Emergency Funds for Furloughed SIFF Cinema Staff
Donation protected
So, we wanted to start this appeal with a fun movie quote about losing our jobs, but we are honestly just too sad.
Because of recent mandatory directives issued by the Governor and considering health and safety concerns, SIFF was forced to close all cinemas today due to COVID-19. This is a responsible move for the health of our community, but it is absolutely devastating for the entire cinema staff who were furloughed immediately and indefinitely.
Many of us live paycheck-to-paycheck already, so losing all income and health insurance during a crisis like this is incomprehensible.
As the cinema staffs at the Egyptian, Uptown, and Film Center, we are committed to each other and to helping each other through these difficult times.
This fund will be used for immediate emergency needs, including groceries, rent, and healthcare. We will distribute it equitably between ~30 staff based on needs.
We work in SIFF cinemas, because we love movies.
We love sharing movies with the folks who come into our spaces. We love talking about movies together, watching movies together, and making silly movie-themed combos together.
Many of the cinema staff at SIFF have worked in these cinemas for years, because we care about our jobs and the work that we do sharing films and art with our community.
We work for SIFF because it is not just a job, but a community and a mission we support.
We also care about each other deeply. We truly feel that in our cinemas, we have a home and a family.
"There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan." -Preston Sturges on why we watch movies
-Furloughed SIFFRAFF
If you have questions about any of this, you can email Meg Hesketh at [email redacted]
GoFundMe requires this information, and we wanted to make sure everything in our campaign was clear and easy to understand:
Who we are and where we’re from:
Hi, we are furloughed staff at SIFF Cinemas in Seattle. Malakie Peters and Meg Hesketh (of SIFF Cinema Egyptian) are specifically running this campaign with the assistance of friend Sarah Babb.
Our relationship or contact to the parties we're raising funds for:
ALL funds will be given equitably to furloughed SIFF Cinema staff. Sarah Babb is assisting with the dispersal process.
How the funds will be spent:
The funds will be used for emergency needs: rent/utilities, groceries, medical, and other emergency needs.
Our withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiaries:
We have set up a separate bank account to hold all funds (with joint access), and we will be dispersing from there using direct deposit, Venmo, Paypal and other money transfer options. Cinema staff receive funds after submitting a form with their needs and contact information. All fund requests and payments are fully documented and accountable to both Malakie and Meg.
Because of recent mandatory directives issued by the Governor and considering health and safety concerns, SIFF was forced to close all cinemas today due to COVID-19. This is a responsible move for the health of our community, but it is absolutely devastating for the entire cinema staff who were furloughed immediately and indefinitely.
Many of us live paycheck-to-paycheck already, so losing all income and health insurance during a crisis like this is incomprehensible.
As the cinema staffs at the Egyptian, Uptown, and Film Center, we are committed to each other and to helping each other through these difficult times.
This fund will be used for immediate emergency needs, including groceries, rent, and healthcare. We will distribute it equitably between ~30 staff based on needs.
We work in SIFF cinemas, because we love movies.
We love sharing movies with the folks who come into our spaces. We love talking about movies together, watching movies together, and making silly movie-themed combos together.
Many of the cinema staff at SIFF have worked in these cinemas for years, because we care about our jobs and the work that we do sharing films and art with our community.
We work for SIFF because it is not just a job, but a community and a mission we support.
We also care about each other deeply. We truly feel that in our cinemas, we have a home and a family.
"There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan." -Preston Sturges on why we watch movies
-Furloughed SIFFRAFF
If you have questions about any of this, you can email Meg Hesketh at [email redacted]
GoFundMe requires this information, and we wanted to make sure everything in our campaign was clear and easy to understand:
Who we are and where we’re from:
Hi, we are furloughed staff at SIFF Cinemas in Seattle. Malakie Peters and Meg Hesketh (of SIFF Cinema Egyptian) are specifically running this campaign with the assistance of friend Sarah Babb.
Our relationship or contact to the parties we're raising funds for:
ALL funds will be given equitably to furloughed SIFF Cinema staff. Sarah Babb is assisting with the dispersal process.
How the funds will be spent:
The funds will be used for emergency needs: rent/utilities, groceries, medical, and other emergency needs.
Our withdrawal plan to get the funds from the campaign to the ultimate beneficiaries:
We have set up a separate bank account to hold all funds (with joint access), and we will be dispersing from there using direct deposit, Venmo, Paypal and other money transfer options. Cinema staff receive funds after submitting a form with their needs and contact information. All fund requests and payments are fully documented and accountable to both Malakie and Meg.
Organizer and beneficiary
Malakie Peters
Organizer
Seattle, WA
Sarah Babb
Beneficiary