Alright, my darling poppets -- I have a favor to ask of you...and as you well know, I rarely ask favors. My old and dear friend, Miss Angie Hurley, runs Outside In , a medical clinic for the homeless in Portland that has a particular focus on homeless youth. They recently started construction to expand the clinic and facility, only to have their blasted contractor pull out unexpectedly -- and the next bid was $100,000 more than they have available. So, consequently, they are absolutely desperate to raise the surplus funds to complete their much-needed expansion. According to Miss Angie, "We are desperate and desperate people do desperate things -- like try and win the money with the Pepsi Challenge. But to win we need votes. Lots of them. We went from 450th to 134th in 3 days but now we're becalmed."
And this, my lambs, is where YOU come in. Becalmed isn't going to cut it. WE NEED A BUM-RUSH, goddamnit. Outside In needs hundreds or thousands of people voting every single day in August via internet and/or text to drive their position up. I implore you...if you have ever belly laughed at or been entertained or moved by even a single thing I have written...then please do me this favor and either go to the link: http://www.refresheverything.com/outsideinhomelessyouth to register your vote...or by texting 73774 and entering the number 101881.
Consider the dreadful and devastating statistics associated with these young people -- and then get your fierce ass over and VOTE:
Why are youth homeless?
There are an estimated 2,000 homeless youth in Portland, and many myths associated with their homelessness. Youth end up on the street for multiple reasons, but most run away from violent and abusive homes.
*90% of youth report some form of violence in their homes.
*36% of girls report a history of childhood sexual abuse, with the first incident occurring at age seven.
*30% of homeless youth are sexual minorities: gay, lesbian, bi, trans, or questioning. These youth and their families cannot together manage the many complexities of a developing sexual/gender identity outside of the norm. Most often youth believe they will better their lives when they go to the street.
These young people flee to the street in hope of increased safety. Some find themselves abandoned by their parents. One child was left with a drug dealer for an indefinite time. Another returned home to find the parents had moved out leaving no contact information. Other youth turn to the street because of poverty, joblessness, alcohol/drug use and/or mental health conditions within their families. They feel hopeless about a positive future in their current environment.
The services, counseling, and care they receive at Outside In provides these bright young people with help and with HOPE that they, too, can make their lives extraordinary.
For more information about the vital and important work they are doing at Outside In, check out their website -- and if you are able, please donate some dough in the name of your own beloved babies and all the babies of the world who are not so fortunate and cherished. After all, they are ALL our babies.
Thank you.
xoxo
Outside In
Muffy Bolding
- Muffy Bolding
- Muffy Bolding is a mother/writer/actor/knitter/radical feminist/withered debutante who likes the smell of asparagus pee, and remains obsessed with the bathroom hygiene of her three children -- despite the fact that they are 23, 19, and 16. She is blissfully married to a cute Jewish boy who looks like Willie Wonka, but remains tragically in love with the dead poet, Ted Hughes. Ms. Bolding lives in Los Angeles, where she enjoys typing words, making movies, and plucking the rings from the fingers of the dead. She was the co-creator and Editor-in-Chief of the award winning satire zine, Fresno Lampoon, and in between writing screenplays, carnival barking, and savagely threatening her trio of darling larvae with a wooden spoon, she currently publishes the zine, "Withered Debutante." More of her work can also be found in the anthology, "Mamaphonic: Balancing Motherhood and Other Creative Acts", as well as in The Cortland Review and hipmama.com. She is currently writing and producing for film and television, and working on a book of essays entitled, "Inside A Chinese Dragon." She has slept around, but not nearly as much as she would have liked.
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