A few weeks after we launched the My-Friend-In-Need web site, one of my journalist friends put out a very nice press release for us. At the moment, it’s still available online, and you can download a PDF version of it. I’m expecting that it will disappear at some point, though, so I’m going to reprint it here.
Inspired by the economic downturn, a new web site seeks to connect “Friends in Need” with concerned people who can help, but with a new twist: Respect all around.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan 03, 2009 — What does a very successful technology consultant do when her business tanks in the current economy? Well, this one created My-Friend-In-Need.com, a web site designed to link folks with financial needs with generous people who would like to help.
So, what makes My-Friend-In-Need different from the abundance of other cyber-begging web sites already out there? “Ugh – I don’t even like to call it ‘cyber-begging,’ says Christine, the creator and administrator of the site, who will only be identified by her first name to defer to her strong desire to remain as anonymous as possible. “And the things that make it the most different,” she continues, “are the level of respect everyone is given and the professionalism of the site itself.”
She has a valid point. A Google search on the terms “cyber-begging” or “donate money online” turn up web sites that look like they came from (and perhaps should return to) the dark ages of the Internet. Pages crammed with text in all colors, sizes, and fonts, that scroll down forever and proclaim, “Get out of debt!” “No Payback!” and (dubiously), “As Seen on Oprah Winfrey!”
My-Friend-In-Need takes a much more compassionate, soft-hearted approach. First of all, both seekers and benefactors are referred to as “friends.” The site’s tagline states “…because a friend in need is a friend indeed,” and goes on to further explain that a friend that stands by you in times of trouble is a true friend. People in need of help are encouraged to provide as many details as they are comfortable sharing (all the while being reminded not to share any identifying information). And it’s suggested that potential donors may feel they are less strangers and more friends with their beneficiaries once they look through the stories and find one that touches their hearts.
And, as would be expected from someone with a web design background, My-Friend-In-Need.com has a clean, professional look that’s attractive and easy to use. “I was really going for a departure from the cluttered, disorganized, and almost ‘sleazy’ sites that I found out there,” states Christine. “Even though I realize it takes a step of faith to expose your financial problems, not to mention donate money, to strangers on the Internet, I’m hoping that having a site that’s more polished and up-to-date will help to reassure people that they aren’t getting ripped off.”
Finally, a fact that the site doesn’t blatantly publicize but hides near the end of the “About Us” page: even though there is a fee for listing your request on the site, My-Friend-In-Need.com is not trying to make a profit for itself. Once the monthly costs of site hosting are covered, surplus listing fees are anonymously donated back to its “friends in need.” And doesn’t that make My-Friend-In-Need a friend, indeed?
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About My-Friend-In-Need.com: A new approach to asking for or donating money online — My-Friend-In-Need.com is professional, compassionate, and trustworthy. The site seeks to match up people experiencing financial misfortune with those who have the means and a heart to help.
April 19th, 2010 at 6:28 am
Greetings,
my family in poverty line ,pls guide me, and help us pls
Thanking you
yours
v.David sundar
April 19th, 2010 at 6:29 am
pls help us pls
April 26th, 2010 at 7:21 pm
i am 21 years old the most poor and sad person in the world,i am not going to say that i am really poor and hungry ,starving etc.. but i really have the most sad life more than those ppl’s that sturve life ..i cant talk about my problems but i just need enoph money to leave my home so i am asking the ppl who have enoph money not asking you to give me money while you dont have enoph for yourself thank you bye
June 28th, 2010 at 6:02 pm
Hi my name is Tyler Banks I am from *********, **. I have been a survivor of ovarian cancer for five years.I was 13 years old when found out I had cancer,it all started when i used to vomit every thing my mama cook and my side would hurt me really bad and so she took me to the doctor a week later cause i was complaining really bad and when i went and got an x-ray they said it was a tumor and told me to rush to the hospital.The next morning i had surgery and they said that the tumor was on my right ovary and it was a side of a bowling ball and little one’s size of golf balls,and the name of it was called “tera toma” they took my whole right ovary out . So a couple of months later i went for a check up and they discovered another tumor and i had to have surgery again that morning and i discovered this little thing under my boob and it was a port they told me I would have to have chemotherapy . When i got the treaments they were terrible I thought that i wasn’t going to make how the medicine had me feeling and my body. So i treated for a year and from then on i just had check ups until later when i started having pains on my left side and i went to the doctor again they said that there was something growing on my left ovary and i didn’t won’t to go through the same thing again so i ask the doc would it be okay if i jus kept getting regular check up he said i could but it would be life threatning so i decided that day and i wanted to get my ovary out but it’s a catch cause now i know I want be able to have kids so I ask my doc. about fertility and he said i could do it so i scheduled and appointment and the office visit is 369.oo and i know when they preserve my eggs it’s going to cost more and I wonder if I could have your help so i can be able to have kids in the future. Thank you
July 6th, 2010 at 1:20 am
I am 57 and so tired can hardly move sometimes. life is often hard. I worked hard, raised my kids right and after a life of hard work, have lost almost everything. I dream of making or getting money and purchasing a bed and breakfst on oahu and living happily ever after, thank you
July 8th, 2010 at 2:10 am
my name is femi olukunmi, an electronics, inverter and solar power technician. lose job. with four children,the chilred are hungry, no school fees to pay, no house rent to pay,need help urgently. God will bless u as u come to my aid. thanks
July 13th, 2010 at 10:04 pm
Hi Sir My Name is Johnson Raja We are So Moor Poor Family Kindly Donation Same Money we will thanks Full to In Our Whole Life My Fathers Name is Shepard Anwer John in New Apostolic Church Please Sir Help us Imidiatly Thanks.
July 30th, 2010 at 8:06 am
Pls help, i need financial assistance urgently before my issues goes out of hand. God bless as u consider my plea.
August 19th, 2010 at 3:28 am
I’m a 21 year old male, living in Melbourne Australia. I would like to request financial help. I’m on welfare payments which i am struggling to survive on due to debts that we’re accrued while i was working and supporting my mum while she was alive. I am currently looking for work, i’m paying cheap rent but it’s 1/3 of what i get, and another half is taken at the bank to repay loans. I am a week behind in my rent, and i unfortunately had my car towed away yesterday. At this time all i need is $700aud, if anyone who can help i would be most grateful. Yours respectfully, Ross
September 20th, 2010 at 11:54 am
my brother passed away 9*16*10 and he was a very good mna he was 32 he was born and raised here but later dwn the line moved to charlotte nc he has two children and s step daugther we are n need for the money tp put my brother to rest is there anyone out that that can donate and help us out we only have til wednesday to come up with the money please contact me if u can help!!!
October 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Hello my name is brandon I have just graduated from the school of psychiatric tech and I only have a while left before I can take my state boards and start a career , the reson I went into this school was to get custody of my daughter and be able to provide for her, as of now I am being hit with child support and I have zero income have not been able to find a job anywhere soon I will be homeless and not able to even take my boards to get my license, what I am asking is anyone to donate any amount of money even a penny I need help soon or my life is going to crash not sure for how much longer I stay with a friend but my boards were delayed and I think I have worn out my welcome so if anyone can help I will be very pleased!!! well thats it I don’t know what else to say this is my last resort for me and my daughter.
October 25th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Respected,
please help me i am victum of flood desaster in Pakistan and i have lost my house and business and living hand to mouth. i am in big trouble. God Bless u
October 30th, 2010 at 5:00 pm
my name is junaid (not real name), i am pakistani and need donation for help of jobless younger generation of pakistan, a large numder of pakistani young generation is suiciding daily, and choosing wrong way for income and hunting with the hand of terrorist due to poor life and non availability of jobs, it is therefore requested from the handsome and established peoples of world please help and safe the young generation and give fund as you like and enable them to stand on their foot. you are once again requested to please help urgently.
November 26th, 2010 at 8:37 am
I am a divorced and abandon woman with 2 kids who is finding it difficult to feed nor take them to schonl
December 10th, 2010 at 2:36 am
please it is totaly true story i am not watching big dream,,, i just want to restart my shop again ,becouse of floods i lost my work place,, i am married with 3 kids but i have no money for my family for ther education for ther food,, so please reply me soon
December 13th, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Can you please help me, my fiancee and our 10 month old baby? We are in need of aome money to buy him christmas. You can even get to know us, we dont drink smoke or do drugs. Just needing help in this rough time.
January 7th, 2011 at 5:12 pm
i am a 25 yr. old college student and mother of 3, i am in desprete need of help to provide new clothes for my 8yr old daugh. my 2yr old daught. and my 4 mo old son
i am hoping that someone will see this and offer help
January 24th, 2011 at 7:30 pm
does anyone really get help from here or is this just another scam i paid for this and i am unemployed and very broke i had to save to come up with the money to pay for my add if that tells you anything but have not heard from anyone. wondering if this is a joke just to scam people that are already hurting for money.
January 24th, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Hi Cathy, I’m Christine, the web site administrator for My Friend in Need. I can assure you that the site isn’t a scam, and lots of people have received help through it. When you say that you haven’t heard from anyone, do you mean that you haven’t received any money, or that you didn’t even receive your order confirmation? I can see from my records that you signed up on 1/10/2011, so if you need me to re-send you the confirmation e-mail, please let me know and I can do that. There are also hints and suggestions in that e-mail for getting the best results from your page, such as posting the link in other forums or online message areas, etc. I hope this helps put your mind at ease, and I wish you all the best.
February 27th, 2011 at 4:25 pm
I would like to ask help, material!
The electricity is disabled inside 2 weeks unfortunately, I am at home with my lasting ill child on the other hand. Overheads I cannot pay it off already because of the many bank credits.
Something is left of my payment hardly because he is under a ban steadily, with a word onto living very little.
We talk over who can help in a letter.
Hungarian Van, they do not help here
Greet: A desperate family
A god blesses it
March 28th, 2011 at 10:09 pm
I NEED MONEY FOR CAR
March 28th, 2011 at 10:16 pm
HI MY NAME IS FRANCINE BANKS AND I AM A SINGLE PARENT AND, DISABLE AND, I WAS WONDERING IF I COULD GET HELP . MY DAUGHTER GRADUATE MAY.15 FROM IGH SCHOOL AND, I AM STRUGGLING AND WAS WONDERING IF I COULD GET SOME ASSISTANCE FROM YOUR COMPANY. SHE IS IN NURSING FIELD AND GOING TO COLLEGE. SHE HAS MADE A’S, B’S , C’S ALL THROUGH HER 4 YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL AND HER GPA IS 3.3. I WANT TO BUY HER PICTURES BUT CAN’T AFFORD IT. AND BUY HER GRADUATION OUTFIT AND SHOES. IF YOU CAN I WANT TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE. BE BLESSED.
April 27th, 2011 at 1:59 am
I need money foe survive my family. Please help me as a human being. There is no way for me survive my family. That’s why I am contact with you. Please Please lease help me .
May 5th, 2011 at 5:52 am
Dear Sir,
i would like to request you for help, becuse i am under crises and i have no way to solve these problems therefore i going to request you, sir i have respact that is why i need coverable help, i shall great full to you
Regards,
June 7th, 2011 at 8:04 am
me & my family have a lot of loans should be paid every month & my father is working & he is 70 years old so as to pay our loans & to have enough money to live & unfortunately when we pay a loan we take it as a loan from another side,,plz i need your help so as to pay a complete loan & to rest my father
June 30th, 2011 at 11:36 am
im a single mom with a 4 jear old girl struggle without money an a car. please help us.
August 17th, 2011 at 2:08 pm
i need money for survival in life.
September 10th, 2011 at 2:17 am
hi sir my name is mohd waseem we are so moor poor please sir help us imidiatly thanks.
September 11th, 2011 at 7:47 am
I am at present on dialysis and I find it difficult and expensive. In this regard I am looking for kidney donor so I can have kidney transplant.I am also looking for financial providers because I am financially brook at this time.I just hope that after being succesful in this request, I can immediately repay through my services in any capacity I can. This request is urgent. Thanks for your immediate concern on this request. I am very confident this website can help me in my predicament.
September 16th, 2011 at 5:22 pm
my name is Artis I am 22 years old, i need your help to donate to my brother.
He has hepatitis C he is only 14 years old. My incomes are about 500$ but we need to pay bills.
That means I can’t help him
Please donate to help us get medical help. I want to thank everyone who responds to our call and donate to help.
We would be grateful for every cent.
Artis
October 13th, 2011 at 7:01 pm
I and my friends had an idea to built a temple in our locality.but we have a shortage of fund,can anyone help.
October 17th, 2011 at 9:12 am
Hello everybody im 21 years older Single Mother of a daugther of only 1 year and 3 months, i live in rent i do not own a house, i usest to work as hairdresser taking at my job my daugther with me but icoudlnt work any more i looses my job because i just fallen down from my own legs , absence of calcium and anemy having, i am desperated i have no money to pay rent,bills,food,pampers, we are always in hungry, in misery, goverment pays us only 50 euros a month… I have no family i am allone in the world just me and her as my mother dies in car accident being in Italy at work last 2 years, my father is living in a house for pople without family. I really need help and i do not have who to ask, if anyone would have the pleasure to help us me and my little daugther can do that every ammount are very welcome… Wish you all the best everybody, God bless us all and our kids…
October 31st, 2011 at 4:16 am
Hi
I am 48 years of age and feel so fed up, I have two children (one special needs – down syndrome). I purchased my house 7 years ago for 360,000 and owe 250,000 and it is not worth more than 110,000 (we now only pay interest as cant afford it). I could sit down and cry. I have a credit card 5,000 maxed and a loan of 15,000 and struggling with xmas BIG TIME.
My hubby earns 500 a week which isnt near enough to survive.
My biggest worry and fear is that I am not young and what is going to happen to my special needs child after I go, there is no way under any cicumstances that I will ever pay off my mortgage and am fearing now that the house will be taken off me.
It is just such a depressing way to live. Any help would be gratefully aceepted. Thanking you and very kind regards.
Dee
November 5th, 2011 at 2:04 am
Hi my name is Randy McCoy and I am calling out to everyone. I am making a movie and all the proceeds go to charities all over the country, but I have little funds to go on. I need your help to help me make this happen so myself and all children around the United States can thank you for your support.
November 8th, 2011 at 11:23 pm
I’m Agung from Indonesia.I make this statement coz I have problem in fund.My father diagnose has brain tumor before he diagnose brain tumor he had been diagnose lungs tumor but his lungs tumor had surgery couple months ago.but his brain tumor still in his head I can afford his surgical operation.perhaps there is donation to help my father.i will appreciate for ur help.God will be bless who donate for my father surgical operation.thank you so much.you can contact on my email.
December 5th, 2011 at 5:34 pm
I’ve never been in need like this before I lost my job today my husband has been working all he can and we are still drowning in bills I need just a little Xtra so my kids will have Christmas
December 5th, 2011 at 7:44 pm
Everyone needs help… Everyone has a sob story. Sadly some people on here have the means to help themselfs or are not being honest. I am 22 years old been to jail twice for crimes I did not do, been married three years and have two sons. I am going threw a divorce. Im on probation with no job. I cant get a job due to my background. I live at home. I am 22 years old.. I have bad credit. Plus a lot more but you know what? I am a good person and I am trying and I have no one to blame but me. Anyways I need to borrow money.. I NEED $2000.00 to start myself off for selfemplyment. I am a DJ and I do have other skills. I need to buy some gear so I can play mobile to make money and what money I make I promise I will pay you back… Im no begger just a seeker. Anyways if anyone can help me out that would be awesome. Thanks.