Do The Swoop

Initiative #17 — The Ripple “Make A Difference” Initiative

The Starfish Story

Which is how, in my family, we refer to the story told about a man who during a walk saw a boy dancing erratically down the beach. Upon approaching him, the man saw that the boy was picking up starfish and flinging them into the ocean to save them from the inevitable scorching death of the afternoon sun.

When asked since there were literally thousands of starfish that he couldn’t save, what did it matter, the boy replied as he threw another one:

“It matters to THIS one.”

No effort is wasted.

What We Can Do

We can’t do everything. But we can do SOMETHING.

The Ripple “Make A Difference” Initiative — Do The Swoop — provides for the living needs of the family of patients so that they can focus on what matters.

We couldn’t possibly fund all the need in the world with the current systems. But we CAN take care of their electric bill, and water, and food, and make sure they don’t have to worry about eviction while they go bankrupt trying to pay for medical treatments while we try to make a better system that they may never get to see.

One grace that is within our collective power to bestow. If YOU want to.

What Do The Swoop Covers

Purpose: Remove daily survival stress so family can focus on the patient.

NOT a replacement for: LifeLine Medications (Initiative #12), which handles medication access separately.

Why Not Medical Bills?

The medical system is broken. We cannot fix it alone. Medical bills will bankrupt families regardless of what we do.

But we CAN ensure:

• The lights stay on while they fight
• There’s food in the house
• The kids don’t get evicted while mom is in chemo
• Dad can focus on being present instead of working three jobs

That’s the Swoop. That’s what we can actually do.

The Facebook Friend

I was Facebook friends with a woman who had cancer, and would post about it every week in vain attempt to stave off the long-term effects she knew it was going to have on her family.

She wrote about how she felt about her children under ten and her husband, and the decisions they had to make about whether to try to save her by taking on lifelong debt that would outlast her by 50 years if it didn’t work.

And that last week before she died, with the half-measures of some chemo they managed to second mortgage the house for, and its effects, still trying to raise money with crowdfunding pleas for the debts she knew would ruin the future for them, still trying to work, were heart-wrenching.

No one should have to choose between trying to save their life and the livelihood of the survivors.

Why Make-A-Wish Isn’t Enough

Make-A-Wish Foundation was innovative but limited because it gave a lightning strike of one big life event. For an understandably limited number of children; who have desires limited by inexperience and exposure, and are an easily marketed demographic.

Far more needed and rare is the support of a likely terminal adult with both the awareness of what is needed more than a trip to Disneyland or a signing party with their favorite sports team, and the despairing inability to secure it.

She didn’t need a trip. She needed her family to survive after she didn’t.

The Military Friend

I had a friend in OCS that on the last PT test I ran with after I finished to encourage him to make the cutoff time. He made it.

And then was denied his Commission, because he was 12 years in remission for testicular cancer, and the military didn’t want to be responsible for his potential bills.

All that work.

Twelve years cancer-free. Denied for what might happen.

The system doesn’t just fail during crisis. It fails before, during, and after. It punishes people for having been sick, even when they’re not anymore.

Standing, Not Sitting

One of my favorite passages of scripture is a single word. It’s during the stoning of the Apostle Stephen in Acts 7 that records the only time where Jesus is explicitly described as “standing” at the right hand of God, rather than sitting, in EVERY other context.

Standing. Where Stephen could see him, as it happened.

For reasons not discussed here (NO religion, NO politics Policy), but the impact is clear — and as my German check pilot admonished me I’m not “sitting back.” I’m not sitting at all; and I hope you aren’t either.

WE are the instruments of good. It’s up to US. Be present. Make a Difference.

How It’s Funded

Do The Swoop is funded through the Cost of Doing Good margin:

Part of: The Family Table (Initiative #15) family of initiatives.

How to Apply / Nominate

For Families in Crisis

1. Any member can nominate a family
2. Basic verification (medical situation confirmed)
3. Bills assessed (what’s needed)
4. Community fund allocated
5. Bills paid directly to providers (not cash to family)

Eligibility

What We Pay

• Directly to utility companies
• Directly to landlords/mortgage holders
• Directly to grocery stores (gift cards)
• NOT cash to families (prevents misuse, ensures purpose)

The Moral Stance

Make it Personal. Do the Swoop.

I cannot, and I WILL NOT stand idly by.

Related Documents

“It matters to THIS one.”

For the Keep.