Not Another

--SUCCESS! THE HOUSE HAS BEEN SAVED! (For now...) MORE INFO UNDER "UPDATES"--

See the "LIKE" and "TWEET" links above? PLEASE CLICK 'EM! 

Every so often, each of us finds ourselves scalded--sometimes a little, sometimes with blistering intensity--by a splash of reality. Not a reality that produces 16 rainbows or a brand new Porche, but the kind that buries Grandma or Fido, the kind that flakes on a grand dream or minor expectation. Reality affects each and every one of us, and it's the worst when it deeply stings good people.

Rain Burroughs is probably the perfect neighbor; she and her daughter Summer, now 12, have lived in their house in Richmond for 8 years. Rain is an activist for peace, the environment (she works full-time at a locally owned natural food store), and a champion of social justice. I remember, at one event, Rain placing herself between two 6' 2" men whom were about to come to blows--just to keep the event, and the people, safe. Summer attends a local middle school, plays piano, and creates some of the most interesting art, and has a virally infectious grin that could wipe the grimace off the Robert E. Lee statue on Monument.

As much as Rain and Summer love their community, and as much as we love them, they may not be able to stay: their mortgage holder, the Virginia Housing and Development Association, is foreclosing on their home. To do this, they had to go to court to have her bankruptcy protection overturned, which they did without properly notifying her. Now, they are planning to auction Summer and Rain's home THIS Thursday, unless paid $13,000.

That's why we're here. When we, Rain and Summer's friends, heard about the crisis we decided that we couldn't let these amazing people be forced out of their home and out of our lives, we couldn't let ANOTHER family fall victim to the banks, we couldn't let Summer wonder where to put her 300+ stuffed animal best friends. They're too important to us and to our community.

When the discussion first came up, the reactions were so strong that there was serious talk of civil disobedience actions; many of us were willing to go to jail trying to save Rain and Summer's home. When it got down to straight tactics, however, it was eventually decided that our best chance, as short a time we have and as desperate as we are, is to raise $15,000. $13,000 will go to pay the mortgage holder, and $2,000 to cover the taxes and legal fees that will arise from this campaign.

The auction is on Thursday (8/2), so it's going to be cutting it close, and we know this is a long shot, but we're the best chance they have. We've all been working non-stop for days, and we won't rest until the Burroughs home is saved. Please help us help Summer, Please help us help Rain, please help us help Rain and Summer help our community.

Don't let there be another family tossed aside. Humans aren't disposable.