It truly seems like you’ve shared a charming story about your landlord, Jeri, and his unique lifestyle in Topanga Canyon. Let’s break it down and make it even more engaging for a broad audience:
A Unique Landlord Experience
Have you ever had a landlord who felt more like a quirky family member than just someone you pay rent to? That’s exactly how I feel about Jeri, my landlord in Los Angeles County. Over six years,our relationship evolved from simple greetings in the driveway to heartfelt “Love you,Jeri,bye!” on the phone.
Living in a Time Capsule
When I first moved into one of Jeri’s three ancient cabins in Topanga Canyon, I was stepping into a world that seemed frozen in time. Imagine a picturesque piece of land, one of the last hippie havens just north of the pacific Palisades. The cabins, though charming, looked like they might tumble down the cliff with a strong gust of wind. jeri bought this property for just $57,000 back in 1977, and it feels like it hasn’t changed a bit since then.
Sharing Space with Nature
Living here means sharing your home with the local wildlife. coyotes burrow beneath the cabins, raccoons roam the rooftops, and rats make themselves comfortable inside. The structures are held together by a mix of nails and staples, and a single piece of loose plywood is all that stands between you and the septic tank. It’s rustic, but there’s a certain magic to it.
Jeri’s Quirky Charm
Jeri is a jazz musician who has never worked a customary office job. His lifestyle is as unique as his property. He buys salmon only from the sale bin at Ralph’s, reuses the same ”Happy Birthday!” banner for every occasion, and sleeps on a towering pile of old blankets to accommodate his 6ft 5in frame. One memorable dinner, he paid with $2 bills, waving them around while wearing a ladybug antennae headband.It was halloween week, and he wanted to make sure no one thought he was a “curmudgeon.”
A Call to Reflect
So, what do you think? Could you see yourself living in such a whimsical place, or do you prefer the comforts of modern living? Jeri’s story reminds us that sometimes, the most unconventional lifestyles can bring the greatest joy.
Feel free to share your thoughts or stories about unique living situations!
A Story of Loss and Community Support
Meet Jeri: A Man of Manny Stories
Jeri is one of those people who seems to have lived a thousand lives. His phone was always ringing with friends from all over wanting to catch up.But when it came to the little things,like picking up medicine or fixing something around the house,he turned to us,his neighbors. Jeri is a man with a rich history and a lot of character, but he’s not someone you’d find on social media.
A New Chapter in Colorado
I moved to Colorado four years ago, and leaving Jeri behind was tough. I was his last tenant, and he was getting ready to move on too. Just three months ago,he sold his beloved property in Topanga. It was a hard decision, but he needed to be closer to medical care. So, he packed up his life, including precious photos of him playing drums with legends like Aretha Franklin and James Brown, his daughter’s childhood paintings, and a collection of concert T-shirts, and moved into a trailer home on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Tragedy Strikes
Then, on a Wednesday in January, disaster struck. Jeri’s trailer home, filled with all his cherished memories, burned to the ground.
Community in crisis
I had decided to take a break from Instagram in January,but the news of the Palisades fire pulled me back. I wanted to see how my friends in Santa Monica,Altadena,and Topanga were doing. As the smoke cleared, my Instagram feed was flooded with links to GoFundMe pages. I know five people whose homes were lost to the flames. Their fundraising pages are being shared by everyone because these people are not just loved—they’re loved on Instagram, which seems to be a key factor in getting a GoFundMe funded.The Role of GoFundMe
GoFundMe has become the backbone of many American comeback stories. Whether it’s raising $10,000 for a new wheelchair, covering $60,000 in NICU costs, or finding $3,000 for a dog’s heart surgery, we’ve gotten used to helping each other out when the system falls short. Sometimes, we even start the GoFundMe campaign before we’ve finished the paperwork.
The Reality of Online Generosity
This is the American way now as it’s the only way that seems to work. But not everyone gets the same level of support. It often depends on how well you can tell your story or how good your pictures are.There’s no safety net except the one you create for yourself.
A Call to Action
So, what can we do? How can we ensure that everyone gets the help they need, irrespective of their social media presence? let’s start a conversation about how we can build a more inclusive support system for everyone. What are your thoughts?The Power and Paradox of Online Fundraising
Imagine you’re sitting with a friend, sipping coffee, and they start telling you about a guy named Jeri. Jeri’s a bit old-fashioned, the kind of person who believes in helping others quietly and without fanfare. But here’s the twist: Jeri’s in a tough spot, and he could really use some help himself. yet, he doesn’t want to ask for it. Why? Because he thinks others might need it more.
This brings us to a curious situation. In today’s world, where social media reigns supreme, the people who get the most help are often those with the most followers. It’s like a popularity contest, but with real-life stakes.If a celebrity shares a fundraising campaign, it can skyrocket past its goal. For instance, when Mandy Moore shared her family’s gofundme, it raised over $200,000, surpassing the original target. But what about folks like Jeri, who aren’t online influencers? How do they get the help they need?
The Changing Face of Charity
Traditionally, charity was about those with more helping those with less. But now, it seems like those with more followers get more help. This shift can feel a bit unfair, especially in a country like the U.S., where the gap between the rich and the poor is so wide. According to GoFundMe’s latest report, the number of campaigns for basic needs like rent and food has quadrupled in just a year. After devastating fires in LA, many people are left without homes, jobs, or family nearby. They’re struggling to make their voices heard in a sea of similar stories.
Telling the Untold Stories
So, how do you tell the story of someone like Jeri, whose life has been mostly private? Or someone who’s still trying to turn their life around? In a world where you need to sell your story to get help, what do you do when you have nothing to sell?
The Role of Community and Connection
Is it fair to highlight one GoFundMe campaign over another just because you have a platform? Fans might have less money than the person they’re supporting, but they now have a way to show they care. Communities are coming together to address the certain inequalities in cities with vast economic differences. There are even Google Sheets listing GoFundMe campaigns that still need support. But the pattern remains: those with better connections often get help first.
A Call to Reflect
While it’s easy to criticize,platforms like GoFundMe do a lot of good. They highlight a system that needs fixing. As we face ongoing challenges like climate change, which feels like a series of disasters getting closer to home, it’s worth asking ourselves: How can we ensure everyone gets the help they need, regardless of their online presence?
so, what do you think? How can we make sure that help reaches those who need it most, even if they’re not in the spotlight? Let’s keep this conversation going.the Growing Dependence on Crowdfunding in Times of Crisis
In recent years, especially after disasters like the wildfires in California, many people have turned to crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe for help. This shift reveals a bigger problem: traditional safety nets aren’t enough, and aid isn’t reaching everyone equally, especially in a society with important economic gaps.
The GoFundMe Trend
GoFundMe has become a lifeline for many Americans, especially after disasters.More and more people are using it to cover basic needs like rent, food, and medical bills. From 2023 to 2024, the number of these campaigns shot up four times, showing how much people are leaning on community support when other systems fall short.
But there’s a catch. The success of a GoFundMe campaign frequently enough depends on how visible and connected the person in need is online. Those with a strong social media presence and a compelling story tend to get more help, leaving others behind. This creates an unfair system where help is given based on one’s ability to share their story online.
Social Media’s Role in Fundraising
Social media is crucial for spreading the word about GoFundMe campaigns. If someone with a big following, like a celebrity, shares a campaign, it can quickly go viral and meet its goals. For example, when actress Mandy Moore shared a campaign, it raised over $200,000, far more than expected. On the other hand, campaigns shared by people with fewer followers often struggle to get noticed.
Economic Disparity and the Digital Divide
The economic gap in the U.S.makes this issue worse. Those who need help the most might not have the online presence needed to attract donors. This digital divide means older people or those from less tech-savvy communities are at a disadvantage. Imagine a landlord who lost his home to a fire but doesn’t have a strong online presence; he would find it hard to get the same support as someone with a large social media network.Traditional Charity vs.Digital Fundraising
The idea of charity,where those with more give to those with less,is changing with digital fundraising. Now, it’s more about who can tell their story best online, not necessarily who needs the most help. This shift raises questions about fairness in how aid is distributed.
Community response and Solidarity
Despite these challenges, the way communities come together through crowdfunding shows people’s resilience and solidarity in tough times. In neighborhoods hit by fires, such as, people check on each other and rally around those in need. This community spirit is crucial,especially where traditional safety nets fall short.
Practical Steps and Future Directions
To make crowdfunding fairer, we can take several steps:
- Community Compilations: Use tools like Google Sheets to list and prioritize gofundme campaigns, ensuring those most in need get the support they deserve.
- Digital Literacy Programs: Help older and less tech-savvy people improve their digital skills to level the playing field.
- Systemic Changes: Push for stronger traditional safety nets and fairer resource distribution to reduce the need for crowdfunding and provide consistent support.
while platforms like GoFundMe are essential for immediate help during crises, they also highlight deeper societal issues. Solving these problems will require a mix of community support, digital inclusivity, and systemic change to ensure aid is distributed fairly and effectively.What do you think? How can we make sure everyone gets the help they need?
