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The power of community
13 years ago
Yesterday, April 21, 106 members of the Furry community crowded into Fernando's Cafe on Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh. The original plan was for this to be a final gathering before Fernando closed his shop for good. We knew that the economy had been very unkind to him but none of us knew just how unkind. For the past several months the gas had been turned off at his apartment; he had spent that money trying to keep his restaurant going.
One week ago I put out an appeal for folks to help. No one expected the sort of response that we saw. Almost 500 donations came in, not just locally but from all over the world, some even from people who had never been to Pittsburgh but who wanted to help out. In just that few days we collected* $21,000 which I converted to cashier's checks and placed into an innocuous-looking envelope.
Fernando set up a buffet for the crowd and gave us a flat fee of $12.99, all-you-can-eat. I encouraged folks to drop any excess cash into a tip jar, and Fernando -- who had spent a chilly winter without money to pay his gas bill -- announced that anything that went into the tip jar would go to his staff, who had come in on their day off to help out.
That is Fernando DeCarvalho, and that more than anything made me proud to hand him the envelope. The moment was captured by Revit here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7828614/
Channel 4 (WTAE) was there -- they got almost all of the facts wrong but that's all right. This wasn't supposed to be a media event anyway. The important thing is that Fernando's is going to be there for Anthrocon in June, and Fate willing he'll be there for many years to come.
I want to note that I am receiving a lot of back-patting and you-go-dude's from people. It's nice and thank you for it, but please remember that all I did was spark the fire. It was Furry Fandom that kept the flame going. We have witnessed in this little event the tremendous energy that our community can inspire in one another, and the sort of miracles that can be accomplished by ordinary people with extraordinary heart.
Thank you all, not just for your generosity but for simply being you.
-- Uncle Kage
* (More donations came in after I departed for Pittsburgh and there is still more than $1000 in the hat. We'll give it another few days and then send the full remainder to Fernando, who I imagine last night had the first restful night's sleep in many months, thanks to Furries worldwide).
One week ago I put out an appeal for folks to help. No one expected the sort of response that we saw. Almost 500 donations came in, not just locally but from all over the world, some even from people who had never been to Pittsburgh but who wanted to help out. In just that few days we collected* $21,000 which I converted to cashier's checks and placed into an innocuous-looking envelope.
Fernando set up a buffet for the crowd and gave us a flat fee of $12.99, all-you-can-eat. I encouraged folks to drop any excess cash into a tip jar, and Fernando -- who had spent a chilly winter without money to pay his gas bill -- announced that anything that went into the tip jar would go to his staff, who had come in on their day off to help out.
That is Fernando DeCarvalho, and that more than anything made me proud to hand him the envelope. The moment was captured by Revit here: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/7828614/
Channel 4 (WTAE) was there -- they got almost all of the facts wrong but that's all right. This wasn't supposed to be a media event anyway. The important thing is that Fernando's is going to be there for Anthrocon in June, and Fate willing he'll be there for many years to come.
I want to note that I am receiving a lot of back-patting and you-go-dude's from people. It's nice and thank you for it, but please remember that all I did was spark the fire. It was Furry Fandom that kept the flame going. We have witnessed in this little event the tremendous energy that our community can inspire in one another, and the sort of miracles that can be accomplished by ordinary people with extraordinary heart.
Thank you all, not just for your generosity but for simply being you.
-- Uncle Kage
* (More donations came in after I departed for Pittsburgh and there is still more than $1000 in the hat. We'll give it another few days and then send the full remainder to Fernando, who I imagine last night had the first restful night's sleep in many months, thanks to Furries worldwide).
Isn't it true the sandwich place's lease is up in June and that other people are interested in its spot?
While I'm VERY happy to hear of such donations...it'll all be for naught if this business is indeed going to decide to close up shop.
Some furries are just wondering if they donated into a black hole, I think. ^^
I DO respect what was done, it'll just be disappointing if this was a valiant effort that led to ultimate failure anyway.
Remember, this 21(22? 23?) thousand keeps him open certainly until Anthrocon, and 106 furries managed to raise over 1000$ in profits in 1 day, when they were offered "All you can eat" Anthrocon is a 4 day convention in June attended by 4500 furries and 1 extremely overworked constaff approximately 1000 feet away from Fernandos.
This story likely has a lot more to go, when all is said, done, and eaten.
I'll be having breakfast there during AC xD
On a silly note, I helped rescue some local wild life at the park I work out. Was a good day over all.
I'm proud to be a part of the furry fandom and community, because regardless of what people say about us or do to us? we have some of the finest people on this planet within this community, and I wouldn't want to be part of anything else.
Congrats goes out to every single person, fur and non fur, who donated even a couple bucks to help get this guy back on his feet!
Here's hoping he has a enjoyable and profitable AC 2012 and many more to follow!
I'm so proud of all of us. The fact that so many people can care about someone who deserves it is astounding.
I'm so glad I'll get to enjoy having lunch at Furnando's all weekend in less than two months!
It's things like this that give me hope in the fandom
despite the shit we get.
Amazing that the money is still rolling in for him.
If you want real news, get a tabloid, "best investigative reporting on the planet. But go ahead, read the New York Times if you want. They get lucky sometimes." ;)
Would any of that have happened without there being someone like you who can serve as a rallying point, for no monetary compensation, for almost 2 decades dealing with the enormous amount of self destruction that furries are capable of and instead turning those energies towards positive fun despite being attacked for it by idiots nearly daily? I sincerely doubt it.
Just my opinion on this, you made it known what was happening, you cared enough to find out. Which is why there will still be a Fernando's for hopefully many many Anthrocons to come.
So thank you Sir, for giving myself and others a place to direct money we would have spent on things which were probably a lot worse for us than a Lasagna Wrap, where it did some good.
And I was happy to donate. Times are tough for everyone, but Fernando deserves it, and I hope the donation drive helps him out. I'm optimistic that this year won't be the last Anthrocon that we'll see Fernando at.
I'll try to bring some cash just to leave a big tip for my meal there this year too.
Great story, and huzzah to everyone for a good job!
And special hugs to you for organizing it and making a Real Difference.
A similar thing is happening to.an italian guy near our house people just arnt eating out much anymore because they dont have the money.
Thank you for.sparking the flame, someone needed to do it.
are there anymore pictures of the event?
Some suggestions on what the remainder could be used for.