Nova Scotia single dad uses crowdfunding to raise $7K for kids' Christmas
Susan Bradley | CBC News | Posted: December 24, 2015 12:00 PM | Last Updated: December 24, 2015
'My house is saved. My power won't be shut off,' says John Nowe
The bills are paid, the house won't be sold for taxes and there is enough money left over to give John Nowe's children a good Christmas — all because of crowdfunding.
The Milton, N.S., single dad was nearly in tears Wednesday as he spoke of the 231 responses he received after launching a GoFundMe campaign.
The campaign brought in about $9,000, with about $1,500 going to the fee charged by the website.
"My house is saved. My power won't be shut off, so I am going to do quite well and I want to thank everybody in Canada, the U.S.," Nowe said.
"I can't even remember all the places that I've gotten responses from. I've thanked every one of them personally."
Difficult to find job with benefits
Quite a few responses were people who had fallen on tough times in the past, he said.
Nowe has three children, two of whom have cystic fibrosis and Type 1 diabetes. He also has Type 1 diabetes.
"One young lady that was raised by a single mom, she said had it not been for her neighbours ... she wouldn't have had any Christmases and she understands how tough it must be. She has CF as well."
A machinist by trade, Nowe has been looking for a full-time job since the closure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill near Liverpool in 2012.
His most recent job was a nine-month contract position with Nova Scotia Power, but it didn't have benefits. That position ended last week.
'Thank you to everyone everywhere'
"I'm very multi-talented. I went to school two years ago and took refrigeration and air conditioning. I really haven't been able to find too much in that area," he said.
"I can do carpentry, anything like that. I learn very fast."
In the meantime, the family has some breathing space and will enjoy Christmas this year, he said.
"There are other families out there and I truly wish, if there would have been enough, I definitely would have helped out as many as possible," he said.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone everywhere and Merry Christmas."