http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464 Mark Stinson's family is in an urgent situation that requires immediate support. Please read his Chatham Chatlist post below. Although I've set the goal to $1000, if we go over that amount we can prove what a supportive community we truly are. "Date: Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:00:23 -0400 From: "Mark Stinson" stinmar1@connectnc.net Subject: help please I really didn't want to do this but I don't have a choice I am trying to keep a positive outlook but its so hard . We were hit by lightning Friday night and then a power surge on Saturday morning resulting in a heat pump fire and dead refrigerator . I lost a fan and numerous small electrical odds n ends . Mama is diabetic and cant deal with the heat nether can I on the meds I'm on .We are both on full disability , my three kids live with me full time with no child support from their mom so our income is very limited . We lost all our groceries in the fridge and we have no heat or ac . I turned the claim in on my insurance Monday and just got a call moments ago from the adjuster . I got a home policy with a $500 deductible with full coverage on replacement value . The adjuster informed me I was not on full coverage but with a $500 deductible with only adjusted value for depreciation coverage . I was told since my heat pump was 11 years old and the average life span was only 10 years they didn't even know if I have a claim or not but they would send me the forms in the mail to fill out . I will have to fill them out and send them in to see if they will pay anything at all and the process will take more than 3 weeks . They had no problem taking my money every year for the policy but they seam to want to keep it now I need help . I have lost all my groceries, no air, no heat, and no money with $8000 worth of damage with 3 kids to feed and a diabetic mother . I do not know what to do . Everyone I have called that I was told could help told me to fill out a form and they would see if I'm qualified for help in a few weeks . I need help now . any suggestions, I simply don't know how to fix this, Thanks Mark en-us 8/14: We have the first donation, pending via PayPal, which is why you don't see it here quite yet. Thank you brave soul for breaking the proverbial ice! Melissa velocity@pledgie.com Thu, 14 Aug 2008 13:14:54 -0700 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_318 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_318 8/15: Hello kind neighbors, Folks are rallying to assist, whether donating here or offering in-kind support. The most amazing thing to me is not so much the generosity of humans (because I believe that we are inherently caring beings), but the rather simple vehicle of the Chatham Chatlist. Without it, Mark and all of us would not have such a wide opportunity to give voice nor the grand opportunity to respond. I bow to Gene Galin for giving us the gift of this forum. And to Mark, for whom posting such a plea could not have been easy. So many of us do not ask for help when direly needed. When you find it within to ask, it will be received. Thanks so much to all. Onward. Melissa velocity@pledgie.com Fri, 15 Aug 2008 07:48:12 -0700 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_320 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_320 8/17: Hi all, Update: Friday eve Mark and I met and I gave him the $165.00 contributed balance at that time. This enabled him to buy fresh food and a few other things to meet immediate needs. He told me that quite a few people are contacting him with offers of assistance in various forms, and that is great! A little clarification: that support is from people like us, not from "agencies" and the sort. Since then more donations have come in. The balance now is $115.00. Kudos to your generous hearts. Melissa velocity@pledgie.com Sun, 17 Aug 2008 08:18:26 -0700 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_321 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_321 8/22: Everyone, Today's update - the balance is now $140, which I hope to hand to Mark on Monday. Each and every bit makes a dent, and know that your contributions are going to a real cause for very tangible things that this family needs. Again, I thank you repeatedly and whole-heartedly..... Kind regards, Melissa velocity@pledgie.com Fri, 22 Aug 2008 11:07:03 -0700 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_323 http://www.pledgie.com/campaigns/1464#comment_323