QOTD 9/2

minionlover

What do you think about the website www.gofundme.com?

Are there any interesting requests in your area?

brainybrunette

A family friend's 9 year old is suffering from a rare and aggressive form of childhood cancer and someone set up a similar account for the family (not sure if it was the same site). They are currently in NYC for experimental treatment, so the online fund has definitely helped with travel expenses. Also, they can't stay at the Ronald McDonald house because part of the experimental treatment is radiation implanted directly in the body, so he can't be around other children at Ronald McDonald. The hotel stays and parking fees at Sloan definitely add up. I think that it's great that there's generous people out there who are willing to help out in a terrible situation. 

mana8503

A lot of the gofundme requests make me stabby.  I feel like it's more "Hey, give me free money so I don't have to work for it".  I might sound old, but in my day we funraised.  I'll over pay for a candy bar/hoagie/pizza so you can go to your conference/get uniforms/etc.  I get emails from friends to fund their kids stuff.  Maybe that's why I'm jaded.

I see a lot of requests on the consignment/yard sale groups on FB I'm in.  People will offer to find jobs/hire/etc but no, just send $$ to me because xyz happened (usually unplanned pregnancy).  There's so many scammers, no way I believe any story. 

If I personally know someone and it's for something like medical bills I actually know they have I'll consider it.

catwine

I think it can be a great tool.  There are lots of posts in my area for medical bills, vet bills and some sports stuff.  A lot of kids use it to help raise money for missions trips too.

sjs1013

It depends on the situation.  A legit illness and need, like @brainybrunette mentioned, I think deserves money.  GoFundMe gives more opportunity for a family like that to reach more people and get more money to save their baby. 

A guy I went to college with has an account right now so he can open a brewery.  Come on, go out and do it like everyone else, get backers, take out a loan, do what you need to do.  I don't need to give you money because you want to open a brewery.  I am remodeling my house, can you give me some money, too?

Also, a girl in my sorority posted because her dog got injured and her and her boyfriend can't afford the necessary surgery.  A pet is almost like a child.  They require more money than you expect.  If you don't have extra money to save, I don't think you should get a pet.  You need to have money for emergencies, both with yourself and your family members. 

Sorry I got into a rant, but in most cases, I don't agree with a site like that.

pockysquirrel

This is one of those things that people can definitely use for good or for evil. I usually don't donate for the reasons listed above. I recently did donate to one, though, and I feel good about the decision to do it. A young man went to the fan convention I was at last weekend, suffered a seizure on arrival, and missed the entire con while also having to spend a whole weekend in a hospital several states away from home. The crowdfunding campaign wasn't even started by this kid - it wasn't HIM asking for money. It was other fans who had seen what had happened and wanted to help make up for what he had missed out on. So the fandom came together to pay his medical bills and pay his way to the next convention. And that's the kind of community spirit I think the world needs more of.

goatlady12

I've only ever seen it for medical things.  In those cases I'm totally fine with it.  Medical bills are typically something you can't plan for, and are huge bills.  It all depends. 

minionlover

I have no problem raising money for a person with an illness and such but I don't like the "raise money for my backpack trip across Europe" or "help buy my kid a computer."

I searched my zip and came across requests for money to keep someone out of jail that had more donations than ones for sick people.

I also found one for a couple with 2 georgeous little girls who wanted money to help pay for infertility treatment!!! You ready have 2 wonderful kids and now you want someone else to help pay to get you pregnant again?!

PattySmith101

Funny that this topic came up- after the accident I was in which my car ended up totaled ( 2 weeks ago) I was joking around and said I should start a page like that to get donations for a new car- I was totally joking and would never do that! I would never expect someone to help Me pay for a new car, but I totally would consider helping with someone's child's medical bills! Like everyone else said

snuff9861

I think it's a good resource for things like medical bills or say after something like a fire or bad flood. But new stuff you don't need? Now that I have issues with.

consciousdear88

Agreeing with prior posts. I think it's an interesting idea, but it depends what it's for.

For the heck of it, I looked to see what all was being funded in my area.

There were three: 

One was helping a guy who was wanting to go back to college after both being diagnosed with lymphoma and staying at home to help his mom. One was a girl who was blind and wanted to still see several dream locations. One was a guy who got robbed.

I'm totally okay with the first two and actually genuinely felt sad reading the first story. The last one lost me once I found out that he could have gotten insurance to cover his items and didn't.

xxjen015

A very similar site was set up for one of the most popular teachers from my high school. His house burned down in the middle of the night, through no fault of his own. Hundreds of thousands were raised by his alumni within weeks. It was an amazing show of community and how much he had touched the lives of those he taught. 

Looking in my local area...there are a lot of medical expenses, a couple of people wanting money for a funeral, then a few for people who had their money stolen.