Last Christmas, Mary, 43, from Lisbon, Iowa could only think of one thing she really wanted: “a new president, with new ideas.” So she sent out a pre-Christmas email asking her friends and family to give her Christmas “gift” to the campaign in the form of a donation. Her loved ones were happy to go along with it and Mary was excited by the results. So excited, in fact, that she did the same thing for her birthday a few months later. Mary set a personal goal of $500, and has so far raised $587 from 26 individual donors. But she’s not going to stop there. Mary is keeping her fundraising page up through the election, and has been spending all the time she can spare canvassing and volunteering. In fact, a registered nurse and SEIU member, Mary was on her way to knock on doors in a neighboring town when we called her.
I’ve always been an independent voter, but after I saw how far off we were going as a country, I felt like it was time for me to pick a side and get involved. I started looking into the candidates, and being an Iowa voter, we get to see these folks up close and personal a lot. Barack was also such a kind, genuine person. He was someone who understands and will work for the average person.
Though she had never donated to a campaign before, Mary started her own personal fundraising page back in December and has kept it up ever since, periodically asking friends and family to contribute. Most of them donated at first for her Christmas and birthday gifts, but Mary says many of them have continued to donate. Though she’s a single mom with a special-needs son, Mary has almost maxed out herself on donations.
I’ve done most of my donating through other people’s personal fundraising pages. It’s a nice way to dedicate something to a person and help Barack. It’s the idea of realizing that it’s not about me, or you, or Barack Obama – it’s about where the country is going if we don’t do this.To bring people into the movement and get them involved in the first place is my goal. I know that the campaign is not taking lobbyists’ money, so Barack is relying on us. And we’re relying on him to do for us what he can And that’s what it’s all about – teamwork. When he’s elected, we’ll work together to heal this country.
I’ve done most of my donating through other people’s personal fundraising pages. It’s a nice way to dedicate something to a person and help Barack. It’s the idea of realizing that it’s not about me, or you, or Barack Obama – it’s about where the country is going if we don’t do this.
Join Mary and our team of millions of supporters by getting involved today.
Voices for Change is a series featuring profiles of Barack Obama's grassroots supporters from across the nation. The people who make up this movement come from all different backgrounds, but they share a common goal of helping bring about fundamental change in Washington.
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