Come together for Jane Whitehouse and Family

Why some families MIGHT choose to fundraise and how those funds might be utilized in any search effort:

- COVERING THE FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS OF THE MISSING PERSON: The desire and assumption is that the missing person will be located and resume the life they had before they went missing. Family members typically want to ensure that life is there waiting for them when / if they do. Some funds may be used in this direction.

- PROVIDING CARE TO ANY OF THE MISSING PERSON'S MINOR CHILDREN: When a parent goes missing someone must step in to provide care for their children. These children may also benefit from professional supports to help them process the trauma of having a parent go missing. Some funds may be used in this direction.

- COVERING LOST WAGES: Family members are typically the first boots on the ground when someone they love goes missing. They are consumed by the need to find the missing person as coupled with the fear they might not. Many of them miss at least several days of work, possibly more, but they still have financial responsibilities of their own to address and may not have benefits that allow them time off with pay. Some funds may be used to address these needs.

- TRAVEL / GAS / ACCOMMODATIONS / MEALS AWAY FROM HOME: Even when someone goes missing from their own local area family members will find themselves driving much more than usual and eating away from home (or take out) more than usual. If the person went missing hundreds or thousands of miles away from home the costs can increase substantially as they create a home away from home. They may also bring in other family members as critical supports during a time of crisis. Some funds might be used in this direction.

- PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES: Family members may benefit from professional supports to address the complexities of ambiguous loss. Some funds might be used to provide these services.

- SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT / SPECIALIZED SERVICES: In some cases, families may have to rent equipment or hire someone to perform a specialized service. For example, I'm aware of one family who hired a boat to take a diver out on a river to search for their loved one. Other situations might require different forms of specialized equipment or services.

- POSTERS / BILLBOARDS / ADVERTISING: Along with digital and traditional postering efforts some families might also create magnetic posters (for vehicles); make use of traditional and digital billboards; or place ads in traditional print papers and social media. Sometimes families can get reduced or donated goods for at least a limited time. When they cannot, the costs can quickly rise into the thousands of dollars.

- PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR / PSYCHIC: Some families will choose to utilize the services of a private investigator or psychic / medium / seer.

- VOLUNTEER THANKS: Some families may provide volunteers with necessary equipment, cover the cost of their meals or host thank-you dinners.

- VIGILS / MEMORIALS / AWARENESS RAISING PUBLIC EVENTS: Each of these events will have associated costs.

All of the above are examples of WHY fund-raising often becomes necessary and HOW funds might be spent. The actual details will vary by family, need, and circumstance.

Thank you.