Fundraising Updates | randomblink

Hungry, In School, Still Showing Up

A respectful, clear ask—covering food, fees, and transport with transparent totals

“$7 covers lunch. Share or give if you can.”

— Rev. Brian Scott O’keefe

The story (brief, with respect)

Elissa is a full-time student who keeps showing up—on an empty stomach more days than she’ll admit. She’s paying fees in chunks, stretching bus fare, and choosing between a basic lunch or the ride home. There’s no drama here; there’s simply not enough money this month.

This is a small, specific fundraiser to keep her in class with food in her bag and fare on her card. If you’ve ever been one $7 lunch away from getting through a long afternoon, you understand exactly what this is.

What helps (itemized & transparent)

Initial one-month target: $360

Line Item	Unit	Qty	Subtotal
Campus lunch (simple meal)	$7	20 school days	$140
Groceries supplement (basics)	—	—	$60
Transit (bus/metro rides)	~$3	20 rides	$60
School fees (this month’s portion)	—	—	$75
Phone data (schoolwork access)	—	—	$25
Total			$360

Notes on transparency

Totals are intentionally modest and practical.
If fees change or receipts come in lower/higher, we’ll update the table and goal accordingly.
I’ll maintain a simple public ledger (date, amount, category, note). If you need a receipt or have questions, reply in the comments and I’ll share details directly.

How you can help (primary CTA)

$7 covers lunch. Share or give if you can.

Give $7 (one lunch)
Give $21 (three lunches)
Give $35 (five lunches)
Give $60 (this week’s transport)
Give $140 (a month of lunches)

If giving isn’t possible, sharing this post helps more than you think—especially with a quick note like: “Small, specific fundraiser for a student: $7 = lunch.”

Other helpful options (non-cash welcome)

Transit card top-ups or ride sponsorship
Prepaid grocery cards for shelf-stable basics
Fee credits (if your org can pay a campus bill directly)
A kind word—encouragement matters when you’re grinding through classes hungry

Updates & ledger

I’ll post running updates here: when goals are met, when fees change, and how every dollar moves. If you need something more formal (PDF summary, receipt snapshots), say the word and I’ll attach it to the ledger.

Gratitude

If you’ve read this far: thank you. You’re helping Elissa stay in school with the basics covered. That’s not abstract—it’s lunch, a bus ride, and a clear mind in class.

— Rev. Brian Scott O’keefe
“Small help, right now, can change a whole week.”

Receipts, Needs, Next Steps

This week is about clarity. I’m rebuilding in public and focusing on helping three families facing food and housing insecurity. Below you’ll find what came in, what went out (with receipts), and what’s still needed. If you’ve ever wondered whether small donations matter—this is proof that they do. I’m also mapping the next steps so you can see how your support converts into groceries, rent help, and breathing room. Thank you for sharing, donating, or even just reading. It all moves the needle. This is part of my stroke recovery fundraising work—slow, honest progress.

What came in (Week 1)

Cash + in-kind support received this week. I’ll update line items as they clear.

Date (CT)	Source/Name	Type (Cash/In-Kind)	Amount (USD)	Method	Note/Reference
YYYY-MM-DD	[Donor/Handle]	Cash	$0.00	[Givebutter/PayPal/Zelle]	#[txn or note]
YYYY-MM-DD	[Donor/Handle]	In-Kind	$0.00	—	[e.g., 2 grocery bags, 1 rice sack]
YYYY-MM-DD	[Donor/Handle]	Cash	$0.00	[Givebutter/PayPal/Zelle]	#[txn or note]

Subtotal (Cash): $0.00
Subtotal (In-Kind, est.): $0.00
Week 1 Total Value: $0.00

What went out (receipts)

Every expense tied to a family and category, with proof links. Screenshots/PDFs will be attached or linked.

Date (CT)	Family	Category	Amount (USD)	Vendor	Receipt/Proof Link
YYYY-MM-DD	Family A	Groceries	$0.00	[Store/App]	[Link to image/PDF]
YYYY-MM-DD	Family B	Rent/Utilities	$0.00	[Landlord/Provider]	[Link to image/PDF]
YYYY-MM-DD	Family C	Transport/School	$0.00	[Bus/Driver]	[Link to image/PDF]

Total Spent (Week 1): $0.00
Remaining Cash on Hand: $0.00

Receipts bundle: [Folder link or gallery goes here]

Immediate needs (by family)

Short, concrete lists. I’ll check these off and note dates as we fulfill them.

Family A — Food & Basics

[ ] Rice (25 kg) — $30 (target date: __)
[ ] Cooking oil, eggs, vegetables — $40
[ ] Soap, detergent, toothpaste — $30

Family B — Housing Stability

[ ] Rent support (partial) — $200 (due: $1,000)
[ ] Utilities (electric/water) — $450 (due: $1,500)
[ ] Groceries — $1,000

Family C — Food & School

[ ] Groceries — $75
[ ] Transport to school (1 week) — $50
[ ] School lunch credit — $50

Immediate Week 2 Need (roll-up): $1,500
(This is the number to beat next week.)

Next steps (targets)

Simple, visible goals for the next 7 days.

Target #1: Fill the pantry — $150 for staple groceries across all three families.
Target #2: Keep the lights on — $400 for utilities + critical rent gaps.
Target #3: School coverage — $300 for transport + lunches.

Progress bars (manual update):

Pantry: [□□□□□□□□□□] 0%
Utilities/Rent: [□□□□□□□□□□] 0%
School: [□□□□□□□□□□] 0%

How to help

Donate: [Stand with Joy] / [Stand with Elissa] / [Stand with Cathy] — any amount helps.
Share: Post this page to one friend or group that cares about helping three families.
In-Kind: If you can cover a specific line item (e.g., “Family B utilities $__”), message me and I’ll assign it and post the receipt.
Signal boost: If you run a newsletter or community space, I can send a 2-paragraph summary with links.

CTA: Donate or share to keep these three families fed and housed.

Notes on transparency

I’ll post receipts within 24 hours of each spend and keep a weekly ledger.
If I duplicate a line or miss something (my memory is patchy), ping me—I’ll fix it fast.
This is rebuilding in public and part of my stroke recovery fundraising. Thank you for the patience and the accountability.

— randomblink

Hi, I’m randomblink.

This is me starting over—out loud.

I’m raising money for three families I know who are going hungry and struggling to keep a roof overhead. I’ll share their stories and receipts as I go, and I’ll post updates so you can see exactly where help goes.

At the same time, I’m building—slowly, persistently—because building is how I heal.

What I’m working on

HandheldTutorials.com — bite-size tutorials that you can actually finish.
About ten more small sites — each one focused, useful, and pointed at earning enough to keep the lights on for people who need it.
LifeOS & Scribraria — tools I’m crafting to organize knowledge, files, and creative work across Apple devices.
Two book series — one about rebuilding a life after everything breaks, and one about making complex things simple.

What happened

I survived a stroke—and then several more the next year.
I can walk, talk, and even drive. But my memory is shattered. A lot is gone.

If I repeat myself, mix things up, or need reminders, that’s why. I’m not hiding it. I’m writing it here so we can keep moving anyway.

How you can help today

Share this post with one person who cares.
Come back—I’ll publish the three family fund links and updates here.
Follow my builds (HandheldTutorials is first) and use what I make. If it helps you, tell a friend.

I’m going to keep this simple: show up, ship small things, and report back. I’ll make mistakes. I’ll correct them in public. And I’ll keep going.

Thanks for reading. Thanks for being patient with me. And if you’re rebuilding something too, you’re not alone.