Practical financial help

[Sue T]

Don't read if you don't want to share some sorrow and/or help there are right and wrong times for things for all of us, that's life! But if it is the right time for you to give some care then please read on.
Sue T  

A Sad Story
Imagine you're a dad, you have a small business mending motors and 2 lovely sons.  Then things start to go wrong your 2nd child, aged 3 is diagnosed with leukaemia.  Treatment has to be taken in another distant city and the trips are frequent and expensive.  You have to accompany your wife and son as a 'go for' as the hospital requires many things that have to be collected from nearby medical stockists and pharmacies from needles to dressings.  And anyway without the car where would you sleep?  After nearly 3 years treatment is finished things look brighter, so you are able to work full time and you set about clearing the debts accrued.  One of these is your N Insurance equivalent, which as a self employed if you don't pay, accrues as a debt, not to mention late payment fines (this has been cleared).  You invest in some machinery to enhance your earning power.  Then the worst happens, on a routine check up in 2009 you learn the disease has returned and the ‘chemo' starts again and your ability to earn plummets.   Amidst all that your now 3rd child, a beautiful girl, has a traumatic accident and loses the tips of 3 of her fingers - more emergency medical treatment, more expense, more upset and anxiety.  At the end of 2009 you learn the chemo is no longer effective, so you all recoup at home and put off the return to Hospital to talk about transplants, as the news you so far have about them is not that encouraging; it is a precious time.  You try to work, but not much of that during this season and then the demands for payment for investments made some months earlier, when you thought you had the opportunity to make the money, start to come in.  How do you sleep?


FIG is helping with the NI equivalent payments and with the aid of Calis Carnival et al is providing food parcels, but the immediate need to alleviate the excess stress is cash. If you wish to help this family you can donate via PayPal using the email address figfetsn@hotmail.co.uk being the 'Special Needs' account for when FIG helps with individual and special needs.  To avoid charges when paying you use the personal tag and tick gift as they arise.

[Firo]

Dreadful heartbreaking story Sue, I cannot imagine how the family are coping at this dreadful time.
Will see what we can do via our quiz nights. Hope lots of people donate a little as it will all help.
Fi & Eric

[peecee]

Has any method been set up whereby cash can just be taken in?  If so where?

[terrie]

this a very sad story,not only fig are helping,but the carnival commitee,Embrace,and Animal Aid,are all trying to help,you can contact any of these charities to donate either food or money

[Sue T]

Cash Donations'  for 'The rainbow boy' Mehmet can be given in at the FIG shop, FIG coffee morning or to FETAV and it is then passed on to the family asap.  Whilst the rule is 'we do not give money' there comes a time when rules have to be broken and I consider this is one.  I expect it to be a rarity.
As you say Firo it just takes a little from many to make a big difference.
We FIG are forwarding 500TL on Monday from the money we expect to make at our pre Valentines party on 13th Feb as the poor guy has 1500TL 'senet' to meet on Monday.  A senet is a bit like a post dated cheque - trouble if you default!!
We are in touch with Chrissie of the Carnival committee and will be visiting with her and the food and toys they and Embrace and Animal Aid have collected during this next week.  It is good that whilst we charities beaver away in our own areas we can and do co operate harmoniously when needed.  I have a great deal of respect for what the others do.
The FIG shop is open 10 -4 MON Tue, Thur & Fri & 1-6 Weds.  FETAV is open usual office hours.
Thank you all for your interest
Sue T

[hubblebubble]

My understanding was that some of the other charities were not willing to open the floodgates by giving cash to individuals in dire straits of whom there are a great many but were instead giving practical aid and support.
In the long term giving cash to one family and not another as a charity could lead to a great deal of bad feeling amongst poor locals and rebound badly.
Whist feeling that circumstances here are pretty dire the Turkish attitude is "Allahs will" Help can and should be given but i question whether this is the correct way to do it.
What an individual does to help is one thing but when a registered charity starts giving cash I personally think there are many potential problems in the wider community.
As many of you know my Mum runs embrace and is on the carnival commitee so I would point out this is very much my view and not necessarily hers!!

[Old Daffodil]

Would negotiating with the people who are expecting the payment of this senet be possible if the amount needed cannot be raised?Surely if they are informed of the circumstances there may be some way of paying this off in instalments.

[Sue T]

Yes we are doing all the negotiations we can.
In all our previous activities and there have been many, when 'floodgates' have been expected they have never happened.
Only the schools requests get ever larger and 'no' or 'not yet, we'll do what we can' have been accepted without upset.
Not giving cash is the appropriate stance to take, but paying bills can be acceptable and that is effectively what this is about. Money to meet a known and verified need, be it payment for hospital scans, doctors bill or whatever.

A big thank you to those who have given
Aue T

[Sue T]

Have thought more about your post Hubble Bubble.
Just to clarify FIG has held a 'Special Needs' corner of their account for some years now and folk who donate specifically to it recognise that we use the gift in a way appropriate to the need. it is quite open that this appeal is now for cash for a verified need.  So folk happy about this give those who are not don't, its straighforward. It is just a channel for the individuals.

Monies raised by our usual means are always used to purchase items to meet needs, or given as cash bursaries through FETAV and the council.

Calis carnival et al have not been compromised as their donations are in kind and will soon be delivered and their regulations have been complied with.  

Having married into the Fethiye community some 30 + years ago I have considerable contact with and understanding of this said community.  All responses to our help of this kind that I have experienced so far, has been one of relief, joy and great gratitude.   I have never experienced expressions of jealousy and resentment, but I guess they might be too ashamed to come to me!
If there is a flood of applications I am prepared to handle it and would appeal for help for those that are genuine and verifiable again, if it gets no response, they get little help, but we will have tried.
Reality in this case dictates  that filling the kitchen cupboards, which is very commendable, and the family will be very grateful, does not deal with the equvalent of the major road traffic accident happening in the lounge.
I hope this sets your mind at rest.