The Official Modest Needs Blog

Fighting Off Germs (and Sick Days)

I wanted to take a moment today to point you toward a Wall Street Journal article exposing the places where pesky little germs lurk most often.

And how does this relate to Modest Needs, you ask?

Simple. Browse a dozen or so applications, and more often than not you'll stumble across a story whose source of hardship is a simple, ordinary issue we all face on a regular basis: illness. The flu, for example, can rip someone out of the workforce for a week or more, which can mean precious wages lost. And when you're without paid sick days, you recognize immediately how run-of-the-mill illnesses can take a financial toll as well as a physical one. (Parents are at a double disadvantage. They need to worry about not only their own health, but the health of their children as well.)

This season, with swine flu on the upswing again, it will pay -- literally -- for all of us to do our best to prevent the spread of germs.

So happy hand-washing, and here's to a sickness-free fall for all!

Ordinary

This applicant's story isn't extraordinary. In fact, it's all too common among the applications we read at Modest Needs.

Single mom.
14-year-old son.
Took a job at half the pay she used to earn.
Earns $10 but doesn't qualify for state aid.
Doesn't have enough to buy a $1 iced tea at the end of the month.

She applied for $400 to cover a bed for her teenager, a "great kid" who has been sleeping on an air mattress for the past few months.

Have you ever slept on an air mattress? (Or, more accurately, NOT slept on one?)

The fact that Modest Needs donors have funded this "ordinary" family is, in fact, the very opposite of ordinary. On the contrary. To this mom and son, that act of generosity is nothing short of miraculous.

Insights from a Donor

If I had 5 minutes with every Modest Needs donor, the first question I'd ask would have to be: "Why do you donate to us?"

This morning I came across a lovely, incredibly articulate answer to that question posted by one of our contributors on Charity Navigator (where, incidentally, Modest Needs is listed among the top six charities for helping those affected by the economic crisis).

I'm so proud to share it today with all of you. Not only does this donor's written statement give you a window into one person's thought process for giving, but it also encapsulates our mission in a beautiful and down-to-earth manner.

"I have been a supporting member of Modest Needs for several years now. I participate through a monthly donation that is debited to my bank card. Every month or so, I browse the website and allocate my points (dollars) to applications that speak to my heart...When I look at an application, I take into account the situation that the requestor is describing.

1. Can my contribution help this person out of a short-term problem, and help them from falling into a long-term problem through no fault of their own?

2. Does the situation speak to my personal causes? I tend to favor smaller requests for medical equipment, glasses, dental work, important surgical procedures, etc. -- but that's just me. Other donors have their own preferences. If a child is suffering in school because she needs a hearing aid -- I am there.

3. The urgency of the need compared to all the requests that I see on the site. Sometimes it's hard to make a decision, and although the need is great, the money can only go so far.

Modest Needs is a wonderful organization and offers a hand up, not a hand out. There should be no sense of entitlement to funds, but a joy for those who can afford to participate in giving and hope for those who can benefit from the program.

Please give us your consideration - Modest Needs does great and miraculous things!"

Wishing vs. Action

A line from one of our applicant testimonials today got me thinking:

"Stop wishing, and make it happen."

As we all know, that's sage advice. But it's not necessarily as easy as it sounds.

For so many of our applicants, the circumstances surrounding their financial upheaval are completely out of their control. Perhaps a disease or accident is the cause of a few hefty medical bills, or a temperamental car is threatening their ability to get to work. This loss of control can be infuriating -- not to mention depressing. But by applying for a Modest Needs grant, applicants circumvent the trap of the wishing well ("I wish this sickness would dissipate"; "I wish this car would just get me to work a few more times") and take their futures into their own hands.

Our donors demonstrate the same kind of admirable action-orientation. How many of us have thought, "I'm going to be more charitable," or "I'm going to be a better person"? There's nothing wrong with setting goals for ourselves. It's the first step toward change. But Modest Needs donors, whether they give $5 or $50,000, take those aspirations a huge step forward when they make them reality.

I'm as guilty of wishing as the next person. But this week, I'm going to be more mindful about those thoughts. If we all stopped our wishing and started making more things happen, we'd most likely be a lot happier bunch -- both individually and collectively.

The Price of Water

Those of you with well-water have probably experienced the pain of going without water for a few days. An ice storm comes, your power goes out, and you're suddenly water-less. It's a very frustrating situation that shows just how dependent we are on modern technology.

But let's take this a step further. Imagine not having water for weeks, or months, on end. No water for cooking, bathing, even just cleaning your house. It's a dreadful thought, no?

Now how about imagining yourself in one last situation: the same as above, except that you also have cancer.

I urge you to read this application from a woman in Missouri who needs our help to repair the water line into her trailer so that she can resume water service in her home. She has gone an astounding 4 years without water, and endured some terrible circumstances as a result. Let's make sure the faucets start running again for her, for good.

After the Check Hits the Bank

It's one of my personal goals for 2009 to keep better tabs on applicants who've received Modest Needs grants in years past.

I can't tell you how excited I feel when a note pops up in my inbox from a formerly funded applicant. Modest Needs often becomes an integral part of applicants' lives during a particularly dark period, and it's incredibly rewarding to know that they don't forget about us months and years later, once the clouds have cleared. (On the contrary, a majority of funded applicants actually come back to donate.)

When I received an update this morning from the recipient of a Bridge Grant from a few months back, I couldn't wait to share her sentiments with you. Not only do her words underscore the long-term effects of our grants... they also show how a helping hand at the right moment is a gesture that won't soon be forgotten.

"Modest Needs provided the necessary bridge to keep me in my apartment as I was searching for work. That was crucial. I did end up getting a job on February 2nd of this year with Census 2010... But in the bigger picture, the Modest Needs loan kept me in San Francisco for the amount of time I needed to remain there, get back on my feet job-wise, and get relevant experience...We've all been challenged on many different fronts this year. I empathize that much more with others who are toughing it out. I am hoping that by the end of this year, I will be able to start paying it back."

Words from a Grateful 10-Year-Old

I came across a beautiful testimonial submitted by a 10-year-old girl whose mother had recently applied for mortgage assistance with Modest Needs. After receiving a shocking diabetes diagnosis for her daughter, this applicant took 12 weeks off work to receive formal training in the administration of insulin and the reading of blood types. And as a result of taking that time off, she'd lost wages and gotten behind on her mortgage payment.

As expected, our donors made sure this family would keep the roof above their heads, diabetes diagnosis or not. Here's what this very articulate 10-year-old had to say in thanks:

"Just before my birthday I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. It quickly made things harder for me and my family's life! My mother told me that Modest Needs Organization was going to help us out. I was very happy and thankful most of all. Now stuff can start getting better for us. Thank you all!"

You're Going Bankrupt Why?

Do you assume that people who file for bankruptcy are wild spenders, perhaps, or individuals who've been out of work for years?

Increasingly, that's not the case at all.

According to a new study by the American Journal of Medicine, the most common cause of bankruptcy is now medical debt. Perhaps most surprising? Among those people filing for bankruptcy, more than 75% have health insurance. That's right -- 75%.

It's a jarring statistic even to me, despite the fact that I understand better than most people the horrific financial toll that medical problems can take on Modest Needs applicants, between co-pays, deductibles, uncovered procedures, prescriptions, and travel for medical treatment.

In case you'd like to help stop this trend toward bankruptcy for one very grateful individual, here are just a few Modest Needs applications to peruse. Most of the time, we can't do a thing to make someone healthy. But we sure can make a difference when it comes to their bills.

MS - Help with MRI Deductible
Liver Transplant Patient Needs Help
Partial Tongue Removal Surgery

No, We Haven't Forgotten!

So many of you have been calling and emailing to ask if we reached our $100,000 milestone for the June matching grant. I know it has been a few weeks since I mentioned this matching grant, but with my "radio silence" you might have guessed that we've been absolutely SNOWED here in the Modest Needs offices. 

Do you know why? 

Because YES! Thanks to your extraordinary gifts this past June, we did in fact hit that $100,000 mark -- and right in the nick of time. And ever since, we've been disbursing money like crazy!

I hope that you understand the magnitude of this effort. With this donation match, Modest Needs now has a fantastic $200,000 in new funds for low-income families suffering through a short-term financial crisis. $200,000!

I can't thank our donors enough for coming through with so much money in such a short period of time. You continue to amaze and inspire me with your dedication and kindness. 

So on that note, congratulations! And have a wonderful Thursday afternoon.

A Heartwarming Update

One of my very favorite experiences as the founder of Modest Needs comes when I receive an email from a funded applicant, sometimes months or years after his or her check has cleared. Last week one such note arrived, from an applicant who'd received a Bridge Grant a few months ago.

Irene wrote me, explaining that although she was still laid-off, the Modest Needs Bridge grant had put her in a position to make the most of her time off. She'd decided to renew the certification she'd used in a different state to work as a nurse's aide. Today was her New York state exam, and she'd already gotten a job lined up. The layoff might have lasted longer than Irene thought, but thanks to her admirable initiative and your generosity, it also gave birth to an exciting career change. Stories like hers so clearly demonstrate something that's incredibly difficult for me to convey to our donors: the long-term good that a short-term grant can create. Mind you, we're talking about a total life change for Irene... as a result of a UTILITY BILL.

Irene wrote: 

"I could never express my gratitude enough to the donors at Modest Needs. I look forward to being able to make my own donation to help the next person in need. Pay it forward, always."