Claire's Birthday Dreams (and needed support) Fundraiser ✨

Hey, I'm Claire.

It's been quite a year. Exactly one year ago I left a job where I was having constant meltdowns and was deep in burnout. I was feeling confident in my technical resume and network, but then encountered the nightmare that is the tech economy and industry right now. It's been rough. This spring an AuDHD diagnosis dropped in my lap, and I learned that I've been dealing with a Candida infection for years (imagine yeast infections but full-body and confusing). The rest of this year has been chaotic.

Over the summer I fundraised to get back on my feet, manage a new complicated medical diet and to try to breathe for a bit.

And it worked! I've stabilized in many ways...except financial. I have my Candida under control and in remission (slowly). I am less burned out than I have been in decades. I understand myself better. I am still, always, self-teaching. I care for myself carefully and well.

To survive financially (barely) I have found myself naturally bringing in four different income streams that support my neurodivergence. I have always naturally drifted towards creating my own business structure. I need to be able to control my environment, I need to heal from decades-long burnout, I need to be creative and do exciting new things regularly, I need to manifest what my mind creates. This chaotic method of income has supported all that, and if not currently optimum, it is working. It has potential.

So, why fundraising? Well, several reasons. I need a large chunk of change to hire an accountant so I can get my extremely frightening and complicated finances in order so I can actually start making real money as a contractor and small business owner, something that isn't easy at the best of times.

Other things I'm working on? I have been meticulous in following a careful Candida diet and supplement regimen, and I'm getting places with it. I am moving my body and eating as healthily as I can. I have been learning how to work on my Retired Red Cross Emergency Rig, a Ford E-450 Powerstroke Diesel, and making real progress for the first time in years. I am re-learning software. I have also been applying to the (extremely rare right now) salaried tech jobs that are a good fit for me. I need time and breathing room to continue to do all this.

I need to make it through this next tax season without going further into debt. I need to pay a backlog of bills, some debt, some rent.

I need your support right now to hold it all together. I'm getting places, clearly, I just really need more help getting there.

The amount I've asked for will vitally support these things:

If I can reach this fundraising goal I should be able to actively start building some real financial stability, instead of reactively surviving month-to-month. If I get under my requested amount, I will still be doing all this, it will just take longer.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

If you want to learn more about me and what I do, you can check that out here: https://linktr.ee/ClaireDanielleCassidy

Quite a few people have benefited from and enjoy my free, mutual aid guide to learn about addressable LEDs, as well as my other mutual aid shenanigans and anti-gatekeeping projects.

If you are curious what I have learned about Autism, and how I figured out my late-stage diagnosis as an easily overlooked high-masking queer woman, I made a document about my journey and what I have learned so far: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17m4gYJAEssfiTO_9ekQw0s16rwr9WbC1EAnLfJvTgd8/edit

If you prefer, you can Venmo me: (at)claire-cassidy-2) or Paypal: [email redacted] instead of donating here to subvert gofundme fees.

SUGGESTED DONATION SLIDING SCALE GUIDELINES:

IF YOU:

- Frequently stress about meeting basic needs and don’t always achieve them

- Have debt that sometimes prevents you from meeting basic needs

- Rent lower-end or have unstable housing

- Do not have a car or have limited access

- Are unemployed or underemployed

- Qualify for government assistance

- Have no access to savings

- Rarely buy new

- Cannot afford vacation or time off

PLEASE, SERIOUSLY DO NOT FEEL ANY PRESSURE TO GIVE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IF YOU:

- Stress about meeting your basic needs but still meet them

- Have debt but it does not prohibit attainment of basic needs

- Own or lease a car

- Are employed

- Have access to healthcare

- Have some expendable income

- Are able to buy new and still thrift

- Can take vacations and time off annually or every few years

PLEASE ONLY GIVE IF IT FEELS COMFORTABLE, IN A COMFORTABLE AMOUNT

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IF YOU:

- Can comfortably meet all of your basic needs, and assist your loved ones

- Have some debt but it is not a bother

- Own property or rent higher-end

- Own or lease a car

- Are employed or do not need to work to meet your needs

- Have access to savings that brings security

- Have expendable income (might mean you can afford coffee or drinks,

go to moves or concerts, buy new clothes, books, etc)

- Can take vacations and time off regularly

PLEASE CONSIDER GIVING GENEROUSLY TO OFFSET OTHERS, AND TO

MAKE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE SUCCESS OF THIS CAMPAIGN

Sliding scale pulled from here: https://www.rootedheart.ca/blog/2018/3/17/accessibility-sliding-scale-pricing-and-energy-exchange