In addition to the other 220 booksellers and comic shop employees and owners you’ve helped this year, this month you helped a bookseller displaced by fire begin to rebuild their life. Awakened in the middle of the night by alarms and sirens, the apartment’s residents evacuated the building then watched helplessly from across the street as their belongings burned.
The units that weren’t destroyed by the fire were ruined by the smoke and water. The few possessions that might have survived were lost to looters before their owners got the official clearance to salvage what they could.
A bookseller was among the displaced residents that are now searching to find an affordable short-term home, borrowing clothes from coworkers and trying to start over. While preparing borrowed blankets to sleep on the couch of a coworker, they heard about Binc.
The next morning they made a hesitant inquiry, unsure if the idea of a safety net for booksellers was really true.
Because of you, they spoke to a Binc program manager and received the welcome news that Binc is indeed real. Steps are underway to end their nights of couch surfing and get back into a safe home of their own.
Fire and other devastating disasters can upend a life in minutes. This year the need for assistance is stronger than ever; the number of financial assistance grants are up 31% over 2022. From the unexpected flooding in Vermont to the devastating wildfires in Maui, and the landfall of Hurricane Hilary in southern California, when help is needed Binc’s generous donors ensure it is only a phone call away.
Confidentiality is a core component of any assistance Binc provides. Some events may have been compressed and details might be included from another story to protect the confidentiality and privacy of all those who receive assistance from Binc. Quotes may be edited for length, clarity and to help preserve confidentiality.
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