Binc was recently contacted by the owners of a family-run comic book shop. They have been working mightily to keep their business afloat during the pandemic through a combination of in-store safety measures, online sales, and reducing expenses.
Divorce is an emotional and difficult situation at any time, but it is doubly hard during a pandemic. One bookseller found this out recently as the stresses of COVID led to the end of their marriage and the need for an immediate move.
Binc has been able to help a number of booksellers and comic retailers who have evacuated to escape the raging wildfires in the West, not knowing if their homes will survive. While most are able to eventually return to their homes, several booksellers who contacted Binc have lost everything. Binc is continuing to assist these booksellers as they work to put their lives back together after their unspeakable loss.
Morning is slowly stirring on a hot summer day in downtown Brighton, Michigan – traffic is light and there are still parking spots along the quaint street lined with overflowing petunia baskets. Nestled in the middle of Main Street, located below street level, is the 2 Dandelions Bookshop where owners Jeri Kay (Dandelion #1) and Jeanne (Dandelion #2) are sitting in the pre-opening quiet reliving an unexpected surprise that happened the morning of the store’s opening day.
When a loved one passes away, it’s a hard time for a family no matter the circumstances. And when their loved one’s death was unplanned for, it can fall hard on the grieving family when the funeral expenses create hardship. When savings are limited, this unexpected and often large expense creates a further burden on a family who is trying to process their sadness and grief.
In 2019 we received more assistance requests for help paying for medical care than any other category of emergency assistance. According to a recent Gallup survey, a third of U.S. adults say their family couldn’t afford care in the past year. When booksellers and comic retailers delay or forgo required medical treatment, problems escalate and become more expensive and even life-threatening. This was the situation faced by a bookseller recently, but because of supporters like you, they knew where to call for help.
If you see it in the news, Binc is helping booksellers through it. Booksellers are reaching out to Binc every day for help recovering from natural disasters, needing mental health resources and assistance, immigration issues, and more. Thanks to partners and donors like you, Binc is here, standing by ready to help every qualifying bookseller in the country.
There are times in life when it seems that everything is going wrong at once. Or that the universe is conspiring against you. The good news is, because of you, during these hard moments when it feels like there is nowhere to turn and the unexpected pile-on of bad news feels unending, Binc is here and ready to help.
The helpline continues to ring and emails are coming in every day from booksellers who are on the edge of crisis. Disaster season is here and with it comes earthquakes, floods, and wildfires. But not every natural disaster is a weather-related event. Some can be as tiny as a bed bug. The good news is, because of you, Binc is here and ready to help.
It has been an extremely busy few weeks at the Binc Foundation. Many more requests are coming in this year than this time last year, and the need for funds is also higher – and disaster season hasn’t even gotten started. The helpline is ringing and emails are coming in every day from booksellers who are on the edge of crisis. The good news is, because of you, Binc is here and ready to help get these booksellers through some of the most difficult times in their lives.
