"Ow, ow, ow! Why does it burn?!!!"
Happy New Years Eve, you filthy heathens. We really hope you have plans to engage in shenanigans and debauchery tonight (as much shenanigans and debauchery as you’re comfortable with, and please don’t get arrested).
It’s been quite a year for the Tapir/Sparlock Signal crew. The Sparlock/Tapir Signal mods connected dozens of volunteers with people in need and helped out quite a few people themselves. u/Hiking1950 in particular worked tirelessly to make sure that everyone who asked for help was addressed. u/Hasbrochem just annoyed the shit out of everyone (and, yes, was useful at times).
In March, u/Hiking1950 made the first post that sparked the Signal. Within hours, people swarmed to offer to help with food, money, and emotional support. Oh, how we’ve grown.
In April we formally adopted the name Tapir Signal. Originally, we did calls-to-action under the heading of “Exmormon Bat Signal” but tapirs hold more meaning for the exmormon crowd.
Reddit exmormon user u/zombie-roboto also made is this very fetching Tapir Signal to post every time we got a call for help. u/sushi-hamburger also created a TapirBotMan Signal.
In June the Official Tapir Signal Blog went live. We’ve had posts on everything from suicide awareness and prevention, to stories about ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses celebrating holidays for the first time, to stories introducing our volunteers.
In July we welcomed the exJWs, who were too cool for tapirs and put a fresh new spin on things by sending out the Sparlock Signal for their members in need. It was the beginning of a beautiful partnership.
In August we celebrated the end of summer.
In September we added our 200th volunteer to the Signal volunteer list!
In October the dead rose from their graves and we beat them back riding tapirs and wielding wands!
In November we teamed up with Lindsey Hansen Park and the charitable organization Cherish Families to send gifts to ex-FLDS families who celebrated Christmas for their first time this year.
In December we reached 325 people on our volunteer list!
Thank you everyone who has given their time, talents, money, guest rooms, vehicles, and more to help out exmormons and exJWs in need. We truly could not do this without all of you. We hope you know how much you are appreciated, because you really are.
In 2018, we hope we can grow and help even more people. Some of our processes may change as we continue to figure out the best, most efficient ways to deliver aid, but we’re still all about serving those who need help. Soon we’d like to add more volunteers for suicide awareness, so keep an eye out for that call in the coming months. We may even start tracking stats this year – who knows?
But most importantly, all of us here at Tapir/Sparlock Signal wish you and yours a happy, healthy, heathen-ly new year. May this be the year that you break the chains, your family follows you out, you find a beer you like, you drink a cup of coffee, you celebrate a birthday, and that you wake up in the morning and feel free.
If you are in need of help, you can reach us here.
If you are feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or 1-800-784-2433.
If you are LGBT+ and need to talk, please contact the LGBT National Hotline at 1-888-843-4564 or find them online here.
Know you are safe and among friends and we will do whatever we can to help.
Lastly, if you would like to be involved or volunteer, you can reach out to us here.
No comments:
Post a Comment