1. It's been just over a year since I tweeted this thread below.

I wish I felt hopeful about the future with respect to the folks who have been financially devastated by this pandemic, but I am more worried than ever.

Would be grateful if you would read & share this new thread. https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1244453401183715329
2. As more people get vaccinated, life is returning back to normal.

This is a wonderful development and I know many of us are looking forward to our old routines.

But this progress also means that we won't be as mindful of those who are still trying to recover financially.
3. I witnessed this lack of mindfulness last year. In the first month of the pandemic, so many privileged people were eager to help those who were impacted by the pandemic.

I was able to raise a million dollars for hourly/tipped workers as a result.
4. But a couple months later, I noticed people had grown used to the pandemic's impact on their lives, assumed unemployment was helping everyone who needed it, and weren't as engaged and aware of people who were in need.

I'm not shaming anyone, I think this is pretty normal.
5. No one could have or would have prepared for this pandemic. And while millions of people were helped by unemployment and some people had their savings rates go up, millions of people are still facing devastation from this pandemic.
6. I'm in a unique position. Everyday I hear from thousands of Americans who are desperate for financial help due to the pandemic.

They come to me because my cell, email, etc are on my Twitter profile & because I've been giving away money since last March https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1368038232017891330?s=20
7. Everyday, thousands of people message me to ask for help.

My contact info is shared on Facebook, in group texts, it's everywhere.

It's given me unique insight into how this pandemic has destroyed people's lives and how many people are still in deep trouble.
8. Before I keep going, I want to make clear the main point of this thread, if you're in a position of privilege at any level (doesn't mean you have to be super rich), please give money directly to the people you know who have been hurt by this pandemic.
9. You know people who are in need. They're your friends, neighbors, former co-workers, family, etc.

Give them money directly without any strings attached.

And if you truly don't know anyone, check the replies of this tweet for people who need help. https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1368038232017891330?s=20
10. And what you have to remember is so many people were hurt by this pandemic who hadn't dealt with major financial issues in the past.

We're talking about people who had managed to save a little for a rainy day.

The rainy day has been going on for 14 months.
11. Do you know how many people didn't get a stimulus check who needed one?

Do you know how many people qualified for a check but still haven't received one due to logistical issues with IRS?

Do you know how many people got a stimulus check that was eaten up by overdraft fees?
12. If you think unemployment was a panacea for everyone who has struggled, you're wrong.

While it helped some people, millions of Americans either didn't qualify for unemployment or had logistical issues dealing with the unemployment system.
13. You might be asking, aren't people getting back to work?

Sure, some are and some already have.

But that doesn't makeup for 12 months of barely getting by and what millions of Americans are facing now is a massive amount of debt from back rent to utilities.
14. The kind of debt people have built up is not the kind they can necessarily pay over time. It's stuff that can be taken away from them...their home and the basics from internet service, power, gas, and cell phones. https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1374153440843034625?s=20
15. Look at the replies to this tweet of people who had basic services shut off during a pandemic that wasn't their fault and couldn't prepare for.

This is why it's up to those of us who are in a position of privilege to help people dig out of this. https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1336752377492168704?s=20
18. Any help the government is giving is barely keeping people afloat. This story starts with an example that is familiar to me based on requests I get.

A woman got a stimulus payment, it went to rent but she still has thousands in debt from past year.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2021/03/29/dc-family-struggling-stimulus/
19. People aren't going to ask for help. They are embarrassed to find themselves in need.

There are so many people who have been financially devastated who haven't ever had to rely on anyone.

Please give people money or look at the replies of this tweet. https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1368038232017891330?s=20
21. Something that has broken my heart during this pandemic is how many people send me their private financial info when reaching out to me for help.

Everyday I get bank login info, utility login info, screenshots of bills and notices.

Why are people doing this?
22. People are so desperate for help they are emailing, texting, DMing, a stranger their private info in the hopes that they can prove that their financial troubles are real and that I will then give them money as a result.

That is absolutely devastating to me.
23. I'm tweeting this thread, as I have done in the past, because whenever I do get so many messages from people who tell me that I made them realize they could help the people around them.

I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't know that it worked.

Everyone can use reminders...
24. Again, do I wish the government could fix all of this? Yes, I do. But that's not going to happen and I don't see how we can all stand around and watch people suffer in silence as life moves on.

While the vaccine will protect our health, we must protect our neighbors.
25. Weekends can often be stressful for people who are struggling financially. Banks close, checks don't clear, deposits don't hit.

A lot of people who are in a position of privilege don't understand the logistical challenges of being poor.
26. So if you've been motivated to help people you know by this thread, please don't wait til next week or whenever you get to it to help.

Help people today...give people money with no strings attached and understand that you can alter their lives so easily.
27. People won't ask for help, they may even turn it down initially.

For some folks, you may want to give them the money without asking. Cash, Venmo, Paypal, CashApp etc.

And if you don't have anyone, help the people who replied to this thread. https://twitter.com/yashar/status/1368038232017891330?s=20
28. Thank you, as always, for reading, sharing and helping people in need.

And for all the people who message me everyday, I try to read as many messages as I can, and help as many people I can...

I'm so sorry you're going through this, it's so deeply unfair.
You can follow @yashar.
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