Survival Fund for Loa (fka Jamie) Beckenstein
y’all, if i am being honest, i thought the next time i wrote to you would be with news of a book deal; instead i’m sending a survival fund raffle my friends put together for me. (things have been Rough this past year+, including a recent stint of homelessness.) it would mean the world to me if you would consider donating, posting on social media, and/or sending this directly to people that you know. raffle prizes below, but spoiler alert: you could win one of multiple possible tarot readings! sending brightness and joy and a reminder that as of last week, the sun will not set before 5:00pm until november.
love,
loa (fka jamie) beckenstein
***
Message from Loa’s friends:
When Loa was homeless this fall, their community showed up for them. Friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends let Loa stay in their homes, sent food and other necessities, and helped to navigate the hellscape of public assistance bureaucracy. Now, Loa needs broader support.
As many of you know, Loa is a disabled trans New Yorker who has been, among other things, a tarot reader, writer, oral historian, peer supporter, movement chaplain, and general goofball. For the past year, they’ve been adjusting to having Visions/ bipolar-type schizoaffective. This has radically altered their life, and dramatically diminished their ability to function under capitalism. They are currently entirely unable to make money, and changes to their work abilities are still ongoing; it’s unclear if or when they will be able to work again.
Loa is in the process of seeking SSI/SSDI, but the process is lengthy and approval is far from guaranteed. They have a two year lease that is vast majority covered by an Emergency Housing Voucher and they receive food stamps, but living in our capitalist world costs money, even with the rent and grocery government support they have been able to get thanks to the help of their community.
As friends of Loa, we are asking for your financial support today so that they can afford stuff like toilet paper, ever-helpful CBD gummies, and a quality of life beyond that of just survival. To that end, we are raffling off various items donated by generous and talented friends. Any support you can offer is greatly appreciated, and these gifts are a joy in themselves.
>> Donate via PayPal (paypal.me/aaugenbraum) or Venmo (@Audrey-Augenbraum) w/ "Loa" in subject <<
To enter the raffle, donate via PayPal or Venmo and then fill out this form to tell us which of the raffle items you’d like the chance to win. Raffle tickets are $5 each, so please donate in multiples of $5 (e.g. $15 = 3 raffle tickets). Once you’ve bought 10 tickets ($50) you get an extra 5 for free! Raffle items are below:
Custom pet or person watercolor portrait (from Rae Purdom)
Copy of self-paced video singing workshop (from Orion Johnstone)
Private voice lesson (from Orion Johnstone)
One handmade tote bag, large enough to fit most laptops—14 x11in with an adjustable strap (from Chava Schapira)
Homemade stud earrings (from Charlotte Wang)
Cover letter/ resume consultation (from Kae Bara Kratcha)
4 homemade Haggadot (from Ari Months)
Trans Jew zine, multiple copies (from RV Dougherty)
Tarot reading (from Emery)
Set of blank cards- 6 multi colored, four black cards that have a hamsa design and their matching envelopes (from Chava Schapira)
6 x 8 print that says “good dogs bite terfs” (misprint of a Herc Puppigan tribute) (from Chava Schapira)
Cross stitch of your/ your pet/ your friend's name in the star trek font (from Loa)
Tarot reading (for people who are unstressed by last minute reschedules) (from Loa)
Earrings (from RV Dougherty)
Shabbat zine (from RV Dougherty)
Homemade tea towel with a bird on it (from RV Dougherty)