So, what motivates someone to set up a web site like My-Friend-In-Need.com? For me, it was a sincere desire to help people out during the increasingly difficult economic times in which we find ourselves. You can’t read a newspaper, turn on the television, or really even leave your house without hearing more about the market going down and prices going up. All around us, people are losing their jobs, houses, bank accounts, and all the tangible things that help us feel secure.
I unfortunately know first-hand about the turmoil that’s happening today. Because of the economic downturn I’ve found it necessary to abandon what was once a very successful business, and my family has had to learn to survive on a much lower income — but we ARE surviving.
I created this site to give hope to those who aren’t doing as well. Searching the Internet, I found an abundance of donation sites that seemed crowded, confusing, disorganized, cluttered … ok, I’ll say it, downright tacky. It is difficult enough for someone to take the step of actually asking for money from strangers; I wanted to give people a site that was well-designed and attractive, where they could be treated with kindness and respect.
And one more thing, in case you’re wondering… I’m not in this for the money. Yes, our friends are required to pay a fee create a donation page on this site. This is necessary because research showed that free “cyber-begging” sites are overrun with listings, making it difficult for both for the stories to get the attention they deserve and for potential donors to find someone they would like to help. However, once I cover my expenses each month (there is a modest cost for quality web site hosting and bandwidth), I will anonymously donate the surplus back to our friends.
I wish you all the best.
Your Friend at My-Friend-In-Need.com
