JOANNA'S FAMILY NEEDS HELP
A new Greater Gatsby is out today, and even though she's not in this particular episode, now's a great time to talk about Fig and Ford's very own Claudette Knickerbocker, the fabulous Joanna Sotomura, who among other things has elevated quite a few Tin Can and Shipwrecked projects with her wonderful talents.
Joanna is from Hawaii, and her family owns a Christmas store in Maui. The store's employees, all residents of Maui, have been greatly impacted by the horrific wildfires, many losing their homes, and Joanna's family has set up a GoFundMe to help them rebuild their lives from the ashes. You can even keep your donation from being publicly listed if you so choose.
Aloha friends, family and cherished patrons, I’m reaching out… Samantha Sotomura needs your support for Maui Fire Fund: Lahaina Christm
In order to avoid opportunistic scammers, people are understandably being encouraged to send their donations to established, well-known organizations, so more private fundraisers like this one will not be getting the bulk of the attention. But since we know Joanna and that this is not a scam, it is a great way to help in the aftermath of Maui and know exactly where your money is going--into the pockets of these everyday people devastated by a horrible tragedy.
If you're looking to cast a wider net, I'd also highly recommend the Maui Food Bank, the Maui Strong Fund, or the Maui Humane Society if you want to help out some furry friends.
I know times are hard and money is tight. I mean, I'm working two jobs and still barely making my meager ends meet. But at least I have an apartment/home to stress over paying the rent for. A lot of the people of Maui can no longer say the same.
If you haven't already, please help if you can!
