Nikki Smith is a single mom of two girls from the UK, who sparked an insane backlash when she asked strangers to donate to her GoFundMe page, raising money to send her and her kids to go to Disney World.
Smith was asking for about $6,000 USD and people were NOT happy about it.
Smith explained in her original page (which has since been taken down) that she can only work two nights a week at the hospital because she can't afford daycare, so she thought she would try her luck on the fundraising website GoFundMe.
"It's so hard to save with two children as well as working part time, you've got the bills and shopping "“ it would probably take me 10 years to save up that much and it would be too late then," she said.
People were quick to judge and criticize Nikki Smith for taking advantage of a site that is primarily used to raise money for charitable causes.
"There are plenty of families who struggle with money that save for holidays regardless of how long it takes. Absolute chancer," wrote one person.
"There's kids dying and crying out for help for GoFundMe pages for treatment to save their lives. I know which one I would be donating to," said another.
Smith was totally caught off guard with this negativity, saying she "never meant to hurt anyone."
"I thought this section of the website was for funding hopes, dreams and wishes, and I believed GoFundMe was a chance to raise money for anything," Nikki said.
But the criticism didn't stop Smith from pursuing her goal.
After much consideration, Nikki decided to put the GoFundMe page back up.
"I was only thinking of my children and making them happy," she wrote. "I also am not asking people for their hard earned money, people have a choice. I will not be shamed because I wanted to do more for my children."
Despite everyone giving her crap for trying to do something for her daughters, Nikki hit her goal.
"All of my benefactors have been quite kind to my campaign, with some giving once, others more than once, some giving a smaller amount, and others giving just a bit more, but all of these donations were made with the person's own free will, with full knowledge of my story and my motives," the mom wrote on her GoFundMe page. "I am ever so grateful for every donation, large or small, and this kindness has helped restore my faith in humankind."
Considering one guy used KickStarter (a similar crowd-sourcing page) to make a potato salad and raised $55,000, I think people need to calm down. By starting a page asking for money, you're just putting it out there that if people want to donate, they're more than welcome. No one is forcing people to donate, and it doesn't take away money that could be donated to a different cause. If that was the case, anyone who goes to Disney should be shamed for not using that money to pay for someone's medical bills. The logic just isn't there.
Do you think people were right to go off on Nikki Smith like this, or were they too harsh on the single mom? Let us know!