A GoFundMe fundraiser to support participants of the Freedom Convoy 2022 initially set out to raise $5 million, but just like Telemiracle, the overall total continues to go higher and higher.
Organizers Tamara Lich and B.J. Dichter created the account on Jan. 14, intending to raise $5 million; by Jan. 25, it had raised $4.7 million. However, that number continued to skyrocket past the original goal, prompting the organizers to raise the ceiling several times.
As of Jan. 28, over $7.1 million had been given by more than 90,000 people from across Canada and likely the world. With the convoy set to reach Parliament Hill on Saturday, Jan. 29, the number of donors and money raised are sure to continue climbing.
Lich is the secretary for the Alberta-based Maverick Party, while Dichter is a governing council member of the western-focused federal party.
According to the GoFundMe page, the money will be dispersed to registered truckers participating in the Freedom Convoy 2022 to help them with fuel, food and shelter.
“To our fellow Canadians, the time for political overreach is over. Our current government is implementing rules and mandates that are destroying the foundation of our businesses, industries and livelihoods,” Lich wrote. “Canadians have been integral to the fabric of humanity in many ways that have shaped the planet.”
Canada is a peaceful country that has helped protect nations worldwide from “tyrannical governments” that oppressed their people, actions that seem to be happening here, she continued. Canadians are now taking their fight to the federal government’s doorstep and demanding that it cease all mandates.
“Small businesses are being destroyed, homes are being destroyed, and people are being mistreated and denied fundamental necessities to survive. It’s our duty as Canadians to put an end to (these) mandates,” said Lich.
“It is imperative that this happens because if we don’t, our country will no longer be the country we have come to love. We are doing this for our future generations and to regain our lives back.”
GoFundMe will send the donations directly to a bulk fuel supplier and is working to ensure donors’ hard-earned cash goes straight to those for whom it is meant, Lich added. Any remaining money will be donated to a credible veterans’ organization that donors will have a hand in choosing.
In a follow-up post, Lich said that GoFundMe had transferred the first batch of money. This will allow organizers to start processing registration forms and remittances to drivers who need support. Lich said this would take time and thanked people for their patience.
“Sadly, the legacy media felt it was necessary to publish news articles implying that GoFundMe had frozen our funds for a variety of outrageous reasons. In reality, the temporary hold was due to international banking regulations, which dictate many of GoFundMe’s policies,” she continued.
“It is common practice with GoFundMe to conduct this kind of due diligence to ensure the funds are legitimate.”
The process has been affected by the number of donations received, the fact the campaign is the eighth-fastest growing in GoFundMe history, and the constant attempts by activists to flag the campaign as illegitimate, Lich pointed out.
“We have an amazing team behind the scenes comprised of lawyers, accountants and bookkeepers working hard to ensure people will be compensated … ,” she added. “Each and every one of you is playing a part in unifying Canadians across the country and showing the world that there is not just hope for Canada, but for the entire world.”
