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Mandrake

Mandrake

@mandrakefern.bsky.social

150 followers 55 following 480 posts

Disabled. Fierce self-advocate. Lover of Pokémon and fiber arts. Seeking equality in the world. Dreaming of a better tomorrow. 💜🖤🩶🤍 Ace 💛🤍💜🖤 Non-binary They/them/he/she

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Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4h

I just learned that there is a special needs food bank near me but haven’t contacted them yet. I was looking for myself b/c insurance decided I don’t need oral enteral nutrition so they won’t cover it. It’s $500/month 😖 Maybe those exist other places?

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 7h

I always forget just how anxiety inducing fall storms are when living in the forest until the first storm hits & I can’t sleep because my roof is assaulted by pinecones & projectile branches/limbs. I think a tree fell right behind my house. It shook everything. I get to assess the damage tomorrow.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 16h

Indeed! I hope it will encourage people to get through reluctance to try volunteering for the first time, maybe they will see how fulfilling and joyful it is and they will want to continue into the new year.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 1d

Wondering how many of you have donated to your local food bank/pantry. How many of you have gone the extra step and reached out to volunteer?

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 1d

Beans and rice kids. I hope you stocked up. I can’t eat those b/c of gastroparesis but my kid can. I’m not sure what I will eat b/c UHC also denied my prior auth for enteral nutrition. I have survived the last few years w/ insufficient cal/day. I’m alive & kicking. I’ll outlive these fascists.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 1d

I volunteer driving food to recipients for a local pantry and I appreciate you for doing this. 1/3 of their funding(federal) was cut last spring. They recently sent out a newsletter that outlined the SNAP/WIC crisis in facts. It’s incredibly concerning.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 3d

There isn't one in my community. Or there was one and someone complained about it being “too much“ and not wanting text messages anymore so the whole thing stopped.….

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 3d

More like, do I pay for my rent/mortgage or my taxes? Do I buy groceries or gas to get to work/doctors. I think these concerns you listed were a problem 5-7 years ago. It’s much worse now.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 3d

I have never been a diehard patriotic American that is all bald eagles, flapping flags and the red/white/blue…..however, the images of the White House being town down are crushing. It’s really fucking with me. I feel like I’m in a nightmare and can’t wake up.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 3d

Please don’t. Americans with disabilities can’t leave the country. They want this to happen. They want us dead.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

Starting in November, if the government is still shutdown and SNAP does not come through I will have $100/month to feed myself and my kid. In the new year it’ll be even less. That half of what I spend now. I don’t know how we will survive.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

I volunteer at a food bank. Their federal funding was drastically cut in the spring. They are also lacking volunteers. I’m not sure that food banks will be able to handle what’s about to come. People need to donate to food banks and go volunteer.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

What the fuck? They can prepare this report but they can’t negotiate to reopen the government? Criminal.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

Cash donations are helpful. And they all need volunteers. Even just an hour a week is so helpful!

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

Find your local food bank to donate to or volunteer at Feeding America. Or find a food bank if you are in need of food. Be prepared for long lines after November 1st.

Find Your Local Food Bank | Feeding America

Find the Feeding America member food bank nearest you. Over 200 member food banks can connect you with free food, food pantries, soup kitchens, and mobile pantries in your community.

www.feedingamerica.org

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

Now is the time to donate or volunteer at your local food pantry. They are about to be hit very hard November 1st if the gov is still shut down. Please please please donate your time and/or money to your local food pantry system.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

In November SNAP benefits will stop for most people, even the most vulnerable of populations. This is a life and death situation for the most vulnerable and I feel like the average American has no idea what is about to happen. People will die due to lack of healthcare/food/transportation.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

Most plans will be pulling from SSBCI to help the most vulnerable disabled and elderly folks but it's half of the supplemental help that was available before. These are populations that even $100/mnth extra could mean losing housing or keep them from eating enough.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 4d

The medicare VBID program is ending 12/31/2025. VBID helps the most vulnerable w/ tranport to medical appts, healthy groceries, and more. They say they are cutting medicare/caid but keeping it for seniors and disabled. That's a lie.

Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model | CMS

VBID: Innovating to Meet Person-Centered NeedsThrough the Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (VBID) Model, CMS is testing a broad array of MA health plan innovations that aim to enha...

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 5d

This photo of the White House demolition and knowing they are putting tens of millions of taxpayer money into this all while destroying access to healthcare is making me more angry today than I think I’ve ever been with politicians.

A piece of construction equipment with an attached claw arm in the center of a demolished White House, looking as though a bomb has gone off, plaster/concrete rubble twisted and mangled around metal, brick…. Roof shingles ripped and torn away from the gaping hole in the side of the building. The sun is out, the leaves on the trees are green and the iron and stone pillar fence is in the foreground.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 5d

This seems to happen far too often (happen to me and my kid both). I hope you have or can find a good team to help you figure it all out.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 5d

I’m incredibly discouraged today.…about everything.…..trying to stay strong for my family but it gets harder and harder each day. Dealing with the healthcare system is dehumanizing, belittling and exhausting.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 5d

Also the small amount of area almost feels like shrink-flation…like they’re trying to leave people feeling like they want more so they will buy the DLC for an additional $30. I’m not sold that it’s worth $90 total for the whole thing.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 5d

Did you play Arceus & like the controls/concept of that? If so then you‘ll enjoy the gameplay of ZA. Unlike Arceus it is just one area as opposed to the five in Arc. The new Mega‘s are pretty interesting but overall I’m indifferent. If I didn’t have a kid I would’ve saves the $60 personally.

Mandrake @mandrakefern.bsky.social · 5d

That is very understandable. Us sane Americans are trying hard to correct this.