When Life Gives You Unemployment — the Power of Advocacy and Community Support

Unemployment Journal Day 93: Empathy in Action

This article covers #49 from 65 things to do when you’re unemployed: raise awareness for a cause you care about.

This is a story that follows the pattern from the cute children’s book we all remember When You Give a Mouse a Cookie. It only takes one step to set things in motion. You’ll never know what something can become until you take the next small step.

When you are unemployed, you find you have the time to slow down and pay attention. >

When you pay attention, you notice things that matter. >

When you notice things that matter, you pause and ponder. >

When you pause and ponder, you feel empathy and compassion. >

When you feel empathy and compassion, you’re moved to do something. >

When you do something, you start a movement. >

When you start a movement, you make a difference in the lives of others.

I am passionate about things that support children and animals, and that’s where I give my time and money. As a highly sensitive person, I can easily be moved to compassion and empathy, and I wish I had more resources to do more for those in need.

A few weeks ago, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, which I mostly fill with groups, when I saw a GoFundMe link in our local neighborhood group. Being a rural community, there is a lot of poverty and need, so it isn’t uncommon to see people asking for help with groceries, money to pay the propane guy, or clothing for their children.

This particular post caught my eye because it was a homeless couple living in their truck, looking to raise money to get a trailer.

And I thought of a line my mom used to say all the time: But for the grace of God, there go I.

If you’ve been reading this series, you know that my life has changed dramatically from two incomes to none due to my husband’s disability from Long Covid and my recent layoff. Yes, indeed, but for the grace of God, there go I.

Still, I thought, I have more than Michelle and Garrett do. I also had some money set aside for donations that usually go to charities like Danita’s Children, No Kid Hungry, or Compassion International. I reasoned it would be nice to see money go to local needs.

I scrolled past the post, but the image stayed with me for several days. I responded to the post, asking Michelle and Garrett to contact me so I could learn more about their situation.

Their GoFundMe page was still at zero. I knew I could raise a bit of money for them, but I didn’t want them to think I had ulterior motives. You hear about those scams.

We began texting, and as I learned more about their situation, I felt compelled to raise awareness. We met at the local Walmart so they could get a feel for my husband and me and so we could “check each other out.”

Like the mouse in the story, one thing led to another. I told them I was a writer, had wide reach on social media, and could probably raise all the money needed. They humbly agreed to let me try.

Setting up the GoFundMe page was easy.

We took a picture together at Walmart, so I used that and some pictures from their Facebook account to create this cover photo in Canva.

Then, I started sharing the cause on social media and telling my friends and family about it.

And the money has been coming in. Some people have requested to donate privately rather than go through GoFundMe. That helps, too, because GoFundMe takes a percentage of each donation. I keep a list of who donated privately.

Our goal is $3,000, and my husband and I will be matching all funds that come in up to $3,000. As of today, we have raised $2,600!

Michelle, a White Mountain Apache Tribe member, is in the process of getting land approved by the tribal land board. We will begin searching for a trailer as soon as that is finalized. The goal is to raise enough money for a clean, safe trailer and the cost of title and taxes.

Having a safe place to call home will give Michelle and Garrett a fresh start and eliminate many of the problems that come with homelessness, including health problems and difficulty finding and sustaining employment.

If you feel led to give, we appreciate your support! You can read about their story here.

Follow the rest of my unemployment journals here: Day 90 Day 91 Day 92

Mary Gallagher teaches women how to declutter so they can make room for what matters. She is the founder of The Decluttered Soul, a thriving Facebook community and membership. After decades of striving, she’s finally found her peaceful, decluttered writing space in a tiny home in the White Mountains of Arizona where the elk sleep under the Milky Way in her backyard. You can connect, stay in touch, and get support on Instagram, Pinterest, and The Decluttered Soul publication.