Let's unite to buy this house, give to family in need

[BroJones]

This is a learning experience for us all.

That's for sure. Thanks to those who have contributed... A long ways to the goal of buying this home for the needy family, but we're progressing. $1000 has been promised via check, so we're up to $1,247 this morning already.

[Obrien]

you know what, I've decided that when I CAN say yes, I'd just as soon do so. there are so many "no"s in life, I like to say yes. besides, I desperately want to be a sheep on the right hand, not a left handed goat. the best way to get into that position is to be grateful for the Lord's blessings and do good when you can. doesn't that require more "yes"es than "no"s?

So offering different opinions and perspectives is goat-like? So reviewing your posting history, that makes you a....?
a GOAT, seeking redemption

Hmm, I've never viewed anyone's opinion anything other than positive and helpful, even though I may vehemently disagree. Must be my crappy goat-like upbringing. I'm not dissing you or your parents.

And just because a person offers differing ideas, doesn't mean in the end they can't say yes. I've been in some good bishoprics where this happened all the time.

Agree 100%. I just disagreed with the characterization of the desperate yes man in search of validation. Mainly, I was seeking a donation from Shadow for this home project thing. From you, too.

[deep water]

My mother taught me a good lesson years ago. She had taken on the jobs of cleaning people house as a project for raising money for the partial payment that people use to do before they would get their ward or stake house built or remolded. Those who lived in the 60 and 70s understand what I mean. She was the working on a small farm, working mother of 11 of her own children, yet years after the ward house was paid for, she was still cleaning several of the homes she had cleaned for the building project. I use to try to get her to quit and use the extra time, which was never extra, for her self. She charged so little that by the time she paid for the gas and the supplies she would have not been making much if anything. One day I ask her why she continued to clean. I would ask about each person she cleaned for. She was providing a service for almost all those who she cleaned for except for one or two. There was one person's family that was well off. They owned the best car dealership in town and had so for many years. My thought was that they sure knew a good (steal) deal when they seen one. Once my father went to purchase a new pickup from them, and the family discount he was suppose to receive was not nearly as good as the deal the dealer in the next town would give. When I ask her why she cleaned their home she stopped and thought for a moment before she answered. When she answered she said, " yes, she is different, I guess the reason I still clean her home is because she needs someone to talk with". No judgment, no questioning just service. Even though she was being used and abused she did so with the thought of pure service.

[ajax]

you know what, I've decided that when I CAN say yes, I'd just as soon do so. there are so many "no"s in life, I like to say yes. besides, I desperately want to be a sheep on the right hand, not a left handed goat. the best way to get into that position is to be grateful for the Lord's blessings and do good when you can. doesn't that require more "yes"es than "no"s?

So offering different opinions and perspectives is goat-like? So reviewing your posting history, that makes you a....?
a GOAT, seeking redemption Welcome to the club.

Hmm, I've never viewed anyone's opinion anything other than positive and helpful, even though I may vehemently disagree. Must be my crappy goat-like upbringing. I'm not dissing you or your parents. I was.

And just because a person offers differing ideas, doesn't mean in the end they can't say yes. I've been in some good bishoprics where this happened all the time.

Agree 100%. I just disagreed with the characterization of the desperate yes man in search of validation. Mainly, I was seeking a donation from Shadow for this home project thing. From you, too. Right hand, left hand. Ok, enough sidetracking this worthy endeavor, though it does keep it at the top of the page. I do have a question though for BrJones, are only members of the Church considered for candidates?

[BroJones]

Not just LDS are considered for candidates, no. Nor do I even ask. But the NEED needs to be there... and frankly I'm considering a family with children in need.

Could we help everyone in need? no, but we can DO SOMETHING!

Admittedly, this is a bit of an experiment, to see what we can do together, IF we can pull together, to help a family with children in need. Then I'd like to see how the family does in their home, hopefully well!

It's not every day that a home this nice in such a nice neighborhood (IMO) comes along for such a low price.
True, this is a farming-oriented town and farmers are doing so-so this year I understand.

Learning as we go.

[BroJones]

Thanks again, as contributions for this needy family continue (but slowly).

In the event that contributions are not enough to even buy the house ($9K + closing costs), I'm trying to decide what to do. My thought is to allow the family to make the "bridge-the-gap" contribution if they are able... then if not a back-up family would have this option.

Hopefully the contributions will be enough though, as we seek to "remember the poor" and seek for "no poor among them."

I do think that it is in keeping with the D&C notion of stewardships that the recipient family have the deed and a clear stewardship for the home - that's what was done with the Law of Consecration and Stewardship IIRC.

[Rose Garden]

Bro. Jones, this is a test of faith. You will receive enough contributions. But most likely, the bulk of those contributions will come in the eleventh hour after you have done your utmost and can do nothing else. It will happen that way so that in the end, you cannot say that you did anything of yourself, but that the Lord provided a way.

I might be wrong, but I don't believe so. I've seen this pattern again and again.

[BrotherOfMahonri]

Let's see what a little facebook following can do Here goes...

[marc]

Ditto. I just shared this on my Facebook page, too. I plan to pitch in on my next paycheck. Brother Jones, feel free to take more videos if you need any visual help with fixes, etc.

[Rose Garden]

Will somebody tell me how to "bump" a post on facebook?

[BroJones]

(Sorry Meili, FB is not my forte...)

Progress slow but proceeding, and I feel good about this project as it goes forward, with support.

The Mom (Mrs G) writes again:

Hi Again,
I SOOOOO appreciate what has been donated. I will tell you my husband and I have SO desired to give my parents the gift of their home back for Christmas (it's hard to keep things quiet when we live with them - thankfully they are out of town right now - it's hard to keep it from the children too ;) ). I believe this will happen. As for us making up the rest.. I'm sure it will work out. There is NO way we could purchase a home for that price out here, nor find rent for a family of our size for under $1,200/month.

I can't even express what a gift this is, it makes me cry as I think about it and I'm not sleeping well because I have so much to do and I'm SOOOOOO excited!

This is a great motivation to us to REALLY get our businesses going so we we can be comfortable when we get there and meet our growing children's needs.

We of course are funding the moving out there. I hopped on craigslist and it looks like it's not as big as it is here. A friend of mine recently moved to Alaska and gave away/sold everything but the bare necessities to save costs on the move.

I would LOVE to do this and pass on kindness by giving to those in need in our community (perfect that it's the holiday season). Thinking ahead again - it is pretty easy to get cheap furniture out there? I wasn't too impressed with the craigslist activity out there :-s

I LOVE what Meili said and believe that will be true - it's happened for us many times, things happening at the VERY last minute.

Alright, back to the children, their studies and my business.

SO many blessings!
Miracles abound!

I replied to this Mom about getting furniture out here. There is a new IKEA store in Kansas City.
But my wife and I like to go to the AUCTIONS and garage sales around here - seems they are plentiful and one gets very good bargains often. Like chairs, tables, exercisers, beds etc. There is a store for new mattresses in Bethany (17 miles east).

Albany Branch members often help each other out with free stuff. E.g., I gave some old wheat to the Branch President for his chickens (excellent eggs, cheap!), and other branch members kept us supplied for weeks with tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.

[marc]

Meili, one does not bump a Facebook post. One comments on, likes, and shares posts to give it more exposure.

[Rose Garden]

So should I find my old post and comment on it? I finally just created a new one. Sometimes people need to see something a few times (according to a marketing specialist I listened to long ago) before they will let it sink in. I figure I need to get it in front of people several times so they'll pay attention.

[BrotherOfMahonri]

I replied to this Mom about getting furniture out here. There is a new IKEA store in Kansas City.
But my wife and I like to go to the AUCTIONS and garage sales around here - seems they are plentiful and one gets very good bargains often. Like chairs, tables, exercisers, beds etc. There is a store for new mattresses in Bethany (17 miles east).

Albany Branch members often help each other out with free stuff. E.g., I gave some old wheat to the Branch President for his chickens (excellent eggs, cheap!), and other branch members kept us supplied for weeks with tomatoes, cucumbers, etc.

Thanks for sharing. Love the feedback - so hopeful and encouraging. Yes - yard sales are huge in Missouri, bigger than here in Happy Valley. You should consider calling the local radio stations, you call in and announce garage sales - and just ask about people dropping off donations to your home or a church for this family? Just an idea - but yard sales are big in Missouri. We moved there some years back, and had to move again and sell everything, and all it took was to call once into the radio station (per a neighbor's suggestion) and everything was sold within a few hours.

[BrotherOfMahonri]

Will somebody tell me how to "bump" a post on facebook?

Just click on the SHARE button.

[Obrien]

Will somebody tell me how to "bump" a post on facebook?

Just click on the SHARE button.

This is the "Jesus wept" of all your posts BD-LDS. ;)

[BrotherOfMahonri]

Will somebody tell me how to "bump" a post on facebook?

Just click on the SHARE button.

This is the "Jesus wept" of all your posts BD-LDS. ;)

Now that is funny! :p

[BroJones]

Lezlee and I went to the KC Temple today with the Stouts - coming back, I see an increase of $600 since this morning.

Again, my heartfelt thanks! especially on behalf of the struggling family in Oregon which really needs a home. This home I think!

[utahmomma]

Have you thought about asking businesses to donate? They usually have more$ than individuals. Lowes and home depot would probably donate the materials you need. You should create a blog and every business that contributes a donation can get an ad on your blog. You can even see about holding a party-at the house or a ward house if the bishop is ok with it, and hold a dinner/auction. You can use the blog to help advertise it. Church youth can serve an inexpensive pasta dinner and people can be asked for a voluntary $8 donation for the dinner. Maybe have bounce houses for kids with a suggested donation price. In advance people and businesses can be asked for donations to auction off. Auction some as a silent auction and some as a live auction. Again, businesses that donate can have their logo/contact info on a program. The hardest part will be to get people there-i suggest passing out flyers around the neighborhood and putting up posters in local salons, grocery stores, etc. Also people can spread the word online by passing around the link for the blog.

I can help design the blog, flyers, and posters if you decide to go that route. I did this exact thing I'm suggesting in 2011 for a family who needed help with medical expenses in a small town here in northern utah and raised nearly $10k in one night.

[marc]

Brother Jones, here's something to warm our hearts and encourage us all to do the same. There is so much potential to do good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lK1vPu6U2B0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[BroJones]

Note that I have to hand-enter non-credit card contributions as "off-line" donations to keep track with the on-line donations.

Note that youCaring/their system charges about 3% for credit card donations. There is no such fee for incoming cash or checks.

I just added an off-line donation for $300 which is much appreciated along with all these gifts for this humble struggling family!

Well, the out-of-state owner signed the papers to ACCEPT my offer of $9000, closing on 19 Nov.

I could see a few problems that -- as a neighbor, I was happy to fix up especially since he's out of town and cannot attend to it .
I covered the two broken windows I had observed to keep the cold winds and weather out. Also fixed a rain- drain-spout NE corner that was totally clogged with leaves/dirt, and added black piping to get rain water AWAY FROM the house.

You really have to watch that the heavy rain-waters move away from each house out here.

Note that the house is just about seven blocks from the public library (books, vids, computers, etc_) and the county-court house (photo taken today shown below). Very nice neighborhood (I live on the same street!)

[marc]

So then what is the donations total now? I can only go by what I see on youcaring. I am very interested in this progress if that's ok. Oh, and is there a deadline?

[Rose Garden]

Bro. Jones, I have a small cash donation from my church. Wish it were bigger but it's just a little church. How is the best way to go about getting it to you so we don't have credit card companies taking a bite out of it? I never use checks, by the way. What I mean by that is I don't have any checks, but I suppose I could get a single one printed off at the bank? I don't know.

[BroJones]

So then what is the donations total now? I can only go by what I see on youcaring. I am very interested in this progress if that's ok. Oh, and is there a deadline?

Hi, I added as "offline donations" at YouCaring all that came in by check, and that brings us to the total as of now,
$3,242.

Pretty good for just a few days, I think, although this is the first "crowdfunding" I've ever done!
I'm certainly not an expert in this process -- and very much appreciate the support of everyone who has donated so far! and who will yet donate.

Jezebel - thanks so much - I don't like sending cash through the mail but I must admit I do it frequently to help people in need. Usually smaller amounts at a time, like $50 or $20.
I fold up a piece of paper to put around the n-dollar-bill inside the envelope. Another idea is to use a brochure that fits in the envelope, and put the cash donation in the brochure and send it.

Hey, I thought of another way. I have bank account with UCCU and with Cache Valley Bank that can be used - assuming you are in Utah. I would prefer using UCCU since that it where all the contributions coming via YouCaring are being funneled, through the "SAVINGS ACCOUNT" there (since it started out with just a little in it to begin with.)

I could send you the bank acct number, and a person could deposit that cash donation straight into that SAVINGS account. I would then log the contribution on YouCaring to show that the cash went in, and could use your group's name as you wish so you can see that this donation was credited to you (or keep it anonymous if y'all wish).

I definitely agree that it would be good to avoid the 3% charged when using credit cards...

[Obrien]

jezebel, maybe you could send him a small book? =))