The case summarized: • Rune Strand, head of the organization “Fra sjel til hand” in Harstad, has incurred a large debt in his work to help the disadvantaged.• Strand was inspired to help after watching a documentary about families with disadvantaged children, single doctor and minimum pensioners in 2016.• After losing his job and becoming ill in 2018, Strand’s financial situation has worsened, but he has continued to help others.• A family member has started a fundraising campaign to help Strand pay off the debt.• Strand’s organization has seen an increase in the number of letters from people who need help. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAi. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. – When I try to do my best to help and make others happy, I try to do what I can. This is what the head of the organization “From soul to hand” in Harstad, Rune Strand, told news. In 2016, after watching a documentary about disadvantaged families with children, single people and minimum pensioners, the harstading decided that no one should be like this, especially not at Christmas. In recent years, the organization has been a source of great joy for several hundred people who are struggling to make ends meet. The eagerness to help others has nevertheless cost Strand, who is now left with several hundred thousand in debt, including expensive consumer debt. – It has gone beyond myself, I have sacrificed my own future to help others. GIFTS: Recently, the organization received several boxes of games and various other things from the Salvation Army, which the organization will now give away as Christmas presents to families who are having a hard time. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Organization at AAP and debt We turn the clock back to 2018. Completely unaware of what awaited, and with equity saved up for a home loan, life took an abrupt turn when he was struck down by illness in 2018. The following year he lost his job, which led to the dream of owning his own home being shelved, at the same time as the means to help others became far less. – You get a pretty good cut in what you had as salary in relation to what you get paid in employment verification money. When the funds became smaller every day, and all of the savings were used up, he had to make a choice to keep up the help for those who needed it. – Then there were many things that had to be done, and a lot that had to be bought in to be able to help. Then I had to bring in some extra money, he says, before he continues: – It’s just kept going until today. BAD ECONOMY: It was much tougher for Rune Strand to run the organization after he lost his job. Photo: Henrik Einangshaug / news Helping those who help others The burning commitment to helping others, which in turn has almost led to a debt nightmare for himself, is something that has engaged many. Recently, a close family member set up a fundraising campaign, so that Strand can have part of his debt paid off, which now amounts to several hundred thousand kroner. A number of people wanted to donate money to the splicing campaign which was supposed to go to Rune. Spleis reports an increase in the number of donors, despite expensive times. Photo: Julianne Bråten Mossing / news “A great everyday hero who put everyone else before himself”, “You do a great job with others” and “You are unique!” are some of the depictions of Strand that the donors have come up with. – It is wonderful to receive support from others. It really warms the heart that so many people want to support me. For reasons of privacy, news does not mention specifically how big the debt to Strand is, but we have received documentation and also an overview of expenses. Increase in donors Despite tough economic times for many, the crowdfunding platform Spleis is experiencing an increase in the number of donors. Although the average amount in what people give is now slightly less, the amount collected so far this year is on par with the two previous years, news is told. – It looks like a tighter wallet doesn’t make people stop caring about each other – quite the opposite, says Tone Mesna, communications manager at Spleis. Tone Mesna, communications manager Sparebank 1 Development/Spleis. Photo: Jonathan Vivaas Kise At the same time, the TV campaign set a new record this autumn, with a collected amount of over NOK 273 million, thereby breaking the record from the previous year, where just over NOK 266 million was collected. Adjusted for price growth, the record was set in 1980, when 84 million was collected, which corresponds to 360 million 2022 kroner. Professor of financial economics at NTNU, Are Oust, says it is difficult to know whether it is those with good or bad finances who give to voluntary organizations and others, but thinks it is a good thing that those who can afford it still enjoy donating. – Do you think people give just to give, and that they feel pressured? – I hope not, but of course you can have that type of situation, especially when you are not anonymous as a donor, so you can feel pressured to give, even if you can’t actually afford it. Are Oust, professor of financial economics at NTNU. Photo: NTNU – Stunned In a Sifo report, as many as 18 percent of households answered that they have financial challenges. Of these, 153,000 households were “in bad shape”. At the same time, the report showed that the number of people with payment problems is increasing. The part that has increased the most is the use of food stations and that more and more people have been to NAV to get help with food and bills. Since then, the policy rate has increased from 3.25 per cent to 4.25 per cent, and Central Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache announced earlier in November that the policy rate will probably be raised in December. Central bank governor Ida Wolden Bache has announced that the key interest rate will probably be raised in December. Photo: William Jobling / news Even the organization “Fra jjel til hand” in Harstad is experiencing an increase in inquiries from people who need help, whether it concerns food, games or other things. Strand never forgets the meeting with a single mother with three children, who only had a ketchup bottle and half a packet of butter left, and no money in her account. – You are completely stunned, and don’t really know what to say or do. Despite a high consumer debt, which means that he himself has to watch his electricity consumption, among other things, he looks forward to helping those who need it at Christmas. – It is the time of year when it is most essential that people actually get help, get to be social with their own and not think so much about the economy itself. He himself has no regrets about the choices he has made. – I don’t regret anything, says Strand, and points out that he would do the same thing again. Now, his biggest Christmas wish is to have an easier financial life every day, so that he can more easily help others.
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Still have a large consumer debt – news Troms and Finnmark
