#help save lives

HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Hi! My name is Oreo. Many of you may already know me or even follow me on social media. We all begin somewhere and I owe a lot to one very special person who helped make me what I am today. In 2013, I was found outdoors cold, alone and sick by an amazing man named Sammy Sasso. He took me in out of the cold and cared for me. Tiny and weak, I would have never been able to make it outside alone if Sammy had not found me. His beautiful wife, Emily (my humom’s sister) is highly allergic to cats, but she agreed to let me stay with them for a few days while they figured things out. Sammy and Emily posted a picture of me on Facebook and when my humom saw it she called them and told them that I could go and stay with her. That was the very beginning of my journey to life as I know it today. Without Sammy, I would not be here and because of that, I owe him everything.

A few years ago, Sammy’s dad became ill with a severe form of Leukemia called Multiple Myeloma. As a result, it has been very difficult for Sammy’s family. Now with the addition of Covid19, Sammy’s father is at high risk because of his current health situation. I have never supported a cause like this before but I feel that it is my duty to do so right now. There is nothing that Sammy would not have done for me when he took me home and now he needs my help.

I know that it’s a difficult time financially for many of us right now and I don’t expect everyone to be able to donate large amounts or even to be able to donate at all. I do know that even $1 can make a difference when that dollar comes from many people. With that being said, will you please join me in supporting The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Canada (LLSC) by making a donation to my fundraising campaign for Man & Woman of the Year. I have joined a wonderful team who are working to raise as much as possible over the next 10 weeks. Every dollar we raise counts as one vote for my team’s candidate, Sammy Sasso. The candidate whose team tallies the most votes earns the prestigious title of “Man or Woman of the Year”.

Thanks to your support, my efforts will help fund therapies and treatments that are saving lives just like Sammy’s dad’s.

To make a donation in my name, please use this link: https://bit.ly/LLSC_TheOreoCat

https://gf.me/u/y3hw68

hi everyone, 

today i wanted to use my platform for something different.

as i'm sure a lot of you know, right now there is a lot going on in the world. 

the phrase "i see humans but no humanity" feels far too relatable at the moment and it's horrible to see how vile human beings can treat each other. we're all equally important. black lives matter and it's time to speak up about it. i'm not black, so i absolutely don't want to speak for anyone. i've thought about it, but i think i'll never be able to find the proper words to give any remote comfort. instead, i want to do what i can to help. 

if you're on twitter, maybe you've seen the following link: ways to help

i suggest you all take a good look at it. it's a carrd with ways you can help. i understand if you feel powerless, this is a problem that requires the help of as many people as possible. that's precisely the reason why you should have a look! if you are not aware of what's going on at the moment, i suggest opening a (national) news site to get up to date. i will also link this article by the NYT, which contains a timeline about the George Floyd protests. the carrd provides other ways to educate yourself about blm (Black Lives Matter), white privilege and racism. if you're up to date and you feel like you've done the necessary necessary research, please sign as many petitions as possible. the links can be found on the carrd. in case you're wondering about the effectiveness of online petitions, there are a lot of articles/studies about the subject. i'll link you to this article for more information about the subject. the carrd also provides links so you can text, call or donate to support BLM and fight for justice. if you decide to participate in protests, please be as safe as possible. i don't want anyone getting hurt. 

what's really important is that our actions shouldn't be of temporary character. a change is necessary, and that change is only going to take place if we willingly represent the change itself. it's terrifying to see how many terrible things have already happened without any long term change that came from them. start small. educate yourself. try talking with people in your surroundings. ask for their opinions, get the discussion going. it's time that everyone starts using their brain consciously and sees that this is NOT normal and that we must protect each other. 

the past few days, i've done a lot of talking and thinking about this subject. i've read articles, watched videos and followed the news. it's overwhelming and scary. i get the urge to cry because of frustration, i just want to help make a change so badly. i talked about it with the people in my surroundings and decided to start small. start with yourself, with the people around you. be the change you want to see. it's necessary that this won't only be a case of slacktivism, but also a permanent change. that is why i ask you to not only sign petitions, but also start thinking and talking about it actively. if we all work together, we can do it. it's a shame that all of this is necessary, loving one another regardless of what we look like should be a given no matter what. 

one last thing: don't feel bad if you're not able to do everything you want to. if you do not have the funding to donate right now, read articles about racism to educate yourself. talk about it. if you can't bear to look at the twitter timeline because of the amount of violent videos/trigger warning content/people fighting, log off social media and watch a documentary about white privilege or racism. if it's too overwhelming, distract yourself with something else. you're not a bad person just because you take care of yourself. keep taking care of yourself, your mental health and your overall well being. that's what really counts at the end of the day. if you're not feeling well, you're not able to help make a change so please take care of yourself first!

let's choose love.

[okay really the last thing: this board on pinterest contains several martin luther king jr. quotes that are really relevant right now and should never be forgotten. go check it out.]

1: This is a very real and a very dangerous threat. I’ve been seeing lots of things with non-believers and people who think this is a funny joke or fake media. Lemme tell you something: This is not the media. Assholes like you who think this is fake or that it won’t happen to you or that it’s funny piss me off. If it were the media, why exactly is it on government websites, or websites from the WHO or CDC themselves? As for those of you who sickenly find this somehow funny: Wake up, straighten up, and grow a damned backbone already. This is not a joke. It is real and it is here. Those of you who continue to disobey the confinements and bans and quarantines are only killing people, do you realize this? Wake. Up. You are killing people.

2: We can stop this is all of us work together. Stay home and stay safe, and keep others safe by staying home. This won’t last forever and we can fight this if we do what is right by quarantining or listening to the orders of our governors. Keep a 6 foot distance at all times if you’re out and about, and only go out if you absolutely have to, wearing gloves, a mask, and goggles if you have them.

#Wecandothis.

3: Don’t worry, this won’t last forever. It might be scary and surreal, but we can pull through it. Do what’s right, but don’t stress yourself out excessively by checking the news all the time— limit yourself to once or twice a day, focus on the good news (Such as China slowing down and vaccines being tested.) and make a weekly routine throughout which you can do things with your family that lives with you. Dress normally even if no one but your family (Or pets.) will see you. Keep in contact with your friends and other relatives via FaceTime or Skype, and make sure everyone you know is doing ok at their homes. Try to convince others to stay home and do what’s right. Help flatten the surge before it hits.

4: Bobby Flay started something called #istayathomefor, and now I’m continuing it (Even if I’m not famous, like most of the people who’ve caught on to it so far. :p): I stay at home for my family— my mother, my brother, my sister, and even our three cats— and I stay at home to help protect my neighbors and community. Who do you stay home for?

I see from this post* that you're not a scammer. I wish I could help! Unfortunately I'm one large meal or extra day of electricity use away from homelessness—I have no money to give.

I do, however, have this blog. I can post your GoFundMe link here, and hope someone with money to give sees it.

I hope you and your loved ones escape and live.