Friday, November 4, 2011

How to make a donation

Someone has graciously kicked off Holiday Fare with a generous donation of five books of transit tickets, so I've decided to just GET STARTED. I know momentum when I see it!

Here's how to donate:

- Trimet's web site has a list of places to buy tickets. Many grocery stores carry transit tickets, as do some workplaces. You can get them at TriMet's Pioneer Courthouse Square location, too. You can also buy books of tickets online and have them mailed directly from Trimet.

- Once you get your hands on a book of tickets (if you're new at this, just ask for "a book of adult fare tickets"), all that's left is to send them my way! Mail them to Holiday Fare, c/o Jeff Guardalabene, 1130 NE 108th Ave., Portland 97220. I'm even willing to come by and pick them up if that's the only way you're going to give them, but don't expect same-day service on that one. :)

- I will post updates on how we're doing. Honestly, my expectations are low. I will be tickled just to help a few people out at holiday time.

- If you represent an organization or group that needs tickets, please let me know. As I give tickets away, I will post about that, too. The only way this is going to work is by being as transparent as possible. As I said in a previous post, I'm really hoping to NOT complicate this - you mail me the tickets, I figure out who needs them, everyone's happy.

- If you're worried about the process, or if you feel that this is not "above board" somehow, PLEASE DO NOT DONATE. I can't stress this enough. This process is about one guy collecting some tickets and giving them to some other people. If that's not the kind of process you need to make you feel okay about your donation, then please find one of the zillions of other worthy causes out there, and more power to you!

- I'm not going to set a goal. Let's just do this with gratitude and love and see where it takes us. Give if you can, spread the word if nothing else, and let's help a few people get some rides.

- Thanks!

18 comments:

  1. Can I just send you a check and then you get the tickers?

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  2. Al - I'm wary of handling anyone's money as I'd like all of this to be as simple as possible. For you, though, I'll make an exception. If you'd like to send a check, you can make it payable to me and I'll handle buying the tickets.
    -jeff

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  3. Thanks!
    $25 from me!
    Your discretion where and who gets it!

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  4. Thanks, Al. And thanks for the link in your blog, too.

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  5. Okay, I purchased an 'Adult All-Zone 10-Ticket Book' book (I hope that's the right one, that's the one I get when buying them in books, and is in the price range I could afford right now). I'm just having them shipped to you :) They wanted a shipping phone number so I just put mine. I put your Company Name as Holiday Fare :)

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  6. AV3RY - THANK YOU!

    This is good to confirm that you can just have the book shipped from Trimet like that. Thanks for pioneering that one. :)

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  7. Jeff,
    This is a great idea! Watch for 4 more ticket books on their way to you, mailed directly from the TriMet site. Easy-peasy, just like AV3RY described above. (Thanks AV3RY for the tip!)
    Diana

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  8. Nice idea! Thank you for doing this. Just sent 2 books your way via Trimet. Very easy just as AV3RY indicated.

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  9. Would you consider donating some of the bus tickets to Volunteers of America Oregon's Family Relief Nursery? The Family Relief Nursery is an intervention/prevention program for families with children six weeks to five years old who are at risk of abusing or neglecting their children or of permanently losing custody of them. All services are provided at no charge.
    (Full disclosure - I work for VOA, but that means I also know how much a donation like this would mean to the program :-) Thanks for what you are doing! It is great!)

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  10. Katie - please email me at drjeff@gmail.com - we'll talk! It's fun having more tickets than I expected, as I'm getting to listen to all of these amazing things people are doing for other people.

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  11. I just ordered one booklet, which is all I can afford. I really, really appreciated your thoughtful post about privilege and transit, and I really, really appreciate your doing this drive. Thank you.

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  12. Thank you so much. Every single ticket means a ride for someone who is struggling. That's very kind of you.

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  13. Are you collecting just the adult AZ, or do you also need youth and senior tickets?

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  14. Hello, Anon. :) Youth tickets are much needed, and I'm sure that senior tickets can be put to good use as well. I've received envelopes full of interesting blends of tickets, some of which I didn't even know existed! EVERY LITTLE BIT helps. A lot.

    Thank you!

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  15. [Not sure why Blogspot isn't picking up my LJ OpenID auth.] Good to see a blend may be sent; sending a wintry mix your way. ;)

    ---Operatic

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  16. Operatic - Awesome! Thanks so much!

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