Northern California Muse

Post by Guest Writer - Mouse
I read about this local Foundation with an Emergency Fund for individuals and families suffering from some catastrophe. So if their rented house burns to the ground and they must check into a hotel with their 3 children, 2 dogs and a cat; emergency money is available.

This happens about once a year in our community and there is a mad scramble by numerous people to assist the family. They need groceries, clothes, a kennel for the pets and gas to get to work. Sounds wonderful and I was ready to donate to this Fund!

The internet is great! In a minute I read the details about the Fund. “Families only” can receive up to $300. That is 2 nights in a hotel or a week’s worth of groceries or some gas for the car and a pair of jeans for each family member. Not all; select one! So maybe they stay in a very cheap hotel, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and stop by the thrift store for clothes. Nope, they need gas money too. So they will need to live in a tent with the dogs and cat that they bought from the thrift store, eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, stop by the thrift store for clothes and then they can put gas in the car too. That works!

$300, give me a break! Oh by the way, it will take up to 10 days to get the money after your Church requests the money. Forget it; I want a Fund that hands out $1000. Ok, I can hear you now. How will the money be spent; on beer and drugs?

So maybe the Fund can hand out Coupons for the local hotel, grocery store, pet kennel, thrift store and gas station. I bet the local grocery stores and thrift shops would donate the Coupons free. I bet the local Humane Society could take the pets for awhile. The Food Bank could get involved.

I like the idea! We need a new and better Fund; a Fund that really helps out a family or an individual. I am sure they have catastrophes too.

But I have forgotten something; we need someone to administer the Fund, plus we will need a phone and a computer so we can create the coupons and some literature. We will need some software for the computer, an office and a non-profit organization, plus a Board of Directors; the list is getting longer and I am getting a headache.

Next time I hear about a family’s house burning down, I will go to the bank, get some cash and drop it by. I will throw in some extra cash so they can buy some beer.