Alert

Moreena just found out that they are running out of insurance to cover Annika. On Monday.

If they can't knock some sense into their insurance company (which appears to be pulling a fast one), then get prepared. Because we are going to do something. I don't know what, but if anyone has any good ideas about how to conduct the mother of all internet fundraising campaigns, get those ideas written down. We're going to need them.

Updated: I've changed the date stamp on this post, so that it will remain on top until Monday. In the meantime, we've already got some great ideas from all of y'all. From The Ice Floe, peripateticpolarbear suggests a virtual casserole campaign:

Normally, when someone's sick, at least in my midwestern world, you bring them dinner, right? A casserole, a sheet cake, a salad made of iceberg lettuce and a tiny amount of carrots (I'm SO midwestern). And you know some nice lady from the church (meeting house, shul, etc.) organizes it all so the family gets food every night for a couple weeks? You know that lady, right--her name is always gladys and she wears cardigans?

Anyway, what would it be like if we spread a campaign for a virtual casserole campaign, and try to get families to contribute an amount roughly equivalent to what it would take for them to deliver a dinner to Annika (which would of course, include chocolate cake.) That way folks could give what is within their family's means to do....most families that can afford internet can afford to bring a sick neighbor a casserole and a cake---how fancy those items would be would depend on how fancy your budget is. I don't know. It could be a fun way to be a virtual community.

She even prices out a typical dinner, and has the further brilliant suggestion that we compile a list of recipes and how much they would cost to prepare. Really, she is so flippin' brilliant! When Moreena's account is up and running at COTA, this sounds like the quickest way to spread the word and get affordable donations running in. Anyone have any good ideas for an "Annika's Casserole Campaign" button?

Speaking of buttons and places to put them, Beanie Baby is going to set up some clearinghouse space on her website for keeping track of all the fundraising activities and events going on. I'll update with a link as soon as she has it ready -- and here it is!

Crafty and creative pixies have already started weighing in with ideas. Swissmiss is a weaver; Laurie makes jewelery;
Scrivener and his kids could make cookies; moxiemomma knits. Chris from mombie.com has offered to create a custom murder mystery party game! And Julie, the Very Useful Blogger, has offered to be the point person on any eBay auctions.

Lots of other people have offered to help in any way they can, too. We will let you know as soon as we have some more details and things organized. In the meantime, if you have ideas, let us know. There are as many ways to contribute as there are people out there!