Mike Needs Our Help
Donation protected
Brothers and friends,
This fund is set up for our beloved friend and chef, Mike Burke.
For those of you who do not know Mike, he is a chef for students at a House on the Cal campus (UC Berkeley). Those that know Mike may know that, when Mike is off work in the summer and winter months, he typically applies for unemployment. What most of you would not know is, despite Mike working seasonally for the last 22 years, Mike's unemployment claims are increasingly denied and delayed by the State. In fact, although Mike applied for unemployment this summer (2020), he received only one week of unemployment and since that time the State refuses to respond to Mike's requests for the remainder of his unemployment benefits for the time he was out of work this summer.
Unfortunately, the ongoing restrictions due to COVID on the Cal campus have made filling the House Mike works at very difficult. Despite the challenges and limited funds, the members of the House Mike works at tried to keep Mike working in the kitchen this semester (Fall 2020), however, the limited House rents have stressed the House budget and Friday October 30 was Mike's last day cooking this semester. As the situation stands, Mike will not likely be brought back for Spring 2021 due to the continued restrictions imposed on student housing at Cal and the lack of House rent it causes. When combined with Mike usually being off work in the summer months, assuming we can bring him back to the House for Fall 2021, by that point Mike will be out of work for 41 weeks. The fund total represents about $500 a week (plus a little extra to account for the GoFundMe tax) to keep Mike housed, fed, and comfortable until we are able to enjoy his presence again at the House.
Each of you that know Mike feasted on his cooking, you've talked with him in the kitchen about politics, philosophy, conspiracies, and more, he is the joyous soul that feeds our bellies, our minds, and our hearts semester after semester. Mike needs our help and I know we can show up for him when it counts.
*update 11/7/20*
Although we are nearing our goal and may exceed it, Mike lives on a very modest salary each year and lives on even less during the summer and winter months he is off work. Further, what some of you who know Mike will recall, Mike used his savings and credit cards to build a food vendor trailer which was stolen from the House parking lot a few years ago. Mike continues to pay off the debt he incurred building his trailer and any additional generosity above and beyond the initial goal would be of great assistance to Mike in paying down his outstanding debts which remain from that tragic theft.
Mike wants everyone to know that he is truly awestruck but the tremendous outpouring of generosity and support from each and everyone who donated or shared this campaign, he hopes to be able to personally thank each of you if he can. I also want to thank each of you who donate or shared this campaign, you all are amazing people!
This fund is set up for our beloved friend and chef, Mike Burke.
For those of you who do not know Mike, he is a chef for students at a House on the Cal campus (UC Berkeley). Those that know Mike may know that, when Mike is off work in the summer and winter months, he typically applies for unemployment. What most of you would not know is, despite Mike working seasonally for the last 22 years, Mike's unemployment claims are increasingly denied and delayed by the State. In fact, although Mike applied for unemployment this summer (2020), he received only one week of unemployment and since that time the State refuses to respond to Mike's requests for the remainder of his unemployment benefits for the time he was out of work this summer.
Unfortunately, the ongoing restrictions due to COVID on the Cal campus have made filling the House Mike works at very difficult. Despite the challenges and limited funds, the members of the House Mike works at tried to keep Mike working in the kitchen this semester (Fall 2020), however, the limited House rents have stressed the House budget and Friday October 30 was Mike's last day cooking this semester. As the situation stands, Mike will not likely be brought back for Spring 2021 due to the continued restrictions imposed on student housing at Cal and the lack of House rent it causes. When combined with Mike usually being off work in the summer months, assuming we can bring him back to the House for Fall 2021, by that point Mike will be out of work for 41 weeks. The fund total represents about $500 a week (plus a little extra to account for the GoFundMe tax) to keep Mike housed, fed, and comfortable until we are able to enjoy his presence again at the House.
Each of you that know Mike feasted on his cooking, you've talked with him in the kitchen about politics, philosophy, conspiracies, and more, he is the joyous soul that feeds our bellies, our minds, and our hearts semester after semester. Mike needs our help and I know we can show up for him when it counts.
*update 11/7/20*
Although we are nearing our goal and may exceed it, Mike lives on a very modest salary each year and lives on even less during the summer and winter months he is off work. Further, what some of you who know Mike will recall, Mike used his savings and credit cards to build a food vendor trailer which was stolen from the House parking lot a few years ago. Mike continues to pay off the debt he incurred building his trailer and any additional generosity above and beyond the initial goal would be of great assistance to Mike in paying down his outstanding debts which remain from that tragic theft.
Mike wants everyone to know that he is truly awestruck but the tremendous outpouring of generosity and support from each and everyone who donated or shared this campaign, he hopes to be able to personally thank each of you if he can. I also want to thank each of you who donate or shared this campaign, you all are amazing people!
Organizer and beneficiary
Brendean Luce
Organizer
Oakland, CA
Michael Burke
Beneficiary