If I knew that I could raise a full year’s salary in 3 weeks just
by eating rice and beans, having bad hair and not sleeping, I would have done
it ages ago.
But
I can’t imagine doing it again.
Today
marks the start of week four and I have raised $21,441! This is more than a
whole year’s salary (before tax) for a minimum wage earner in San Francisco,
and 18 month’s salary for a worker earning the federal minimum wage.
Damn,
you guys are generous!
Even
if I stopped now (I’m not stopping), this donation would have a significant benefit. $20k provides a year of accommodation
and case management services for a former foster youth while they learn job
skills. Help me get to $25k (you know
you want to) and we can provide food and a warm bed to 500 homeless kids.
After
three weeks, do I have any new insights?
Nothing
groundbreaking, but I am particularly struck by:
How much time
I spend thinking about the cost of things.
I am now lightning fast at calculating how many days’ food budget
anything costs. People rarely find it endearing when I mention these statistics
aloud.
The gulf
between theory and practice. You know what I mean. I
was very excited about cheating the McDonald’s pricing system by subsisting on eight cheeseburgers a day. This wasn’t a
good idea in practice. Neither was the decision to invest in a six month supply
of pinto beans.
The frequency
of awkward conversations. I am constantly telling people that I can’t afford things and then
explaining why I don’t want them to pay for me.
It’s wonderful that you offer, and I really do feel the love, but saying
no to you – constantly! - has given me a new appreciation for how difficult it
is to maintain an active social life on a very low income.
The amount of
support I’ve received. This month hasn’t been easy. At all! And I am very thankful for the support of
family, friends and strangers. A lot of
people have sent me messages and I read them all. I try to respond to every
message, but there are only a limited number of hours in the day. Please know
that I am enormously touched by your support even if I haven’t responded to you
yet.
Messages
of support tend to come in one of five forms:
- Non-judgmental support: This is awesome. Keep it up! Can I buy you hot sauce / coffee?
- Getting back in touch: I haven’t seen you for ages. Good job Phil!
- Beating low expectations: I thought you were a rich party boy. Good to see you have more depth.
- Knowledge sharing: I know a great place in Chinatown… Let me hook you up with my friend Leslie…
- Romantic propositions: Of course I am shocked – SHOCKED – by these, and do little to encourage them :)
I’m
incredibly grateful for your support in whatever form it takes. But do you know
what would make me even more grateful?
Open up your wallet and write a big fat check to Larkin Street (I’ve already lost my
British audience who think I’m a sell-out for using American spelling). Do it at this link!
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