GoFundMe to support government workers

madasheck · Jan 22, 2019

https://www.gofundme.com/govshutdown

They've raised over $200,000 in 4 days. I know that recent Trump wall one was a scam, and I'm making no claims. Just putting up the link.

yankintx · Jan 22, 2019

There are lots of charities to donate to in order to help our Federal employees, I would be concerned giving my cash to that website.

madasheck · Jan 22, 2019

yankintx said:
There are lots of charities to donate to in order to help our Federal employees, I would be concerned giving my cash to that website.

Yeah, after the Trump wall scam can't say I blame you.

yankintx · Jan 22, 2019

Lots of food banks one can donate money or time to help these folks. Go fund me has seen lots of scammers recently.

Xelor · Jan 22, 2019

Not surprised by the sum raised; I'm more surprised that it's not far more than it is.

A "grass roots" flyer went around asking folks to buy gift cards or prepaid debit cards. On the 14th, I bought four $1500 prepaid debit cards and gave one each to the G-men I see on my morning run. I know that's not a lot of money, but hopefully it'll help, and more hopefully, the damn shutdown will end soon.

I don't mind helping the guys. What I do mind is that this POTUS has created and perpetuated a situation that calls for me to need to do so.

Bucky · Jan 22, 2019

madasheck said:
https://www.gofundme.com/govshutdown

They've raised over $200,000 in 4 days. I know that recent Trump wall one was a scam, and I'm making no claims. Just putting up the link.

How did you know it was a scam? Did people lose money?

madasheck · Jan 23, 2019

Bucky said:
How did you know it was a scam? Did people lose money?

This USA Today story tells all about it. He apparently is still trying to raise money for it.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2019/01/11/donations-trumps-border-wall-gofundme-refunded/2550175002/

Middle_Ground · Jan 23, 2019

Xelor said:
Not surprised by the sum raised; I'm more surprised that it's not far more than it is.

A "grass roots" flyer went around asking folks to buy gift cards or prepaid debit cards. On the 14th, I bought four $1500 prepaid debit cards and gave one each to the G-men I see on my morning run. I know that's not a lot of money, but hopefully it'll help, and more hopefully, the damn shutdown will end soon.

I don't mind helping the guys. What I do mind is that this POTUS has created and perpetuated a situation that calls for me to need to do so.

I feel the same way and did something similar in a smaller amount to TSA workers when I was flying last week.

GDViking · Jan 23, 2019

Xelor said:
Not surprised by the sum raised; I'm more surprised that it's not far more than it is.

A "grass roots" flyer went around asking folks to buy gift cards or prepaid debit cards. On the 14th, I bought four $1500 prepaid debit cards and gave one each to the G-men I see on my morning run. I know that's not a lot of money, but hopefully it'll help, and more hopefully, the damn shutdown will end soon.

I don't mind helping the guys. What I do mind is that this POTUS has created and perpetuated a situation that calls for me to need to do so.

I really don't know how these things work but really one of the things they probably need the most would be gas cards.

If their working for free they need to get to work...

Xelor · Jan 23, 2019

GDViking said:
I really don't know how these things work but really one of the things they probably need the most would be gas cards.

If their working for free they need to get to work...

I'm sure for many of the unpaid workers, outlays for transportation -- be it putting gas in a government provided vehicle, money for public transit, money to fuel and maintain their own vehicle -- comprise a material portion of the challenges they're facing from not being paid.

I know the guys I see are in/use gov't vehicles. I don't know what be the fueling arrangements associated with using those vehicles. Do they get gas at a gov't depot? Do they buy gas at regular gas stations? I really don't know. I suspect they don't maintain them as you and I do; however, I'm not of a mind to find out that detail. If you or some other member cares to obtain those details, I'd hazard the content of one or several of the fleet-/pool vehicle management documents found here contains them.

Aside:

Don't forget to include in your running tabulation of gifts (or informing your accountant about) whatever sums you directly donate to individual government workers or to organizations that aren't excluded from being classified as gift recipients.