Easy way to help a member of the Davis Square community.

[tomchevalier.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I'm organizing a surprise Holiday Fundraiser for Harold, the Spare Change News vendor who works evenings in Davis Square. The idea is very simple, raise $250 and give it to Harold so he can have a more enjoyable holiday season.

Here's a link to the page I created with more details: Holiday Fundraiser for Harold. I used a site called ThePoint to host this fundraiser. It provides a safe, secure way to gather donations.

If you haven't already helped someone in the community this season, this is an easy way to do so.

Thanks!
Tom

Comments

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

as an aside, do you know much about Harold? I see him every day on my way home from work, and often wonder where he lives... (on the street, in a shelter)....does Somerville Homeless Coalition help him, etc. This is a really neat idea.

That's an interesting idea...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

But I have no idea who Harold is and why he should get $250 while many other homeless people get nothing.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right! If we can't help everybody, we should help nobody!

/sarcasm

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[ron_newman]

Must you always be obnoxious?

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

Just checking- Harold is not Fake Spare Change Guy, correct?

[mattdm.livejournal.com]

Very much no.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

And aside from the sarcasm, why not give him a gift just because a) he probably needs it, b) he greets most of the people he sees every morning with a smile and sometimes a few friendly words, thereby making their commute a little more pleasant?

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[omg-anna.livejournal.com]

I don't get the point of this comment at all.

If you don't want to donate, don't donate. If you think other homeless people should get $250, start a fundraiser for them.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

If only there were some kind of forum in which local residents came together to exchange information about such things!

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

holy crap you're already 84% there. if you hit the $250 goal will you raise the target?

Can other people in this community vouch for Tom Chevalier? Quite sure he won't try to pocket the money and gaslight poor Harold?

[aninamarie.livejournal.com]

As I am married to him, I suppose I can vouch for him :)

[tomchevalier.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I can increase the goal...I'm looking into it now. I had no idea there would be so many generous people in Davis Square!

I'm not some scary scammer person, just a guy trying to thank Harold for brightening up my commute. Here's me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/tomchevalier

and if you would like to be present when I give the gift to Harold, let me know.

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

nah it's cool, i just donated. i've never spoken to Harold, but he always struck me as being quite pleasant. it's a nice thing you're doing for him.

We did it!

[tomchevalier.livejournal.com]

The fundraising campaign already tipped! Thanks to those of you here on livejournal who helped to make it happen. I would have increased the goal, but couldn't figure out how. Anyone could take it from here and make this happen for other deserving members of our community.

Amazing stuff. Thank you!

You are right.

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I just decided to donate $100 to the fake Spare Change guy, since I kinda of like him.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Must you always be so ridiculously defensive and PC?

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

The OP asked for donations. Fine, that's his right. I'm willing to donate if he convinces me to do so.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

I would like such a forum. I have a number of people too I would like the community to help.

Re: We did it!

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Why don't you start another one for him, instead of raising the goal?

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

Well, they *are* a troll. It's, like, their *job* to be obnoxious.

I wonder what would happen if someone made a post asking everyone on the comm to make a pact not to respond to nvidia99999 comments or posts? I wonder if they would go away?

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

The self-appointed anti-troll police has spoken. Yawn.

[noradeirdre.livejournal.com]

Wow, how awesome- I am sorry I was late to the party, I really like Harold a lot and would have loved to have been a part of it. I first met him when he was selling Spare Change at the Porter Square T stop, maybe 6-7 years ago? Yay, Davis Square!

[tomchevalier.livejournal.com]

...This is my first time using thepoint...I thought it would stop at $250, but it doesn't

The fundraiser is still up and going, if you would like to participate.

Re: We did it!

[tomchevalier.livejournal.com]

I thought the fundraiser would stop automatically at $250 but it doesn't. Please feel free to continue donating to Harold. Harold will receive every dollar donated.

I think $250 is the minimum

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

There is no upper limit, it seems.

[etana.livejournal.com]

I need some money. I have a dog with allergies.

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Don't listen. She just wants to get a nice style at the Hair Cuttery.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[cn-i-crash-here.livejournal.com]

Ron's persona here is conservative but not too rigid. I think that's the perfect temperament for a moderator.

You are a comment troll. But it's all in good fun. I enjoy your posts.

[etana.livejournal.com]

because my dog eats all my money!

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

and now oddly enough, thanks to the donation website, i now know your home address. that's kinda weird. i also notice you collected more than $250 so i guess there wasn't a true cap?

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

oh i see now that there wasn't a cap.

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[adrian-turtle.livejournal.com]

You may feel more comfortable contributing to an organized charity like the Somerville Homeless Coalition, or the Greater Boston Food Bank. Both do a good job of helping as many people as possible with the donations they receive, and giving to them means you don't have to worry that you might be helping unfairly or inefficiently. Tom's fundraising idea is great for people who like their charity to feel direct and personal, but not everyone does.

http://www.somervillehomelesscoalition.org/
http://www.gbfb.org/donatefunds/index.cfm

Re: That's an interesting idea...

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

This makes more sense to me, and I'll do that. There is something about picking ONE random guy I don't even know and donating money to that one guy that makes me uncomfortable.

Follow-up

[tomchevalier.livejournal.com]

I was contacted by a reporter at the Globe about this effort and here's the story:

http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/somerville/2009/12/by_danielle_dreilinger_globe_c_12.html

Lots of background on Harold, for those who asked about him.

Happy Holidays!

Question about thepoint.org

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

Hey Tom, did thepoint.org charge you any type of commission or service fee for this? I'm considering using it for some fund raising of my own.

Re: Question about thepoint.org

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

Nev mind I just found their FAQ. Thanks.

Re: Question about thepoint.org

[teele-sq.livejournal.com]

http://www.thepoint.com/doc/faq#how_do_you_make_money