I work to save the planet & people's lives.
Phase one has been achieved. $4,000.00 of $10,000 goal thank you!
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I am dedicated to guiding others towards well-being and survival, during this time of world wide climate change ..
To continue, I must close a former chapter in my life, achieve new strength, power and reach, and work more effectively at community organizing and education. I am blessed to be able to make a difference in other's lives. This is what I want to do, full time. I am needed at this time.
Personal obstacles have gotten in my way over the past year. I have run into issues I did not anticipate, and my savings were depleted while helping others. I am asking for help in trans-versing this time of frightening change, while I create a new and globally meaningful life for myself and the thousands I am dedicated to helping.
One of the venues I have helped to develop for public climate education, The North County Climate Change Alliance Forum (on Facebook.)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/166247570209950/
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specifics of the story:
There are times in life when grave danger presents itself and we feel called to help any way we can. California experienced a severe drought four years ago. Wondering what I could do to assist, I attended a presentation at a local library that changed my life. I learned of the seriousness of our changing climate, and that major and effective changes would be required to keep us safe . ,
I understood We were all at risk, and help was needed. So I jumped In with two feet...
As a teacher, photographer, communicator, and administrator, with prior experience in leadership, nation building, finance, business and international travel, I felt myself well suited to make a serious contribution. *There would be no salary. All of us would be working as volunteers.
As a 46 year resident of San Diego, deeply connected to nature and its wonderful creatures, intimately connected to our beaches, flower fields, and wildlife, and both young enough and strong enough to make a difference, I saw that I had found my place. My spirit moved me in the direction of climate volunteer.
"Charlie" a fish-eating local... brings joy to many and connects us to the natural world on a daily basis.
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Our wonderful flower fields, filled with thousands of Rinuculus, keep me connected to the magnificence of the natural world and give me a clear understanding of the need to protect this splendor.
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I was and am a single individual without family. I had savings that could cover my expenses for a period of time, and believed that through my participation in the climate movement other opportunities would present themselves, as life always opens new doors.
Covering an event for the climate movement. (photojournalism)
16 months ago, unexpected issues presented themselves one after another.
Broken pipes within the walls caused an immediate evacuation. Believing I had found stability in a new place, I learned that I would be moving again, as construction would begin on my unit. I moved one more time, then another, and another. My last move was over Christmas, my 6th move, in a year and a half..
Self supportive since college, the ability to look ahead has always allowed me to meet issues way before they grew into irreparable problems.
One year ago I looked towards today, and realized that I would need the help of others to navigate through this point in time. I contacted a well known agency specializing in resettlement and life changes, and met with them for 10 months.
What resulted was an unexpected and ineffectual experience, that carelessly squandered vital time necessary for constructing solutions, and left me dazed, confused, afraid, and unable to sleep at night. I lost the ability to effectively protect myself, nor navigate well through this time period.
My brain had shut down due to excessive stress.
An individual assisting me in restoring stability, left the organization in an abrupt, unexpected manner, without warning!
Individual number two found a series of positive, effective proposals, dismissed by higher ups.
They terminated our meetings, leaving me completely alone after committing months towards effecting solutions.
No solutions, no support... one year of expenses needlessly diminished, and savings vastly depleted. More stress added to an already stressed mind and body. Truly incomprehensible..
I continued to give fully to the climate movement, due to its critical importance and the severity of the crisis..
Climate march 2018 - San Diego California.. Bringing awareness to a very critical problem..
Bringing awareness to climate issues. San Diego, California. 2018
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What caused me to rent at my stage of life?
I lived a successful life and had a beautiful home in which the mortgage was paid in full. Lifetime security and stability were high on my list.
It was a heartbreak to move from that home, after discovering an “undisclosed,” life threatening issue connected to that property.
I decided to rent and strengthen my sea legs before purchasing again. Clearly I had more to learn..
A second home resulted in “undisclosed” toxic waste, buried within a backyard of fruit bearing trees!
At the same time...another beast was silently afoot. The sub-prime loan industry had infiltrated the real estate market. House flipping became a monthly event, especially in California, and I was suddenly a renter. The next three rentals were flipped.. I moved unexpectedly three more times.
Incurred expenses three more times, placed items in storage, three more times, experienced the stress of a "move" both physically and psychologically....yes, three more times.
As I had traveled extensively and always enjoyed living like a local, I learned to utilize rooms within private homes. I made a conscious decision to downsize, lighten my load, live simply- as if I were traveling. An entire household of beloved items, was then placed into storage for “Safekeeping.” as utilizing one room eliminated the need for a household of items.
Seven months ago, in June of 2018, I began a process of contacting estate sale companies for help in selling many of the items that I would no longer require going forward..
I was not prepared for what I experienced.... Not at all....One after another, as I have kept notes, I was made promises that were “never” delivered upon..... promises that would prove dangerous for me, as time would continue to pass, adding to my expense burden, while simultaneously denying income required to cover those expenses. . Each broken promise, each white lie, pushed me further and further into a financial and emotional pit.
A typical scenario would be: I would contact a legitimate company, go down to meet with them, personally establish that they could help me, arrange a time for liquidation, only to discover that they would “mysteriously disappear into thin air”. ... No communication nor warning what so ever.. I was left to figure out that I had been dismissed... silently and secretly..
A year ago, I was able to absorb these breaches, both financially and emotionally. Today I am drained by the havoc of continual stress, many changes of residence and depleted finances.
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Recently I found this on the internet regarding estate sale companies. Sadly, this may be what is behind my own experiences in this area.
"in recent years, and due to the difficult economic hardships, many unemployed individuals have found the estate sale industry financially attractive and easy to bridge.
There are no current accrediting bodies that regulate the estate sale industry; there are simply good estate sale companies and bad estate sale companies, making it difficult for heirs and executors, when making a decision on choosing an estate sale company."
" A professional estate sale company will lead with personalized attention, followed by business-related discussions which is something less experienced estate sale companies have not grasped."
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I am a researcher, with the ability to discover and follow through on resources. I covered much ground... Score, for small business, Social Security, community agencies, sellers groups, vintage clothing stores, private foundations. Ebay sellers, authors on minimalism, senior relocation services, liquidators, on and on.... The story would truly make a Saturday night movie...
Weeks turned into months, where between many moves, often without internet, all done alone, I continued to reach out. Always seeking a way solve this issue.
Emotionally, a serious toll began to take place. Confusion, frustration, debilitating energy drainage, and hopelessness set in. The observed cruelty in the behavior of others was unexpected and unwarranted. I found myself facing a situation of a total loss of what I had lovingly put together over 35 years.. How could this be happening?
Reading of trauma suffered by thousands who lost their homes in this years fires, as lives evaporated into smoke within a 15 minute window, I understood, that without fire, I too was headed for similar loss and grief.
Financially at least, for many fire victims a new beginning could be achieved through the aid of homeowners insurance. There is no such coverage for items in storage. If I cannot pay my monthly fees, nor find a seller, I will loose everything.. even the ability to begin a new life's chapter..
I will experience loss of all the trees and therefore all of the future fruit.
I am without family for protection nor help. I have been without family for many years. All have passed.
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Covering the "Challenged Athletes" competition in La Jolla. Creating options for human achievement and bestowing deserved dignity upon many
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Presently, I am grateful to be staying with friends, kind spiritual hearts, who have lovingly reached out to assist me during this time of unexpected chaos. I have little with me, as I share a room within their home.
Thank God for them... as they offered sanctuary and truly kept me off the streets.
I carry a deep internal sadness by what I have witnessed and experienced, both for myself and for the truths I observed within the business community.
In our climate group we care so very much about the well-being of our earth, its living beings, its resources. This stands in such sharp contrast to last years journey, where I began with hope and resources, and ended being rescued by friends, and facing much loss unnecessarily.
(Promoting sports and fitness, for the San Diego climate groups, with world class marathoner Meb Keflezghi, who is a local.)
I remain confused by what I have seen and been through.
I have found a company that indicates it will auction unneeded items. I am interviewing backup companies as well. It is important that I am able to pay storage rents, so that these companies can have access to my items. If not, I will loose everything after 16 months of continuous commitment to securing a successful outcome...
After the sale, I must be able to support myself while seeking work to earn my living. I am considered a senior, and employment can be difficult due to stereotypes in the business world. A financial cushion is required to successfully guide myself towards a new life.
* * Emotional peace is essential. I am my only strength.
Money is of course required, for as a single human being, I must be responsible for myself. ..I am about to loose items collected over a lifetime, that easily would support my future.
I am a youthful, energetic senior. My spirit wants to give, create success and thrive. I have miles to go before I sleep, and I am needed to work with others addressing the climate crisis threatening us all at this time.
I have assessed the dollar amount required to traverse this time successfully, to be $10,000.00 or greater. This will cover all storage costs, plus required personal expenses. This is my goal..... $10,000.00 or better.
I will then be able to dedicate to climate education and transformation, full time..helping others through a salaried career.
(With two climate leaders and educators in San Diego.)
I need you and your help now.
The world needs me and my help alleviating the damage from climate change.
Without the ability to overtime this passage, I will be forced to begin again without much. . I will carry feelings of great loss, injustice, and grief. All will slow down and hamper my path forward.
In its place, I am asking for strength and fire, to do the work I have come here to do.
To regain my dignity as a woman, to stabilize and strengthen.. to create success rather than fuel unnecessary loss... I MUST ACT NOW.
To do this, I need help ( I am picking up the pieces after months of unexpected trauma.)
I must reestablish basic stability, rest my stressed brain, and create a new path forward.
Please, won't you please help, as the first marker of $4,000 is within reach. All contributions, no matter how small, are welcome.
And of course, I thank you for your kind help.
You can make a necessary difference in my life at this time, for me and for the job I can do in the future for all of us.
This requires a team effort.
Love.....love.....love.....love......love....Helene
thank you, friends.. 