Community Chat

[JaneMarple]

Why criticize the website for a few bad apples? The web is the way to go now for donations. I personally started an account for a good friend of mine last year. It was successful and she was greatly helped. I couldn't afford to give her what she needed so I reached out to her friends and family and a few thanked me because they hadn't heard from her in some time and were concerned.

Unscrupulous people will always find ways to get something for nothing.

[september]

I have contributed to a few gofundme accounts.  I researched each on my own, and knew what I was doing each time.

My last contribution, went to the family of a bulldozer driver who died while fighting the Soberanes Fire...that saved my community.  This guy is one of my heroes, and I hope my contribution helps his family and his two young children.

[NYC Susan]

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@jaxs mom wrote:

Go Fund Me doesn't bother me in the least. People can do what they want. I don't spend my time worrying about if other people "deserve" a Go Fund Me account. Give if you want to, or not. 

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That's how I feel too.  I've only been aware of two of these in the last year, and both were for legitimate reasons (a friend with cancer/medical bills and a family in need due to tragedy).  I rarely see GoFundMe requests, and the ones posted by my friends are the only ones I'm aware of.  I have no reason to go in search of others.

[NYC Susan]

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@Mmsfoxxie wrote:

It's getting so popular on FB that I'm beginning to think it needs to be banned.  Do it on the sites designated for that.

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I rarely see them on Facebook.

[Irshgrl31201]

I have seen many different types of Go Fund Me accounts and some are down right ridiculous. One was a girl trying to get money up so she and her husband could take a honeymoon right after their wedding. They didn't have the money to because the cost of a wedding wiped them out financially (her words). It was like boo-hoo. She was asking for $15,000 and only raised around $200. I can't believe she had the nerve to ask for a dime. She didn't have enough sense to be embarrassed and even complained to some of her friends that she ony got $200. 

I do have a girl I went to high school with whose family started a Go Fund Me account for her. I did donate to that. In Feb her 14 yr old son was visiting his grandparents in FL. He was a very active kid who was in all kinds of sports and he started to complain of neck pain. The grandparents took him to the ER pretty quickly and by the end of the day he was paralyzed from the neck down and on a ventilator. He had a spinal arterial stroke. I guess it is rare but extremely rare in such a young kid who was in great health. She has had to quit her job so she can be home with him and  a new van and special wheel chair and other items are needed. I was glad to donate to that and I am happy to say they have exceed their goal. I cannot imagine what they are going through emotionally and I do not want them to worry about anything financial. They are a great family. Both great parents who are hardworking and have 2 great kids and they really are family oriented. She was one of those girls in high school who knew already that she wanted to be a mom. She is just a super loving person and kids have always flocked to her. I HATE that they are going through this. 

That type of stuff I don't mind giving to at all. I do know some people who have asked for money for things that they shouldn't be asking for money for. One girl I know has lived above her means for a long time. She has a $45k car and doesn't even make that amount in one year. She is asking for money to pay off medical bills for an emergency she had a couple of years ago. She didn't have insurance and had to go in for emergency surgery for a minor health problem. Sorry but I am not giving money to a person who should have had insurance but just didn't want to get it because she would rather spend it on other things. A lot of people would like to spend their money on other things but can't. It is called being an adult. 

[wildcat fan]

Go Fund Me is growing in popularity around here.  Student athletes have set up requests to cover expenses for camps.  Teachers have set up requests for classroom materials.  Band teachers are asking for donations for instruments and uniforms. In a way, I like Go Fund Me better by seeing the email and social media links than having people at my door or pulling me aside asking for individual donations. At least with GFM I can just hit delete or quickly scan and pass it on by.

[Plaid Pants2]

There are legitimate causes on GFM.

For example, after the Pulse nightclub tragedy, a GFM account was set up to raise money to help those hurt by the tragedy, and yes, I donated.

To date, they have raised over seven MILLION dollars.

[Moonchilde]

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@Plaid Pants2 wrote:

There are legitimate causes on GFM.

For example, after the Pulse nightclub tragedy, a GFM account was set up to raise money to help those hurt by the tragedy, and yes, I donated.

To date, they have raised over seven MILLION dollars.

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I'd forgotten about that - I donated as well.

[Mmsfoxxie]

You said a mouthful, @Irshgrl31201.  You helped the needy, not the greedy.  And I understand, there are plenty of emergencies that can pop up for anybody.  You can plan for everything and still become needy.  But we all know we need to take that bitter pill and pay insurance costs, then hope we don't have to use it.

Another thing is if you can afford that big car, make sure you include the cost of insurance.  Or buy a small car like me.  If you have kids heavy into sports, you should already know that there will be sporting activities they will want to participate in.  Plan for it.  Don't eat out so much.  When you do irresponsible things, expect negative outcomes.  And don't expect others to pay for it.

[willdob3]

There are some worthy requests on sites like GFM but, more often than not, it appears to be the cyber version of standing on a street corner begging with hand out. Personally, I don't go looking for people to give my money to through online websites.