"That's funny, he doesn't look homeless", said the folks at the TV station when they queried me about doing a story. "And he doesn't look like an Occupier either", I thought.
Thanks to a very good old friend, I was the proud recipient of a new set of clothing this week sent all the way from Wisconsin. Shoes, a hat, shirt, gloves, sweater, pants and socks all made their way here and onto the runway at our Occupied church on the upper east side. "You clean up well", said my fellow Occupiers. "Quite the entrance", said those I had a meeting with on Tuesday night.
But the feeling one gets in putting on brand new clothing after months of wearing the exact same set is incomparable to anything I have ever known. For the first time in three months I felt like an actual human - and I didn't feel like I had been checked out of the 30th St. men's prison (shelter) to get there. So now I'm all spit shined and ready to rock. Almost.
Over the next few weeks the holidays will pass, the 2012 job market will start to come into focus and that's where I need to be. The life of an Occupier is all well and good, but it's not a full-time gig, doesn't pay the bills and whilst it does provide me with a more than curious place to live and at least a meal a day, it's far short of a real life - and moreover, well into the stats that determine poverty levels in the US where 1 in 6 Americans live. Many Occupiers receive Food Stamps ($200 per month) and cash assistance ($47 per month) and so do I - but some quick math will tell you that you cannot eat 1 Big Mac meal a day on that. And so that's where this post is going. I am asking for your support in terms of equipment and finances.
Tools of the Trade
Computer:
On Monday, this week, my old HP computer died. Dead, kaput, finis. The thing is history - and it's not coming back (I am currently working at the Apple store). And so I need a new computer. I have seen simple Dell laptops go recently for $150 new at Best Buy but would prefer a Mac to execute design, film editing and portfolio work. My uses for job hunting, consulting and Occupation work are extensive and reasonably complex. If anyone has an outdated MacBook Pro, MacBook or even PowerBook G4 and is upgrading, please consider donating your old machine to me.
Used Macs are also available on Ebay or at resellers starting at $200. This is very important. I don't know anyone who can get a job today without a computer. Please consider. I am working to see if I can provide tax-deductible status (through another institution) to those who donate so I may be able to provide receipts.
iPhone (unlocked):
"Yeah sure. Occupiers and the homeless need an iPhone". But then again, it doesn't hurt to ask and the need for an Internet compatible phone is extremely high in the job hunting market today - and even the Occupation market. My phone, an old Motorola Razor works but the battery is dead. Cost of a new battery will be the same as some very cheap phones so that makes little sense. If there are any old iPhones out there, please think about sending one here. 3Gs are fine and it would be best if the phone is unlocked and can take a SIM card. I won't be able to get an AT&T or Verizon contract because I have no credit record or US address for the last 16 years. If anyone is in Vietnam, these phones are plentiful there and cheap. Cost of 3Gs start around $200 for an unlocked phone. Do consider please.
Along with any Internet connected phone, I also need to spend around $50 a month for Internet service and unlimited calling. Currently I buy $10 recharge cards and they charge 30 cents a minute for calls. That's insane. I am constantly upset by the way the poorest people in this country need to pay the most for all kinds of things. It's a guaranteed lock that they will stay poor and never be able to rise from poverty - and that includes me now as well.
Should I be lucky enough to get an iPhone or other smartphone, my need for a digital camera will go away - but such a large part of my work requires that I be able to document things digitally and use them in blog posts and other projects. If you have an old digital camera, any make or model, please send it this way. I'd love to put it to good use and maybe even use it to catch some cops doing bad things with pepper spray. You never know what's going to happen on the front lines of an Occupation.
Expenses
Expenses for a month at even basic levels can be surprising. Currently lodging and some food are handled by Occupy and I am able to buy grocery food (but not hot meals) at stores, but other expenses are not.
Metrocard (1 mo)......................... $120
Phone charge (1 mo).................. $50
Misc. @ $10 per day (1 mo).....$300
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Total (per month) $470
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So that's the story. If you are able to donate a computer, phone or cash over the next three months it will help support an Occupier and in time, help that Occupier find full-time, meaningful work.
How to Support
Donations:
Let's talk. You can leave a comment in the comment box with details and I'll contact you. One talking point for instance: I am not able to accept PayPal right now because I do not have a US bank account. $150 is needed to keep an account at no-fee and I am not there yet. But there are other ways to transfer and accept money.
Will Work For Stuff:
I would prefer to work for my money. If you donate any of the above items or cash, please don't forget my professional services in advertising, marketing and journalism. I am able to write and prepare plans with some design over the Internet. Please let me know your business needs and I'll be pleased to provide in-kind services for donations of equipment or cash.
I wish you all a very nice holiday and hope to be doing better in the new year.
In holiday cheer and Occupied solidarity, thank you all.
Peace,
:David
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