The Official Modest Needs Blog

Have a Huggable Hero

Meet some "huggable heroes," kids with big hearts and important mission, who just might leave you inspired:

Everyday Superhero: How to Gain Restorative Powers

One of the greatest things about the Modest Needs mission is its restorative powers. "Restorative powers" sounds like a superhero's super power, but in reality it's much simpler.

While your gifts to Modest Needs allow hardworking people and struggling families to get back on track financially, you also restore their faith in the goodness of others.

Many of our grant recipients at Modest Needs have been victims of continued bad luck (for lack of a better term), often at the hands of other people. Some have been abused by their husbands. Others have been taken for a ride by sleazy roommates or landlords. Too many have been abandoned. So, when you give of yourself to pull them out of a rut, it's very often the first act of kindness they been privvy too in a very long time.

Here are just a handful of the testimonials that express sincere gratitude for restoring belief in mankind:

• "[You] have little by little shown me that while there is evil in this world, there is much good to temper it."
• "[T]his donation helps prove that there are great people out there that really do care about the well being of their fellow human kind."
• "I've always been told that there's no good left in the world. A message from the broken hearts I've known. I must confess, after all the turmoil I've seen and endured, I was starting to lose faith as well. With this act of kindness, you've restored that faith."
• "You have renewed my faith in humanity."
• "I have a renewed sense of hope in everything."
• "I will be forever grateful for your thoughtfulness and kind generosity. Not only by helping me financially, but also spiritually."

You can't underestimate the power giving someone hope. That's giving someone the gift of life. Because, you've heard what they say, you gotta have hope.

[Photo by karla_k]

Application of the Day: Single Mom Risks Losing Her Home

She is a single mother who works hard to provide for her children. Recently, her son had to have surgery, and as a result she missed days at work in order to take care of him. This decision left her with a severe dip in income, and now she's struggling to pay her bills.

This mom is asking for help in paying her mortgage for this month, which would allow her to move ahead. She needs only 336 points to make that happen. You can make that happen.

Your Generosity Is Contagious, So Pass It On

I'd never heard of childrens author Chris Rumble until today, but upon seeing this video about the chain reaction of generosity, I'm a fan. And I've never read one of his books! But he's got a great attitude and an uplifting presence in this short clip here he described how one child's selfless gift inspired so many others to do the same. Watch and see and smile:

Application of the Day: Help Keep Her Family Alive

The Applicant of the Day is a desperate mother who is asking for help in keeping her family alive:

My 6 year old son died on June 14, 2010 due to a fatal 'awake' episode of Malignant Hyperthermia, a rare genetic disorder. Since this devastating tragedy we have been searching for medical answers, seeing many doctors, incurring many additional expenses, missed work, etc. We have learned that my son had an undiagnosed neuromuscular myopathy, Central Core Disease, and it has been confirmed that my husband, and 2 of my other children ages 5 & 2, also have this condition.

This is a heat related illness and my children and my husband are highly susceptible to overheating which can trigger Malignant Hyperthermia, muscle breakdown, etc. To make matters worse, we live in Florida and the hot summer months are quickly approaching. The neurologist we have been seeing suggested cooling vests for them, which would help to maintain their core body temperature at safe limits.

Without these vests, her family is at a greater risk of sudden death. And with all the money this family has spent on health care, these vests are simply out of their grasp.

But you can help.

Set to Expire: 5 Chances to Prevent Poverty on a Personal Level

When you give to Modest Needs, you stop poverty in its tracks. And not in some abstract way, either. When you donate to Modest Needs you prevent real people, real families from slipping into an often irreversible trap of poverty that can be all but possible to escape.

Want to know your generosity helps someone today? Right now? Below are five applications set to expire before the end of this month. For some of these individuals, you could be their life preserver.

1. Disability Hampers Breathing
2. Have Multiple Sclerosis: Need Rent
3. Family in Need of Help: Board Certification
4. Need Assistance Paying For Dentures
5. Electric Bill

[Photo by shaggyshoo]

Application of the Day: Keep Mom & 2 Kids from Homelessness

She is a struggling mother of two who is scared that she will lose the roof over their heads:

Where do I begin? I have been really physically and mentally exhausted with worry. I have always prayed that I would never be in a situation facing being homeless, but this dilemma has come upon my children and I. I have had some unexpected expenses with car repairs, paying for my eyeglasses and medication. I have come to you with the deepest and most sincere emotions of desperation.

I really want to extend the gratitude from the heart of my soul for even taking the time to read my application. It is just a struggle to get what we even need sometimes. I have doctor appointments and so does my son and it is hard with no gas money to even do that. I desperately need your help. I thank you all for what u stand for and what you do. Thank you, God bless.

You can assist this single mother and her two young ones from being pushed out onto the street by following this link. They are already more than 50% funded.

The Trikescapades: A Story with a Happy Ending

Today, a little story about human kindness and community generosity that will warm even the coldest, blackest hearts.

Ten days ago the Application of the Day was from a wife whose husband suffers from MS. They had traded in a life insurance policy so that they could buy a recumbent trike, a vehicle that allowed this man to be independent, healthy and mobile. It changed his life for the better, in numerous ways. Until that trike was stolen.

 

The request from his loving wife was truly touching--it's obvious how much she cares for her spouse and was upset over the loss of quality of life.

Much to the delight of the staff here at Modest Needs, we recieved a phone call from the wife to let us know she'd like her request pulled from our site. That is because after she wrote about the stolen trike in her local paper, a t.v. news station picked up the story. That piece generated enough donations that this couple now has two recumbent trikes. Now this couple can ride together.

Watch these touching video stories about how the town of Des Moine stepped up to aid a neighbor in his time of need. You'll be happy you did.

 

Application of the Day: Help Children See and Succeed

The Applicant of the Day is a loving mother of two school-aged children who has been a victim of unemployment. In efforts to take care of her family, she took the initiative to create income by starting her own business, which has left things extremely tight financially.

She writes, "Recently, I took both of my children for eye exams. My son could not see objects that were in plain sight; and sometimes would not pay attention in class. My daughter would not complete classwork because she was too embarrassed to admit that she could not see...It pains me that I cannot afford to help my children see better. My children deserve to have every opportunity available to be successful at school; even if I cannot provide it. It is with great humility that I ask for assistance."

This applicant needs just 352 points to get her children the glasses they need to see.

Who Does Modest Needs Help? People Who Have No One to Help Them.

One of the things that makes Modest Needs a unique charity organization is our mission. While many charities focus their efforts on a single cause, for instance cancer research, homelessness or child abuse, Modest Needs assists a wide segment of the population. We aim to aid those who, most of the time, can take care of themselves, but for some reason have found themselves in a financial emergency. The reasons for these emergencies are many and varied. But these individuals do not qualify for government assistance because, until now, they have been completely self-sufficient. Often people in this situation will turn to friends or family for help. Modest Needs applicants have no where else to turn.

Below is a list of the kind of people Modest Needs' donors help on a daily basis. This is just a short list of how your donations, no matter how small, make a huge difference.

• Providing and/or repairing accessibility equipment for the disabled
• People who have had auto accidents
• Those who have started new jobs and need help with bills until first paycheck arrives
• Families burdened by the cost of burying or cremating a loved one
• Assisting those escaping domestic violence
• Imminent loss of housing
• Imminent loss of transportation
• Natural disaster survivors
• Grants for small non-profits surviving others in need
• The medically uninsured
• Single parents

When you give to Modest Needs, you give to people just like you and me. People who are hard working, otherwise independent individuals who risk slipping into a cycle of poverty that can be hard to escape.

Does the plight of natural disaster survivors touch your heart? Would you like a hand in rescuing a battered wife from her abuser? With Modest Needs, you choose where your aid goes. You have a direct hand in changing a life.

[Photo by db Photography]