Appeal for Help: Wife's Family Desperate to Get Out of Afghanistan (UPDATE 20 FEB: THIRD OPTION COMING ABOUT! FOSTERING HOPE IN DESPAIR)

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

You're absolutely right. What started as a personal mission based on panicked family members has turned into something else. I'm part of a couple different efforts to get up to 5,000 people out, and even that is a fraction. While getting my wife's family out has been a priority to me personally, these other people need our help too and this process is going to take a long time. Years probably.

I get multiple calls everyday from new people, trying to get their people out of Afghanistan. The scope of the problem cannot be accurately quantified, but I'm sure it's bigger than we all thought initially.

But we won't give up until everyone is out. That was our promise.

This is like Schindler’s List, Afghanistan. Wow man. You’re a hero.

 

[reflexblue]

Great question actually. Let me run down my network and see who they've actually received funds from. Most of us finance this on our own, or, if we're lucky, through something like gofundme.

On that note, Gofundme has stated that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they do not want to release the money to me for fear I will send it there. I assured them that we will use it to house people temporarily in Pakistan and then pay for transport and support them once they get to the US. So far, no response from Gofundme. It's a bummer, to be sure. Some people I know have said they're going to harass Gofundme. Maybe that'll work?

When we looked up operation pinapple, concerned vets, or op allied rescue there was no place to donate, and i want to make sure the money is used for what its intended.

 

[Nikolai]

When we looked up operation pinapple, concerned vets, or op allied rescue there was no place to donate, and i want to make sure the money is used for what its intended.

Yeah, I'm most wired in with Pineapple, but as we get longer into this process, the funding discussion has been picking up, especially the last 12 hours. As soon as I get a viable pathway for donors to contribute, I will pass it. I don't want one cent wasted if at all possible.

 

[Nikolai]

This is like Schindler’s List, Afghanistan. Wow man. You’re a hero.

I definitely don't feel like one. But I'm working with some real heroes for sure.

 

[Triumph]

Dude. That's super humbling. I'm proud too brother. Americans get things done when the chips are down and we're seeing it here. Private citizens banding together to do what's right. It's awesome.

The USA is a great country because of great Americans like you Nik. Thank for this thread and for keeping everyone updated. Youve made incredible progress. Im furious that GoFund has locked your funds and will call them today.

Ian deserves credit as well. I do not recall seeing threads like this on other boards. Maybe there is a spot off the beaten path, but not on the main board like here.

 

[tom444]

.................. Gofundme has stated that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they do not want to release the money to me for fear I will send it there. .............

Damn them.

 

[PP2]

On that note, Gofundme has stated that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they do not want to release the money to me for fear I will send it there. I assured them that we will use it to house people temporarily in Pakistan and then pay for transport and support them once they get to the US. So far, no response from Gofundme. It's a bummer, to be sure. Some people I know have said they're going to harass Gofundme. Maybe that'll work?

That's ****ing ********. They don't have any right to tell you what they're going to do with the money that is legally yours. Get a lawyer and threaten them.

 

[MahomestoKelce]

May god bless you and your family. Good luck.

I truly hope this all works out for you.

Prayers sent.

 

[Ian]

The USA is a great country because of great Americans like you Nik. Thank for this thread and for keeping everyone updated. Youve made incredible progress. Im furious that GoFund has locked your funds and will call them today.

Ian deserves credit as well. I do not recall seeing threads like this on other boards. Maybe there is a spot off the beaten path, but not on the main board like here.

I deserve zero credit. I missed his original PM, which wasted several days in getting this up here. Just really glad it's going well and definitely thankful for all the support from everyone here who has contributed.

 

[Ian]

On that note, Gofundme has stated that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they do not want to release the money to me for fear I will send it there. I assured them that we will use it to house people temporarily in Pakistan and then pay for transport and support them once they get to the US. So far, no response from Gofundme. It's a bummer, to be sure. Some people I know have said they're going to harass Gofundme. Maybe that'll work?

I've reached out to them. Not sure how much it will help, but fingers crossed it at least gets a manual review and they see that this is a legitimate effort and hopefully release the funds so you can keep moving forward with this.

 

[The Brandon Five]

My daughter helps run an org that had the only girl's boarding school in Afghanistan. It was purely a miracle that they got all of the students as well as the staff and their families out. They are trying to set up the school in Rwanda right now. Pray for the students' families that are still in Afghanistan and are at risk (especially because the staff left computers with information about the school behind).

 

[Ring 6]

Great question actually. Let me run down my network and see who they've actually received funds from. Most of us finance this on our own, or, if we're lucky, through something like gofundme.

On that note, Gofundme has stated that since the Taliban took over Afghanistan, they do not want to release the money to me for fear I will send it there. I assured them that we will use it to house people temporarily in Pakistan and then pay for transport and support them once they get to the US. So far, no response from Gofundme. It's a bummer, to be sure. Some people I know have said they're going to harass Gofundme. Maybe that'll work?

Please keep us posted on this gofundme issue. That’s not right.

 

[sieglo]

I've reached out to them. Not sure how much it will help, but fingers crossed it at least gets a manual review and they see that this is a legitimate effort and hopefully release the funds so you can keep moving forward with this.

call someone at Fox News, who will then in turn call out GoFundMe.

 

[Nikolai]

We have lost contact with our lone family member in Kabul and fear the worst. He was on the kill list and we have not heard from him in eight days, despite reaching out. Since he was alone, we don't have any way of knowing what happened to him.

GoFundMe deleted my fundraiser. I have no words. I am so sorry you guys wasted your time donating. If you don't get your money back, I would raise hell. We're decimated by this. I don't even know what to do right now to source money. We're likely going to start selling things to make the money needed.

**** GoFundMe

 

[Seacoast Fan]

We have lost contact with our lone family member in Kabul and fear the worst. He was on the kill list and we have not heard from him in eight days, despite reaching out. Since he was alone, we don't have any way of knowing what happened to him.

GoFundMe deleted my fundraiser. I have no words. I am so sorry you guys wasted your time donating. If you don't get your money back, I would raise hell. We're decimated by this. I don't even know what to do right now to source money. We're likely going to start selling things to make the money needed.

**** GoFundMe

Very sorry to hear this. Hope things still work out for you and your family.

there is not much I can do to help your family but regarding gofund me, if I were you I would take a very careful look at their terms of service and in particular what they can and cannot do with your account after donations have already been sent. I would not assume they acted in accordance with their own rules.
And, yes I will make sure they return my donation to you and the donation I made to them.
And to echo another posters point, try reaching out to a local news outlet.

 

[JayNM]

Stay Strong Nikolai. You are good man to be doing all this.

 

[PP2]

We have lost contact with our lone family member in Kabul and fear the worst. He was on the kill list and we have not heard from him in eight days, despite reaching out. Since he was alone, we don't have any way of knowing what happened to him.

GoFundMe deleted my fundraiser. I have no words. I am so sorry you guys wasted your time donating. If you don't get your money back, I would raise hell. We're decimated by this. I don't even know what to do right now to source money. We're likely going to start selling things to make the money needed.

**** GoFundMe

Please get a lawyer, and please raise hell. Reach out to every news outlet, every organization. Keep fighting!

 

[Triumph]

We have lost contact with our lone family member in Kabul and fear the worst. He was on the kill list and we have not heard from him in eight days, despite reaching out. Since he was alone, we don't have any way of knowing what happened to him.

GoFundMe deleted my fundraiser. I have no words. I am so sorry you guys wasted your time donating. If you don't get your money back, I would raise hell. We're decimated by this. I don't even know what to do right now to source money. We're likely going to start selling things to make the money needed.

**** GoFundMe

Did Wcvb channel 5 contact you?

I sent you a pm, but you must have missed it therefore Im posting here so that you see it. Saturday, this lady Deb told me that she would bump your story upstairs to the correct new section.

Deb Cote
Assignment Editor
WCVB NewsCenter5
781-433-4560

Can you pm your contact info so I can forward it directly.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

We have lost contact with our lone family member in Kabul and fear the worst. He was on the kill list and we have not heard from him in eight days, despite reaching out. Since he was alone, we don't have any way of knowing what happened to him.

GoFundMe deleted my fundraiser. I have no words. I am so sorry you guys wasted your time donating. If you don't get your money back, I would raise hell. We're decimated by this. I don't even know what to do right now to source money. We're likely going to start selling things to make the money needed.

**** GoFundMe

What is the status of the children? Are they first priority and evacuated? Or does it go by family?

Can I pay you directly? Venmo or Zelle maybe?

GoFundMe can **** OFF.

 

[Kontradiction]

What is the status of the children? Are they first priority and evacuated? Or does it go by family?

Can I pay you directly? Venmo or Zelle maybe?

GoFundMe can **** OFF.

@Nikolai, Zelle or Venmo would be very easy options. Zelle posts immediately.