Powered By Optimism

To make a difference in the world, sometimes all you need to do is be a good friend.

It isn't easy today, with texting, email and Facebook, rarely do we actually talk to our friends but instead rely on brief messages to keep the friendship going.

For some of us, the internet has opened up a huge network possibilities and in Western Massachusetts a group of people have been using the internet and social networking to build a friendship network.

(we apologize for any ads that you may find annoying, but if people visit advertisers it raises money for us. We are willing to do what it takes to raise money for families in need)

The group is currently working with several families dealing with medical crises. Families that come forward receive immediate cash relief and then the group works with the family support network to coordinate fundraising efforts, meal planning, yard work, child care. Whatever the family needs.

So far we have relied on donations from individuals and people that shop through our Amazon affiliate link. If you shop on Amazon and buy a gift card through this page, the money will go straight to one of the families we are trying to help.

It's a slow process, but to two families fighting cancer, one battling lupus, and a fourth currently unsure of the malignancy of the brain tumor they need removed....it's a necessary process.

We weren't really sure that people would be willing to help us. One of us had a good friend with three little kids and a husband newly diagnosed with lymphoma. He's only 32 and fighting hard, but the bills began quickly adding up for the family.

We started asking for financial help and people gave it. It was pretty simple really. People rallied around this family, providing meals, yard care, babysitting and financial relief. We figure, if this can work for one family, why not many families?

Since the spring, three more families have come forward, all dealing with major medical crises, loss of jobs because of it and bills that are piling up.

We see it like this. When you help, when you join our group, if you need the help someday, we will help you. It's friendship in the world of the internet.

If you find this any sort of interesting, we'd love to meet you. If you are a person who has been hit with a medical crisis and have been unable to work recently, we'd love to meet you too.