he was forced to take an apartment in a decaying, unsafe neighborhood, a choice that has put his health, and life, in jeopoardy. Now that his lease is up he desperately wants to move to a safer neighborhood. There's just one problem--he can't afford the moving truck that would take his possessions to his new, safer home. His modest need? A few hundred dollars to move him to a happier home.

Read on to learn more about this applicant in his own words, and to discover how you can help.

"I am a single, disabled male living in a very poor, dangerous environment. There are good people here, but overall it is a degenerate neighborhood where the rental agents and the police will do nothing to help those of us trying to live our lives peacefully.

I very much need to leave my residence as soon as I can. My lease expires at the end of the month, but I do not have the funds to pay for a truck to move what I presently own. The disability income I receive is not enough to pay for moving expenses. I really could use the assistance. I have made many calls and have found what appears to be the cheapest moving rental possible.

Assistance with this moving truck will be an enormous help to me. If this grant is not funded I am not quite certain what I will do. Without funding I will have to leave what I currently own in the current abominable residence I stay in, and will lose my security deposit due to the unmoved furniture I will have to leave behind. It is not safe for me to stay here, so I must go.

The whole situation is rather stressful and worrying. I feel I have no choice but to move for health and other logistical reasons. Getting the funds for this move has proven near-impossible on my own. As I cannot do it alone, I truly could use the assistance.

If I can get out of the residence and county I am in, it would improve my quality of life in so many ways. I am searching for a rental in a safer, quieter area where I can feel healthier and at ease. I believe my health and most everything else will improve with this move. I'm truly looking forward to being able to move, and have prayed for help to come make it possible. Thank you for considering me."

Click here to help fund this grant directly.

 

Calling all Twitter (and Facebook) Junkies!

 

On December 12, 2011, we made a push on Twitter for our followers to join the #DecafCharity experiment.

(You can read the full story about the #DecafCharity Experiment here.) 

Built on the old idea that a small sacrifice--like giving up a single latte and donating the leftover money to charity--can make a big difference, The #DecafCharity Experiment was created to remind people that there is no donation too small when it comes to changing a life.

While Twitter can seem ridiculous (does a person really need to share with the world what they've eaten for lunch?), the reality is that it's one of the best platforms in the world for crowd-sourcing. Since Modest Needs is the original charity to be funded largely by crowd-sourced donations, Twitter is one of our best resources for spreading good news fast, making appeals when the occasion calls for it or starting conversations with others working within the philanthropy world.

 

It is with this in mind that we ask you Twitter users to follow Modest Needs at @ModestNeeds (http://twitter.com/#!/modestneeds), and to both participate in (by making a small donation) and spread the word about the #DecafCharity Experiment. Spreading the word is as simple as sending a single Tweet mentioning the project and linking to our list of current applicants.

 

Here's a sample Tweet you can cut and paste to your followers:

I donated the price of my coffee to @ModestNeeds #DecafCharity experiment. Join in and change a family's life here: http://tinyurl.com/cspbcuq

If Twitter's not your thing, the same sample text above can be cut and pasted into a post on Facebook, yet another platform that helps keep Modest Needs connected with donors, applicants and the charity world at large. Simply copy and past the text above into your status window with a brief note encouraging others to do the same. 

We gently ask as you communicate with your friends and followers this holiday season that you consider mentioning #DecafCharity on your Twitter and Facebook profiles. This small investment of time can pay big dividends to Modest Needs applicants, leading to the kind of big changes that can turn a life around.

Thank you and happy Tweeting (and Facebooking) to all!

Cheers,

Modest Needs 

 

Application of the Day: Single Mom w/ MS Needs to Keep the Lights On

Today's applicant, Rebecca, escaped an abusive relationship only to be sidelined by Multiple Sclerosis. She's battled the illness bravely for eight years, continuing to work and to raise her daughter in a safe, loving environment. In February 2011, Rebecca was laid off, forcing her to exhaust her savings in order to make rent, cover living expenses and pay for medical treatments. She continues to look for work in a difficult economy. After seven months of unemployment, Rebecca has fallen behind on a single bill--her most recent utility bill. Help with this payment could be the difference between Rebecca and her daughter staying on top of their expenses and beginning the cycle of poverty by losing her electricity. 

We've got a weekend goal: to get this single mother fully funded by the end of the weekend. We're already 80% there--can you help put us over the edge? Scroll down to read Rebecca's story in her own words:

"My name is Rebecca. I am divorced after years in an abusive relationship. My daughter is 13 and the joy of my life! I have been on a roller coaster ride since 2003, when I was diagnosed with MS. The typical MS medications do not work for me. I have had many side effects to various treatments, including losing my hair. But I am a fighter and will keep pushing so my illness doesn't sideline me.

2011 has been difficult for my daughter and myself. I lost my job in February and have been looking for a new one ever since. I also had to start paying for part of my health insurance and covering my significant medical expenses. This has effected my monthly budget negatively. With all this new stress, my MS symptoms and fatigue have gotten worse.

I am asking for help with a utility bill because I missed my payment this month due to lack of funds. I also lost the payment arrangements that were set up because I could not make my minimum payment in time. I fear that I will become so behind on this bill that it could cause disconnection and additional fees/interest to my account.

I am worried all the time about my bills. I feel stressed out on top of dealing with a constant medical condition. Physically I feel very badly. I also feel sad about my ability to provide for my daughter.

In order to save money I plan to move to a cheaper duplex when my lease is up. I switched the cable TV to a cheaper plan. We do not have a home phone. We eat at home as much as possible in lieu of going out to eat. My daughter is such a helper if I'm not feeling up to cooking.

Funding this application will take at least one worry away and give me a break before the next payment is due. It also will allow me to focus on getting my rent caught up. It would bring me peace and humble me, and help me continue to fight this illness and my family's current hardships. I would be forever grateful and thankful. Thank you for considering my daughter and I."

Click here to donate to this family directly.

Single Mother of Three Needs New Shower for Family

Mold isn't just a slimy inconvenience. For those with certain health conditions, it can be a dangerous, even life-threatening, presense in the home. This single mother of three was rushed to the hospital after a colony of dark mold in her shower triggered a severe asthma attack. Doctors have explained that if she does not have the shower redone and the mold erradicated, she (and her asthmatic son) will be at high risk for future attacks...or worse. Though she works full-time, the expense of redoing her shower is one she cannot handle on her own. She's reaching out for help to make her home a safe, sanitary space for her children and herself. Read on to learn more about this applicant in her own words:

"I am a single mom of three wonderful children. I have a 19-year-old boy, 17-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl. I work full time in a medical billing office and will be starting school again in January to continue my education.

My middle son and I both have severe asthma. It is exacerbated by the mold and mildew that is continually growing worse in our old home, and has started to effect our breathing more in recent months. I have recently been hospitalized for my asthma, and was informed that the mold is what is triggering our attacks. We need get this fixed immediately to stay healthy and safe.

I desperately need help with the repair bill to have shower walls, which are full of mold and mildew, replaced. My hourly wages and child support checks barely cover the usual expenses for the house and car, and food for my children. I do not have any extra to set aside for emergency expenses. My parents try to help when we are in need, but this time the expense is too large for our family to handle.

I am afraid that if the situation is not resolved my asthma will become life-threatening, and that my son's condition will worsen. It is very scary to know something must be done when you do not have the ability or finances to fix it. I am currently seeking weekend employment so help with expenses, but have not been able to find one yet and worry about what will happen in the meantime.

Funding this application will correct the awful problem in our home and keep it from spreading into other rooms in the house. This will in turn will help my breathing and my son's too. We truly need your help. Thank you and God Bless."

You can help fund this application by clicking here.

What Personal Sacrifices Do You Make In Order to Give to Charity?

The working poor give more money to charity than the wealthy do.

That's not a loose, general observation. It's a fact that's been well-documented in publications like The New York Times, Portfolio and McClatchy.

In 2010, The New York Times explained it simply:

"Surveys have shown that upper-income Americans don’t give away as much of their money as they might and are particularly undistinguished as givers when compared with the poor, who are strikingly generous."

Pair that news with the statistic that between 65% and 85% of American families regularly give to charity and it's easy to come to one concludsion: a lot of people are making personal sacrifices in order to help others.

Modest Needs launched it's #DecafCharity campaign with one goal in mind--to document how small changes to one's financial or personal routine can open up funds and resources for the people who need them most.

Now that the holiday giving season is in full swing, we have one question for you: What personal sacrifices have you made in order to help others? And "helping others" doesn't just mean giving to a formal charity. It could be doing anything from cooking extra meals to share with a needy neighbor to donating time and effort as a volunteer. We want to know what you do to improve the world around you. 

You can answer us on this blog, leave a post on our Facebook page, or reply via Twitter (@modestneeds) using the #DecafCharity hashtag.

You answers are an invaluable tool that will help us, and other charities, better understand what real people do to keep philanthropy alive. [Note: Some answers will be featured on the Modest Needs blog and web site.]

We look forward to hearing from you.

Application of the Day: Lost Everything to Bed Bugs, Need New Bed to Sleep On

When it rains it pours. This adult brother and sister live on a fixed income. After a bed bug infestation took nearly all their possessions, the pair worked hard to recover. Just as they were coming close to replacing their most neccessary household items, an emergency dental bill came in to the tune of $5000. Now they are without the funds to replace one of their beds. This 52-year-old woman has a simple, modest request: a clean bed to sleep on. With your help, they've already reached 85% of their goal. You can help get them the rest of the way.

Read on to learn more about this modest need in the words of the applicant herself: 

"I am 52 years old and live with my brother, who is 51. We suffer from severe agoraphobia and receive social security and disability payments. It is just the two of us and a cat. We rarely go out of our apartment. We do regularly go to our doctor appointments and pick up our medications.

We had bed bugs for a year and several items in our home needed to be thrown out, including a couch, a bookcase and my brother's bed. We have no couch in the living room because we can't afford to replace it. My mattress is still covered with bed bug feces and is quite unsanitary. It cannot be cleaned; it must be thrown out. I cannot throw it out yet because I cannot replace it, and without it I'll have no place to sleep. I really need my rent paid for one month so I can finally buy a new bed.

The reason we need help is because we have recently been shocked by a number of unexpected bills. In July 2011, I began experiencing severe mouth pain and was forced to see a dentist. One root canal, one crown, several cavity fillings and a special deep cleaning were all necessary to stop the pain and decay. None of it was cosmetic dentistry. The total bill for all the work was over $5100 (which comes out to be 34% of my annual income). This was a huge expense for someone who only receives $1263 a month in disability. I have no dental insurance and we don't make enough on social security to save up for catastrophic medical bills like these. Also, I pay about $200 a month for prescription drugs. The bills are stacking up. It all seems to be happening at once.

I am afraid of getting sick from sleeping on such an unsanitary old bed. The exterminator told me 'you must get rid of this bed.' Under our financial circumstances, having to pay out of pocket for oral surgery has forced us to go without many things. We go without new clothes, though need basics like socks, bras and underwear (obviously we are not going to buy used undergarments from a thrift store). We were at least able to replace my brother's bed last before all the dental expenses, but now it seems I have no hope of ever being able to afford a new bed.

I am very depressed about the situation. I suffer from major depression to begin with, and sleeping on this dirty bed just adds to it. I look around our apartment—-no couch, no bookcase, my dirty bed—-I feel like I live in a slum and it is very discouraging to me.

Getting the rental fee paid for one month will allow me to buy a new, clean bed. A decent bed should last at least 25 years, so having a clean mattress for that long of a time will definitely improve the quality of my life in the long-term. I think your donors are wonderful people. I pray that God will use you to provide help to me, as I try to pay it forward by doing good deeds to others. I am involved in a community outreach program where we go to people's homes and study the Bible with them free of charge. This allows people to make dramatic changes for the better in their lives. I am doing what I can to help my fellow man. Thank you so much for considering my application.

Click here to donate to this applicant directly.

Application of the Day: Teacher Mugged While Walking Home, Needs Your Help

It was an inconvenience and financial strain when this math teacher's car broke down, but things went from bad to worse when she was mugged while walking home from work when her car was in the shop. She thankfully escaped being held up with a deadly weapon unscathed, but her attacker got away with her laptop and glasses. Her assailant is still at large.

After paying for auto repairs, a new computer and new glasses--all neccessities to continue working--this high school teacher is now unable to make her monthly utility payment. Read on to hear her story in her own words, and to learn how you can help her get back on her feet.

"I live by myself, and teach high school math in an after school program. I am currently applying to graduate school. I need Modest Needs' help to afford an electric bill.

I need this help financially because I recently had to replace the alternator on my car. While walking home one night (because the car was in the shop) I was the victim of an aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. My laptop glasses were stolen during the robbery, both of which I will have to replace. I do not make enough money to handle the expense of the car repairs, laptop, the glasses and my bills all at once. I am asking for just enough help to keep the lights on.

I'm very frustrated, and feeling very distracted because I'm running out of options financially. It seems like a million things are happening at once. I'm trying to apply to graduate school, which is expensive as it is; then my car broke down, and then someone mugged me when I was walking home. I feel so unsafe lately.

Without a car I will not be able to get to work. Without a computer I will not be able to apply for graduate school and begin working toward a more stable future. Without electricity I will be in dire straights. It is a difficult situation with only so much money to go around.

Funding will keep my lights on. It will also help me be able to afford to apply to graduate school, which will change my entire future, both financially and personally. Most importantly, it will turn this streak of bad luck around and make moving forward possible. Thank you and god bless for considering me."

  To help this teacher get back on her feet, donate directly here.

Holiday Fundraising at Modest Needs: The #DecafCharity Experiment

Remember the "Latte of Shame?" (Here's a shot to jog your memory.)

The Latte of Shame got us thinking. Trading overpriced espresso drinks for a cuppa regular drip coffee freed up $60 per month for one individual to give to charity--$60 dollars that helped this man buy new tools after losing everything in a fire, and fund this woman's request for teeth to keep her smiling.  

Giving up loose pocket change literally changed lives.

With that in mind, we're launching our DecafCharity Experiment just in time for the holidays.

Starting December 12, 2011, we're asking you to give up just a little (one cup of coffee) to give back a lot. Here's how you can participate:

The DecafCharity Experiment

1. Give up just ONE cup of morning coffee and donate the money you've saved by doing so to a Modest Needs applicant. (That's $2-$5 depending on where you get your caffeine fix.)

2. If you're particularly flush and cannot part with your morning dose of dark roast, donate the equivalent of one cup of coffee to a Modest Needs applicant.

3. Encourage others to do the same by taking to the Internet and sharing what you've done. 

We're especially encouraging people to use Twitter to spread the word. By sharing your participation with the hashtag #DecafCharity on Twitter, Modest Needs will be able to track exactly how many people have donated or inspired others to give. 

On Monday December 12, 2011, we'll send out the first #DecafCharity tweet, a short ditty that will lead potential donors directly to a list of Modest Needs applicants so the funding can begin. Twitter donors can simply retweet that tweet in order to get things rolling.

For those of you who can't stand Twitter, there will also be a Facebook share option.

Note:

The #DecafCharity hashtag isn't exclusive to Modest Needs. It's a hashtag any charity can adopt--and we encourage them to do so. The DecafCharity Experiment is meant to remind any donor that one minor sacrifice can make a difference anywhere. It can also connect charities, allowing us to monitor our shared message of giving via a simple hashtag. We invite you to add the #DecafCharity hashtag to your holiday Twitter appeals.

Changing a life this holiday season is as easy as going without one cup of coffee (and taking to Twitter for a single tweet). If that isn't a gift, we don't know what is.

Application of the Day: Disabled and Alone, Please Help Me Keep My Teeth

Modest Needs can't help but highlight things most of us take for granted--like having teeth, being able to smile or being able to eat normally. Today's Application of the Day comes from a woman at risk of losing all three. Sick with Crohns, this disabled patient recently found out she will need every tooth in the top of her mouth extracted. While Medicaid will pay part of the surgery, they will not cover the temporary denture needed to replace the extracted teeth before a permanent implant can restore her smile. Without funding she faces six months without teeth, half a year where eating, talking and feeling like herself will be impossible. Her modest need--teeth--is a physical neccessity. Read on to hear her story in her own words:

 

"I am a 58-year-old single woman trying to live on Social Security disability payments. I have Crohn's disease and am very sick. I have worked and dealt with this disease for 15 years on my own because I had no health insurance. Last year the disease got the best of me and I could no longer keep my job. I filed for disability and started receiving Medicaid, so I am finally able to get medical care.

On top of this serious disease I am now having serious dental problems. I consulted with The University of Florida College of Dentistry because student dentists do the work so they charge lower rates. All of the work is of course overseen by the instructors. They determined that I need to have all of my top teeth removed and replaced with a denture. My bottom teeth need to be restored or I will loose them as well. Although I am very grateful that Medicaid will pay for the extractions and the permanent denture, they will not pay for a temporary denture. That means I will have to live without teeth for six months.

Medicaid will also not cover restoring my bottom teeth so that I can keep them. If I cannot find someone to help me I will have to live without teeth for six months and I will lose my savable bottom ones.

I am constantly anxious and depressed over my Crohn's disease already. Now I have to face getting all of my top teeth pulled out of my head. The thought of having to go for six months without teeth just brings me to tears. I am already so skinny from the Crohn's--I can't afford to lose any more weight because I cannot eat properly. I am also devastated at the thought of loosing my bottom teeth because they can easily be saved if I find the money.

Right now I just don't know what is going to happen in the near future. I cannot afford the luxury of cable TV or the internet. I am housebound, sick and living on a very fixed income.

Funding my dental bill will make it possible for me to have top teeth immediately and save my bottom ones. If I lose my teeth I will never leave my apartment or see anyone. I'm afraid my anxiety, depression and loneliness will worsen. I am so happy to learn that there are such kind and generous people who will give to others in need. If you help me out of this mess, you have my heartfelt gratitude. There are really no words to express the thanks and appreciation I feel. My prayers will be answered. I have faith that I will get well again and be able to get back on my feet. It may take some healing time, but I will always remember to pay it forward. Thank you all."

Click here to donate to this applicant directly.