A few updates and clarifications about the fundraiser for Nicole Grimes

Last week, I posted an appeal for my friend Nicole Grimes, who is facing a divorce against her will. She is a stay-at-home mom caring for six kids, including one with juvenile diabetes. She is very willing to go to work to support her family, only she is facing at least two rounds of complicated surgery very soon.

I wanted to address a few questions that have come up from various readers.

TRUSTWORTHY? On the rare occasion that I promote a charity or fundraiser, it’s because I believe strongly that it’s a very good cause, and that the person who benefits is truly in need and truly trustworthy. I never promote a charity or fundraiser without first researching it or talking to mutual friends, or doing both.  If you ever hear of a charity or fundraiser through me, you can assume that I have good reason to promote it.

SCAMMY? Every time there is a fundraiser, there is at least one person who has the time, energy, and malice to try to discredit the beneficiary. Some people just like to hurt other people. I entirely understand that we all need to be cautious and prudent when donating money; but we are also obligated to guard against believing the worst we hear about people simply because someone suggested that the worst is true. To be blunt: we know who has been posting false information about Nicole, encouraging people not to help her. The poster in question is unreliable and malicious.

Also, the Grimes family lives in Oregon. The fundraiser was organized by her friend Laura Roberts, who lives in Woodstock, VA. That’s why Laura’s name and town are on the GoFundMe page.

EDITED? I did edit my original post shortly after publishing it, changing the title from “abandoned” to “separated,” among other changes. This was because Nicole is going to be involved in a legal case, and it’s very important for her to be the one who is in control of what terms are used to describe her situation. I didn’t want to complicate anything for their family (or, to be honest, for myself) by using my own words.

I hope this clears up any questions you might have! Please let me know if anything else concerns you. Of course, I am not free to disclose more personal information about the Grimes family than I have already shared. It is not easy for Nicole to be so open about her struggles or to ask strangers for help, so I ask folks to be sensitive when responding to her story.

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All right! Now onto the good news.  The GoFundMe page is chugging along very nicely, thanks to the outpouring of generosity from people all over the country. This is fantastic. God bless you, to everyone who has donated or offered prayers and sympathy.

PAYPAL! If you would rather contribute to the Grimes family directly, rather than going through GoFundMe, you pay send money via PayPal. The address is: [email protected]

(As per GoFundMe TOS, a GoFundMe page cannot direct people toward other fundraisers, and PayPal cannot be used as a means of contributing to GoFundMe fundraisers.)

THIRTY-ONE GIFTS! Also, my dear, long-time friend Charity Horinek is hosting a Thirty-One Gifts party to benefit Nicole. Charity says:

Nicole’s only meager line of income to support herself in the months ahead is her Thirty-One Gifts business, which she is trying to build into something that can sustain her family in the long run. Her area is very rural with a severe lack of job opportunities, but she can run her little business from home even as she goes back to school or gains training. I am helping her jump start her business with an online party, and if anyone would like to purchase (great Christmas gifts!) or book another party to help her out, here is the link. All proceeds will go to her legal, medical, and household fund. 

You just have to click on my name [Charity Horinek] to get to the party. She will benefit even more if more people host parties for her — she does a really fun Facebook-based virtual party so people don’t even have to leave their homes! 🙂

So! To sum up:

• Nicole Grimes’ family really needs your help, and Nicole will really spend the money for things her family desperately needs.
• The jerks, you will always have with you.
• You can use PayPal if you’d rather not go through GoFundMe. [email protected]
• There is a Thirty-One Gifts Party going on to benefit the Grimes family.

And thank you again, so much, for helping this family out.