By Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
Across the United States, many families face growing financial strain and limited access to affordable healthcare, making unexpected hardship especially difficult to manage. In this climate, digital platforms that allow people to share their personal stories have become valuable tools for connecting those in need with potential supporters willing to help.
GoFundMe is one such platform where individuals and families can describe their situations and seek financial contributions from community members and supporters across the country. For families without substantial savings or access to traditional loans, the ability to communicate a personal need publicly can be critically important during difficult times.
Statistically, Black families are less likely to have access to savings or traditional loans, placing them at a disadvantage when emergencies arise. In moments of crisis, people have turned to crowdfunding as one way to raise support quickly.
In North Carolina, this was the case for Victoria Scott Miller, owner of Liberation Station Bookstore in Raleigh, the first Black owned children’s bookstore in the area. After threats forced the closure of her original location, Miller and her sons shared their story and received more than seventy one thousand dollars in contributions. The funds allowed Liberation Station Bookstore to reopen, giving families and children in the community continued access to a space focused on learning and opportunity.
“The bookstore began as an idea that was rooted in my children,” Miller says. The reopening represents not just a business returning, but a community center restored.
Crowdfunding has also been used to help individuals facing costly medical needs. In Atlanta, sixteen year old Maggie Isble was left paralyzed from the chest down after a tragic accident at a trampoline park near Nashville during the Thanksgiving holiday. While she continues rehabilitation therapy, people from across the country contributed more than seventy thousand dollars to assist with mounting medical expenses. Support poured in too from country music artists, who sent messages of encouragement to Isble and her family.
According to the family, the outpouring of support has been overwhelming and deeply appreciated as they face a long road of recovery.
Social media has played a significant role in amplifying these stories. Combined with crowdfunding platforms, social media allows individual situations to reach audiences far beyond local networks. That visibility has been instrumental in helping people receive financial and emotional support from those who might never have otherwise known about their circumstances.
In Oklahoma, fourth grade teacher Tamia Taylor used social media to share a moment of heartbreak when materials she bought for a holiday party were stolen from her porch just days before the event. Within twenty four hours, community members had donated both supplies and resources, ensuring the celebration could still happen. A crowdfunding campaign raised more than the original target, giving Taylor additional funds that she plans to use for classroom needs.
Taylor says the experience became a powerful lesson in resilience and community care for her students.
Crowdfunding has also helped support youth education and athletics. At The Benjamin Banneker Academy in Brooklyn, one of the city’s most decorated track and field programs, financial cost can be a barrier to competing at elite levels. The girls four by two hundred and four by four hundred relay teams are ranked number one in New York State and have been invited to high profile events outside the state. They train at the Nike Track and Field Center, and through crowdfunding, the athletes are moving closer to meeting the resources needed to participate in larger competitions.
In moments of tragedy, these platforms have also helped families cover costs associated with loss. In Florida, fifteen year old Brian Moss, a high school football player, was killed in a car crash. After the tragedy, his football teammates organized a memorial and workout in his honor. People contributed more than fifty five thousand dollars to help the Moss family during a time of grief, demonstrating how supporters responded to the story the family shared.
A statement from the family described Brian Moss’ life as one filled with meaning, laughter, and love, leaving a lasting impact on those who knew him.
As the new year begins, GoFundMe’s 2025 Year in Help report highlights the frequency with which people came to the platform to seek support. In a year marked by natural disasters and growing everyday needs, the platform recorded an average of 2.5 donations every second worldwide, illustrating how people around the world responded to urgent needs shared by others.
Some critics argue that crowdfunding platforms can be misused when people seek assistance for nonessential items or personal desires. These concerns reflect broader debates about priorities and resource allocation. Still, for many families and individuals facing financial inequality, limited healthcare access, and economic pressure, the ability to share their situation and receive support from others has provided meaningful help during challenging periods.
For those navigating urgent medical costs, business setbacks, community needs, or sudden loss, being able to tell their story and attract support from a broader network has offered practical relief when other forms of assistance were unavailable or insufficient.
