AliceFraser
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Why I'm Raising Money for Febfast
🕑 Added 2017-02-01 17:15:40 +0000 UTC Why am I putting some of my Social Media Credit on the line to get money for Febfast at the time of year when I'm also trying to get people along to my show in Adelaide? In general as a cap-in-hand artist, it can often feel like you don't have generosity to waste.But as I said to Brydie in my Teacast last week, the more people I help, the easier my life gets.
And... well, here's the thing. I have a friend. She's one of those people who came along to one of my shows, and has ended up being one of my biggest supporters, and an actual friend.
She had a rough childhood - the usual awful stuff, I'll leave that to your imagination, but it ended up with her joining the ranks of the youth-homeless. Those nasty statistics that seem overwhelming and inexplicable to people who have stable homes and loving, kind families. I told her that I was planning on doing febfast, and she told me this.
"...one of the orgs febfast supports is streetlink btw.
they helped me when i was homeless. fantastic people who properly network and fill gaps of what's not being done, instead of the funding fight to provide the same things.
They linked me to hypa for housing, helped with medical stuff, clothing, food - and case managed, not just for their own service but for every service.
They accompanied me to centrelink, housing SA, etc; didn't give up because things were complicated or didn't fit a box.
They're good people to help. they had a creche for young homeless mums during the day and the receptionists remembered names."
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We are now in a time where the world is becoming institutionally crueller and stupider. It can feel impossible to change things - like you're fighting the tide of people who you can't connect with through reason or empathy. So, do the small things. Do the things you can.
The trend towards right wing capitalist quick-or-dead thinking in governments means that services for the most disadvantaged groups are being pulled right right and center-right.
Giving an amount to a service like the one that helped my friend is a real concrete thing you can do, with the money you'd spend on a cup of coffee or a bottle of wine, a small deprivation on your part can help to remedy a brutal injustice for someone else.
Even from a purely selfish angle, you'll feel heaaaaaps good about yourself for the rest of the day and totally justify some peripheral guilt about some unrelated matter in your own life. I promise.
Even if you don't donate to me, pick someone you have a crush on and fling some money their way. They'll feel good about being the magnet for bringing money to a good cause, and you can be part of changing someone's life in a real concrete way.
