Recipients Identified

As of tonite, we are at $1565 in pledged donations! And this doesn't include the matching donation from Merriman Capital (up to $2000) so we have now surpassed the $3000 point! That is incredible! Your generosity is a beautiful thing. Thank you.

Donations will be accepted until the end of day this Wednesday December 20th!
I've set up a specific mailbox address that pledges can be mailed to; please ensure checks are made payable to Katharine Bothel and mailed by end of day Tuesday:

Katharine Bothel
336-36th Street #270
Bellingham, WA 98225

It has been much harder to 'pick' the recipient for this money than I ever thought. So much so that I hardly slept last night! I am touched by the trust you have placed in me, and by your desire to want to help someone in your community. After much thought, I've decided to split the money amongst the following families/groups/people. These nominations came from YOU - so this is YOU caring for your fellow human beings. I hope that you will be able to connect and resonate with one of these recipients and know that your money has gone on to touch a life. These donations are still "surprises" for the intended recipients, so I'll keep specific details at a minimum.

1) I learned of a mother of 3 who lives in the Roosevelt neighborhood and has struggled for many years to make ends meet. Recently, she became involved with a non-profit organization called The Whatcom Dream which helps transform lives, specifically through financial-skills courses aimed specifically at low-income people. This particular person has been a 'star' pupil, and has set out to do her very best to transform her own life by "paying it forward" with her time and her talents. Over the course of the year, she has become behind in her rent by approximately $500. Now that her children are in school, she began a part-time job as a means to pay back that rent - but was recently laid off so now she is back at square one. She is about to be evicted from her home but this would be a tragedy to the community in which she lives as she has become a leader and example to those around her, and in January, she will become a volunteer teacher in the Whatcom Dream courses. A portion of the donations will go to pay the back-rent she owes plus a little bit of 'forward' rent, ensuring that she and her children can stay in her home and continue to be the leader in her community that she is setting out to be.

2) I have learned about another mother of 3 who recently left a very unhealthy and damaging marriage. Her estranged husband is currently hospitalized and in order to pay the medical bills, they had to sell their house and liquidate all of their assets. This mother has never worked outside the home and so she has literally nothing. At present, she is living with her mother to try and get back on her feet. A portion of the donations will be given to her as cash, to help her start the new life she wants and deserves.

3) I have learned about 6 families that were recently affected by a very unnecessarily violent and aggressive immigration raid on a local Bellingham company. The result is that 6 families were immediately separated: the husbands were either deported or are currently held in prison in Tacoma. The women were released so they could continue to care for their children. They must remain in the country until their immigration hearings which take place this spring. However, they are unable to work and do not qualify for any social assistance. These 6 women are working so hard and so creatively to make ends meet and are barely getting by. They barely have enough money to buy groceries, let alone pay electrical bills or rent. These people have been members of this community, for as much as 17 years!

I feel a personal connection to these women as I too am an immigrant to this country - but an immigrant of a much different kind. I'm a Canadian, that happened to fall in love with an American and so have travelled the long, complex, and stressful path of immigrating to this country. It took me 3.5 years, thousands of dollars and a lot of tears to become a legal resident. But this is nothing compared to the complexities that they face. As I travelled that journey, I longed to be treated as a human, not a 'file' - and these 6 families deserve to feel human too. A portion of the donations will be given to these 6 women/families as cash, to help them pay their rent.

4) Finally, I've learned about a student from a low-income school in Bellingham who has travelled an amazing journey. In the words of the person who 'nominated' her:

"She is one of those kids who you wish you could take home. Her mom died when she was young, they were homeless last year, and she still manages to get a 4.0, dream of going to medical school to find cures for diseases like the one that killed her mom, and keep a smile on her face. This fall, I convinced her to apply for science field trip, even though I knew she couldn't afford it and I promised her that we would come up with the money somehow. It is a four day out of state "field trip". 35 kids get to go and visit some universities, museums, and other science related activities. For many, it is their first time on a plane. For most, it's their first time away from their parents. A wonderful opportunity."

I think that says it all. A portion of the money will go towards paying for the entire amount of this particular student's trip, and, if possible, additional money will go towards a scholarship fund for the other students.