kyburg | Time to clean out the recycling bin -

Because neither of these pleas are for fortunes...and neither of them are impossible.

Modest Needs is under a challenge for matching funds up to $200,000 from an anonymous benefactor - the kick is, they'll match everything up to June 30th if they raise $100,000 on their own before then (currently, they have $20,000 - and they just dropped the news less than 36 hours ago).

When you think of how many people this group could serve (most of the requests for help I've seen are less than a grand, even more of them less than $500) - $300,000 would take care of a lot of rent payments, doctor bills and broken down cars.

I really like this group - tell your story, and ask. They don't post names, they simply identify your need, where you are and if it's likely you'd get help any other way. (And if you've gotten help from them in the past.)

I find what a latte costs every month and send it to them. Honestly, it's what you'd find cleaning the change out of the sofa. But it's something.

The other? The other one hits closer to home - and is getting more and more common daily - someones who are working as hard as they can to keep their heads afloat (because one has work, the other doesn't) and time is running out.

yuki_onna is doing exactly what I would ask any friend of mine to do. Not throw in the towel - but say something instead.

She's asking for help, knowing that she (and her partner

justbeast) have done everything they know what to do, and right now - it's not coming together in time.

Here's the difference between 1991 and 2009, folks. Back then, there was no one to call - no one to hear. (I'll tell that tale soon, promise.)

Community effort is over at