Go Fund Me for Co-workers?

[Emergent]

If you're on Facebook, you're probably familiar with a Go Fund Me appeal being posted for a co-worker. I have mixed feelings about this.

Often, multiple people will repost for a particularly popular person. One recent post was the adult daughter of a gal who worked in the hospital, who died suddenly, trying to raise money for funeral expenses and to help her. Her goal was $20,000. I thought, what kind of funeral are you planning? It felt like she was trying to cash in on this.

When I see one for someone who has expenses from an illness, I think about the many people who also had illnesses, had to have FMLA perhaps, also incurred the extra expenses, and no Go Fund Me.

There are people who get into a pickle because they blow their money on trips, the casino, enabling adult children, or blowing their PTO and sick time frivolously. Then comes the cry for help when Murphy strikes.

Any thoughts?

[Anonymous865]

I also have a problem with many Go Fund Me appeals. They often seem like people who don't want to live within their budget and plan for the future and then want the savers/planners to bail them out.

[verene, MSN]

I'll donate to some, and not donate to others. Ultimately it is up to those giving to chose what they want to do with their money.

As for $20K funeral, it doesn't seem completely out of line if there is transport of remains and/or a popular cemetery involved. Just the grave-site and simple grave-side service for my grandmother alone was $9K, and that cost didn't include mortuary care, casket, or the cost of transporting her from her place of death to the cemetery she wanted to be buried in (across state lines), or any of the other related costs (final medical expenses, legal costs for estate settlement, etc) that may be incured around death. I think my family paid at least $25K when all was said and done for bills related directly or indirectly to her death.

[MiladyMalarkey, ASN, BSN]

I've seen many GoFundMe's that make me roll my eyes, "Help Me Buy A Car" or "Help Me Achieve My Dream of Traveling Abroad". However, I've also seen valid ones of people I've known personally and would give to those, although often in lieu of giving through GoFundMe, I'd donate to them directly. If I'm not mistaken GoFundMe keeps a small cut of the money raised as a fee-how they can profit from their services. Having had to deal with laying a loved one to rest recently, $20k for a funeral is not really over the top. We had a $15k life insurance policy for my loved one and that barely covered the mortuary, funeral and burial costs and it was a fairly basic service/burial, nothing over the top.

[NurseCard, ADN]

I've donated to a couple of them. One was a former co worker who

had just gone through some serious, very unexpected health issues

and could not work, was a single mother of four, really did need the

help I would imagine. So I gave happily.

Another one was a bit more odd I guess you would say, but I still

gave. It was the brother of a very dear friend of mine. He was dealing

with severe threats, abusive behavior, from his neighbors. They

are rural; these neighbors are close but the only neighbors for miles.

Anyway, I guess the police had been of minimal help, so this

guy needed the money to be able to put up a privacy fence, and

rather quickly. He didn't have the money laying around. So,

I gave him some.

[Creamsoda, ASN, RN]

oh yeah most of them are stupid. but if others want to contribute their hard earned money...so be it. Me not so much unless it is a really awful situation.

Ive seen people make one fore their wedding. wth

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

The only GFM I ever donated to was for a friend who has cancer & doesn't make a lot. She never went on vacations, has fancy clothes or a super nice car. If she has insurance isn't through the Affordable Care Act which isn't great.

[DeeAngel]

I think one of the best gifts people can give themselves to enrich their lives is to get off of social media.

[JadedCPN, BSN, RN]

Stuff like this used to really bother me - I had a "friend" that had one because she continued to make really crappy life choices and wanted people to support her while she "found" herself. But honestly, if people are willing to fork over cash for stuff like that, more power to them.

If there is someone that I want to help with something, I'll bring food, or gift certificates or my shoulder as needed. I just ignore the fundraising stuff - not being on Facebook really helps :)

Yes, yes, yes! That is my thought - if other people are willing to fork over their money to donate for things like that, more power to both them AND the person who is getting their money! It just won't be me doing it. And I can't "like" your comment about Facebook enough!

[Irish_Mist, BSN, RN]

I have no issue donating to GFM if it is for someone I know or in a select few people I don't know in a verifiable situation (example: parents of a small child on the news who is dying of cancer). I donate to help someone pay mounting medical bills, cover the funeral for a sudden death, etc. I think that's the entire point of GFM- to help people through tragedy and difficult circumstances.

However, when people like my mom's co-worker utilize it for things like starting a LuLaRoe business or going on a tropical vacation, I'm not at all willing to part with my money.

[DowntheRiver]

It's strange, I was just thinking about this the other day. It is like you read my mind.

How did our parent's generation survive without Go Fund Me? I mean, if they did it, why can't we? That's what really gets me. For so long everybody went without soliciting for money for these things and made it work. What has changed?

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

It's strange, I was just thinking about this the other day. It is like you read my mind.

How did our parent's generation survive without Go Fund Me? I mean, if they did it, why can't we? That's what really gets me. For so long everybody went without soliciting for money for these things and made it work. What has changed?

Our parents generation (or at least MY parents generation) lived close to their extended family and were deeply involved in their churches and communities. When the neighbor's house burned down and they lost everything, my mother was cooking breakfast for them and for the other neighbors who were trying to put out the fire and save their livestock. Someone else took the cattle to stay in their barn and someone with seven children and lots of handmedowns found clean, warm clothing for their children to wear. The people at their church found them a temporary home in someone's empty MIL apartment and dropped off groceries and kitchen stuff for them.

Of course, the other part of that equation is that the family who lost everything didn't expect to settle down in a brand new house with a new big screen TV, full closets and a full pantry the next week. They realized that they were going to have to work hard and replace their "stuff" over time. They didn't expect the handouts but were grateful for them and probably embarrassed because usually THEY were the ones helping out and had never expected to be helped out.

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

I have no issue donating to GFM if it is for someone I know or in a select few people I don't know in a verifiable situation (example: parents of a small child on the news who is dying of cancer). I donate to help someone pay mounting medical bills, cover the funeral for a sudden death, etc. I think that's the entire point of GFM- to help people through tragedy and difficult circumstances.

However, when people like my mom's co-worker utilize it for things like starting a LuLaRoe business or going on a tropical vacation, I'm not at all willing to part with my money.

Could someone PLEASE make LuLaRoe GO AWAY??????