Great News
As a reader of Speak Up, you probably know the work of Vince Shumate. He’s written extensively about battling homelessness and addiction in Asheville, Charleston, and Miami. His work has been republished by multiple publications and he’s won international acclaim.
Vince is a brilliant writer who has struggled with addiction for decades. He is now desperate to find freedom—and willing to take the hard steps for it.
In an email yesterday, he wrote:
I’m desperate for sobriety! I look at myself in the mirror and the first thoughts that come to mind are “this isn’t me.”
He followed up today. He’s found a treatment center a couple states away and needs help with some basics to make it happen.
My phone shuts down tomorrow if I don’t get a refill card today. I need shoes. I need transportation to Richmond. I still haven’t gotten glasses.I need dentures. I’ve been wearing the same and only pair of pants for months. I may have conjunctivitis. And the list goes on and on.
After talking with Vince, we want to raise $300 to help him achieve this milestone change in his life.
We Interrupt This Fundraiser to Help Vince:
Speak Up is in the middle of a fundraising campaign to cover general expenses and seed new opportunities.
The folks we serve are people like Vince: otherwise disconnected, voiceless, and lacking a lifeline to the broader community.
The next $300 donated will be designated for Vince’s immediate, emergency expenses. Everything beyond that will go to the broader campaign.
Thank you for your partnership today!
Thank you,
Matt Shaw
Speak Up Executive Director