I know I owe a winter gathering trip report, but something more important has come up.
A friend of mine, Jeff, has had an unfortunate Christmas. His home was destroyed by a fire on christmas morning and declared a total loss. Fortunately, he was not home at the time and no one was hurt, but he did lose his cat Maurice, along with all of his possessions. The fire was started in his tenants apartment, and quickly spread throughout the house. To make matters worse, he was just laid off from his long time manufacturing job.
Jeff is a home game poker player, and reader of many of your blogs. He is a RPG'er, and beer drinker. He is a hard-working fucker who has battled dyslexia his whole life. He's a toker, and he only has one ball. He's a flyers fan (I guess I can forgive him for that). He's one of the most generous people I know. And he needs some help.
We have set up a site to help raise some money for him to help get him back on his feet. If you can give that would be great, but please do me a favor and link up the site for me.
http://helpjeffout.blogspot.com
I'll owe you one. I'll pimp your affiliate codes, I'll pimp your blogs, I'll buy you drinks at the Bash or next gathering, whatever you want, just ask.
We are also going to be having some benefits at local Buffalo establishments over the next few weeks (details forthcoming on donation site). We will be raffling some good shit away, there will be open bars, live music and other fun. If your so inclined, come on up or down to Buffalo, you can crash at my place and we can hit the poker room at Seneca Niagara.
Comments (13)
Done and done my man !!
Posted by Bam-Bam | December 29, 2008 11:27 AM
Posted on December 29, 2008 11:27
Consider it done.
I really hope Maurice somehow made it out alive.
From my Family to Jeff - we wish him a speedy rebuilding process and a prosperous 2009.
Posted by sCHAUBS | December 29, 2008 11:53 AM
Posted on December 29, 2008 11:53
Thanks guys.
Unfortunatley, Maurice did not make it out. Jeff found his remains in the bathroom.
Posted by VinNay | December 29, 2008 12:33 PM
Posted on December 29, 2008 12:33
Just awful. I'm on my way to contribute.
Posted by PirateLawyer | December 29, 2008 2:26 PM
Posted on December 29, 2008 14:26
Sorry to hear about what happened to Jeff.
Linkage, etc. is now on my blog.
Let me know if there's anything else he needs besides monetary donations.
Posted by BWoP | December 29, 2008 8:46 PM
Posted on December 29, 2008 20:46
My dad survived three house fires in his youth and I know the heartbreak and hardship your friend is enduring. Donated and posting now.
Posted by gracie | December 29, 2008 10:35 PM
Posted on December 29, 2008 22:35
I'll pimp this is a few days on Tao after the New Year when everyone returns to a life of normalcy.
Posted by Pauly | December 30, 2008 9:35 AM
Posted on December 30, 2008 09:35
Sorry to hear about your buddy. Hope you get many responses to help out.
Posted by StB | December 30, 2008 9:44 AM
Posted on December 30, 2008 09:44
I'm really sorry to hear about your friend's house and cat.
Are you accepting transfers on FTP and PS also? (If so, I'll add your screen names to my post)
Posted by cmitch | December 30, 2008 10:09 AM
Posted on December 30, 2008 10:09
He has insurance, right?
Posted by Just Curious | December 30, 2008 12:29 PM
Posted on December 30, 2008 12:29
Just Curious - Yes, he has homeowners insurance. Unfortunately, he was only a few years into a 30 year mortgage so he had mostly just been paying interest off. His homeowners is going to cover paying off his mortgage, but the city has decided the home is unrecoverable, so he also has to pay for demolitions.
Between the mortgage and demolitions, there is not of ton of insurance money left over. We are looking into getting him a private insurance adjuster to try to help fight for a better insurance settlement. He is severely dyslexic, so a bunch of us are trying to pitch in to help with all the paperwork.
Cmitch - I did take one donation via FT transfer, but I am a little worried about opening things up for donations that way to the general public because of possible tax implications if I take donations directly.
We are setting up a special non-profit savings account to link to the paypal donation account to avoid a similar situation. I hate to turn away possible donation streams, but I want to make sure everything is on the up-and-up and no one gets nailed with a nasty tax bill.
Posted by VinNay | December 30, 2008 2:02 PM
Posted on December 30, 2008 14:02
Sorry to hear about your friend...Happy to help....maybe a poker benefit tournament as well? Just a thought.
2BA
Posted by FredAkATwoblackaces | December 30, 2008 2:56 PM
Posted on December 30, 2008 14:56
Anything for a fellow Flyers Fan! And if you want to put together a charity poker tournament, let me know. We'll figure it out.
I'll even send a team of guys up there to run it for you with the equipment and all.
And I'll run one down here as well. Seems to be easier to get the wives permissions when they tell them "it's for charity!"
Best to Jeff and family.
Posted by Riggs | January 2, 2009 9:36 AM
Posted on January 2, 2009 09:36