Hi pals, I'm organizing this on behalf of my person, my best-friend, Clarisa. We try to help each other out as much as we can in this family, but things get more expensive every day and it's just untenable. She has never wanted to ask for help like this but we have no other choice. About Clarisa the human: My sweet girl looks after everybody that she can. Even when she has no food in the fridge, she will find a way to bring something to the community kitchen. Even if she is down to her last $5 bill, she will give it to somebody else who needs it. She fosters cats, takes care of her own cat, and as most eldest daughters have had to do since the beginning of time, supports her family. We met when we were 14 and I've said before that she taught me how to love. Our friendship will always be the longest-term relationship in my life, and it is such a privilege to know her. Clarisa has always worked and has never had time to explore the things that so many people get to. She's never been able to attend post-secondary school, not because she lacks the brains for it (quite the opposite) but because that shit is a privilege. She's always hustled. Always kept moving, kept putting herself out there to try new jobs and careers and build a life for herself. Every day she fights so hard for her own life and I could not be more proud of her. Clarisa is a romantic, a believer that some dried lavender pressed in an old book can cure a bad day (she's gifted me this before, a copy of ee cummings poems, it's on my shelf). She'll put a dash of cinnamon in the french press and not tell me, but she loves it so I'll drink it. These days she can't even drink coffee, but every morning I think of her trying to get me to like that cinnamon twist, and I never will. Clarisa has a bigger heart than anybody you've ever met. She has a natural kinship will animals--she will pull over her car to help a crossing turtle (listen, Vancouver Island life is weird) or stop in her tracks to save a bumble bee. She fosters cats because the community is overrun and they need homes. She will always stop and smell flowers and then she'll find a way to bring you some. She has a beautiful imagination and a mind that yearns to engage with any book it can find. It's been hard to watch her lose some of these hobbies because of the impacts of her concussion, but keeps doing whatever she can to get her way back to them. Again, I cannot express how proud I am of her. We've lived in different provinces for so long yet it never feels normal. And it is even harder in times like these, when I want to physically be there for her but I can't. She is so strong but she shouldn't have to be. Everybody deserves moments of peace and that's what I want for her. About Clarisa's situation: In 2024, Clarisa had to go on leave from work after suffering her 6th concussion. During that time she had financial compensation from WCB, which, although far too low, was at least something she could rely on. The following summer, she had to go on leave because of chronic back pain. This year, she got a government job (the thing every boomer says you're supposed to do) and started to go back to work. Her post-concussion syndrome has made this incredibly difficult, and she had to go back on medical leave per her doctor's orders. She has to go back to work next month, even though her doctor does not advise it, because she can no longer survive. My girl has never really had stability in the last 5 years. She left her abuser which took a lot of courage and bravery, her grandfather died, she was assaulted, and her chronic pain continues (her back, shoulder, and pelvis, as well as uterine pain and her constant migraine). These things compound one another. People cannot get well or heal themselves when they cannot meet their basic needs. All the breathing techniques and self-love Instagram pages can't change that. If they could, we'd all be millionaires. About her needs: As is stands right now: EI has turned her down, WCB is still reviewing her 200+ page medical file, and she has not had an income since June. I am just gonna put it bluntly: Clarisa grew up poor. She does not have the same safety net that a lot of other folks do. Her family is not able to help her, and it has reached a point where her ability to keep her housing is in jeopardy. Her other past-due bills are piling up and she needs support: Rent & utilities - $1000/mo Internet (past due) - $300 (usually $113/mo) Phone (past due) - $200 ($115/mo) Car Insurance - $100/mo Living Expenses (gas, groceries, cat food, medication): $$ remaining We went back and forth on the amount for this fundraiser, but since GFM takes fees out, we wanted to aim high. It's not like it won't be used for CC debt, bills, and other support. My girl is just trying to get to a point where she has a chance to stay afloat. The cost of living in Victoria, BC is too high and we know so many other folks are struggling, too. We understand if you're not able to contribute, but sharing this would be so helpful.
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