Dear John,

Today is the fundraising deadline for this quarter. We considered not sending this email. But, like many of you, we need to keep pushing ahead… in order to win a people’s government, in order to keep our staff employed, and in order to do our part during the crisis. 

Every dollar you donate today (and for the foreseeable future) will help us serve the people of the state. We believe that we have a moral responsibility to use our field operation not just to turn out voters, but also to help our neighbors. (You may have seen the articles in the New Yorker or American Prospect this past week.)

Specifically, we are recruiting 1000 volunteers statewide to each take responsibility for 100 of their neighbors in our "Adopt-a-Voter" program. Those volunteers will check on their neighbors weekly - about the virus, about how to file for unemployment & other local resources, and to make sure they have all the information they need to vote. 

For every $100 you donate, we can sponsor one more volunteer (your money helps pay for stamps, postcards, and other essential materials). That’s 100 more rural West Virginians who will have someone checking in on them. Learn more about our coronavirus plan and resource page at wvcantwait.com/coronavirus. And if you want to BE one of those 1000 volunteers, sign up here: bit.ly/neighborhoodcaptain 

The maximum you can give in the primary is $2,800. You can donate online at wvcantwait.com/donate or mail a check to Smith for WV / PO Box 1985 / Charleston WV 25327.    

This shouldn’t be how our democracy works. We are all anxious about the future right now, and I’d rather not have to ask. But at the same time, I’m proud of what our team is doing with these funds. And in order to change the rules, we must first win a rigged game, with your help. 

If now is a time you can donate money, please do.

If now is a time you can donate time from home, here’s how. 

If now is a time you are up against a wall, we completely understand. And if you ever want to hop on the phone to strategize or commiserate, schedule a call with me. I’m all ears.

(And maybe you just gave to the campaign in the last couple weeks… in which case, THANK YOU! Feel free to ignore or pass along this message.)

With gratitude,

Stephen

PS: If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, but being a full-fledged neighborhood captain feels like too much of a commitment right now, you can find other volunteer opportunities at: wvcantwait.com/join-the-movement