Sean's Entry into the Taxi Industry
Donation protected
My name is Wynde (like "Wendy") Dyer. I own and operate Compassion Cab, a small-two cab subsidiary of Green Cab, in Portland, Or. I sponsor individuals experiencing or facing homelessness into the taxi industry by fronting the costs for their entry fees, training, clothing and cell phones, etc., and I offer them generously subsidized cab rentals until they have secured and sustained housing.
Because I believe in transportation equity, I also offer up to 50%-off cab rides in 10% increments to (a) students, (b) seniors, (c) people with disabilities, (d) food stamp recipients, and (e) cost-burdened renters/homeless individuals. I believe ALL citizens deserve safe, friendly, and affordable transportation options, regardless of their socio-economic status.
I am raising money to support Sean Martinez's entry into the taxi industry. Sean is a resident at Hazelnut Grove, a democratically-run city-sanctioned tent city in Portland, Or. Sean is smart, kind-hearted, has good customer-service skills from past jobs, loves driving and posesses the positive attitude and independent problem-solving skills required to be a good cabbie. Most importantly, he's proud to be drug-free, has a clean criminal and driving record, and wants to work NOW!
The money raised will be used for:
$100 - City of Portland background check/permit app
$60 - Legacy Labs federal drug/alcohol screening
$40 - Online CPR/FA class and certificaiton test
$20 - Faxed DMV reports from multiple states
$60 - Lightly used cab-friendly clothing
Money raised beyond the $300 goal will be used for:
$100 - Gasoline for Sean's first week of work
$100 - "Kitty" for Sean's second week of work
$200 - "Kitty" for Sean's third week of work
$400 - "Kitty" for Sean's fourth week of work
("Kitty" is what taxi drivers pay their company daily or weekly for car rental, dispatch services, office services, branding, marketing, and credit card processing. My drivers get their first week of kitty free, $20 per/day the second week, $40 per/day the third week, $60 per/day the third week, up to the market rate of $80 per/day the fourth week. Once drivers are up to full market-rate kitty, I still offer kitty discounts to drivers who have bad days during which they made less than minimum wage)
We need the $100 to start Sean's city background check and taxi permit process ASAP. The other funds will be needed over the course of January. If we can secure these funds we can have Sean out of a tent and into a warm cab five nights a week by February 1st.
This means the world to me for three reasons:
(1) In spite of having a graduate degree and always paying rent on time, in 2012 I was homeless for nine months following a poorly-timed epic episode of landlord greed. I was able to secure housing thanks to good friends who sponsored me in to the taxi industry.
(2) In my three years as a cab owner I have sponsored SEVEN individuals who were experiencing or facing homelessness into the taxi industry. They all have homes now. I would like to continue to build my track record of taking a chance on folks society would like to turn a blind eye to. Every human deserves a chance.
(3) Sadly, due to the unfair and unregulated entry of transportation network companies, like Uber and Lyft, into Portland's already-saturated taxi market, my personal earnings have dropped so much so that I can no longer afford to front these out-of-pocket expenses myself anymore. Hence the asking for help from YOU!
We will be so thankful for your generosity that we will continue to do the good work we're already doing, and the good work we would have continued to do whether or not you contributed to our cause. This is what we do.
We will sweeten the pot by offering ONE FREE TRIP TO THE AIRPORT for anyone who donates $20 or more. It doesn't matter if you live $100 away, if you donate $20 you have a free ride to the airport during my shifts, Monday through Thursday from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. Once Sean is working, he will be happy to provide rides to donors, as well. And if you don't need a free ride for yourself, we'll donate one to someone else in need ;)
Thanks in advance for considering helping our cause.
Sincerely,
Wynde Dyer
Compassion Cab
Green Cab no. 115 & 299
[email redacted]
Dispatch: [phone redacted]
* Request "one of Wendy's cabs"
Because I believe in transportation equity, I also offer up to 50%-off cab rides in 10% increments to (a) students, (b) seniors, (c) people with disabilities, (d) food stamp recipients, and (e) cost-burdened renters/homeless individuals. I believe ALL citizens deserve safe, friendly, and affordable transportation options, regardless of their socio-economic status.
I am raising money to support Sean Martinez's entry into the taxi industry. Sean is a resident at Hazelnut Grove, a democratically-run city-sanctioned tent city in Portland, Or. Sean is smart, kind-hearted, has good customer-service skills from past jobs, loves driving and posesses the positive attitude and independent problem-solving skills required to be a good cabbie. Most importantly, he's proud to be drug-free, has a clean criminal and driving record, and wants to work NOW!
The money raised will be used for:
$100 - City of Portland background check/permit app
$60 - Legacy Labs federal drug/alcohol screening
$40 - Online CPR/FA class and certificaiton test
$20 - Faxed DMV reports from multiple states
$60 - Lightly used cab-friendly clothing
Money raised beyond the $300 goal will be used for:
$100 - Gasoline for Sean's first week of work
$100 - "Kitty" for Sean's second week of work
$200 - "Kitty" for Sean's third week of work
$400 - "Kitty" for Sean's fourth week of work
("Kitty" is what taxi drivers pay their company daily or weekly for car rental, dispatch services, office services, branding, marketing, and credit card processing. My drivers get their first week of kitty free, $20 per/day the second week, $40 per/day the third week, $60 per/day the third week, up to the market rate of $80 per/day the fourth week. Once drivers are up to full market-rate kitty, I still offer kitty discounts to drivers who have bad days during which they made less than minimum wage)
We need the $100 to start Sean's city background check and taxi permit process ASAP. The other funds will be needed over the course of January. If we can secure these funds we can have Sean out of a tent and into a warm cab five nights a week by February 1st.
This means the world to me for three reasons:
(1) In spite of having a graduate degree and always paying rent on time, in 2012 I was homeless for nine months following a poorly-timed epic episode of landlord greed. I was able to secure housing thanks to good friends who sponsored me in to the taxi industry.
(2) In my three years as a cab owner I have sponsored SEVEN individuals who were experiencing or facing homelessness into the taxi industry. They all have homes now. I would like to continue to build my track record of taking a chance on folks society would like to turn a blind eye to. Every human deserves a chance.
(3) Sadly, due to the unfair and unregulated entry of transportation network companies, like Uber and Lyft, into Portland's already-saturated taxi market, my personal earnings have dropped so much so that I can no longer afford to front these out-of-pocket expenses myself anymore. Hence the asking for help from YOU!
We will be so thankful for your generosity that we will continue to do the good work we're already doing, and the good work we would have continued to do whether or not you contributed to our cause. This is what we do.
We will sweeten the pot by offering ONE FREE TRIP TO THE AIRPORT for anyone who donates $20 or more. It doesn't matter if you live $100 away, if you donate $20 you have a free ride to the airport during my shifts, Monday through Thursday from 3 a.m. to 8 a.m. Once Sean is working, he will be happy to provide rides to donors, as well. And if you don't need a free ride for yourself, we'll donate one to someone else in need ;)
Thanks in advance for considering helping our cause.
Sincerely,
Wynde Dyer
Compassion Cab
Green Cab no. 115 & 299
[email redacted]
Dispatch: [phone redacted]
* Request "one of Wendy's cabs"
Organizer and beneficiary
Wynde Dyer
Organizer
Portland, OR
Ian Waite
Beneficiary