4ALF is an acronym for “For Auction Listing Friends.”

Our group was formed as a permanent way to have instant help available for fellow members of the AL board.

Since the group's start in February 2006 we have raised, through sales and donations, almost $8850 to help our fellow AL Boardies!

In December 2007 an AL boardie was seriously affected by the recent storm in the Pacific Northwest that knocked out power and flooded homes. She lost all her insulin in the power outage as well as food. We were able to send $200 from our account and an additional $145 sent in by members. She herself has been paying it forward in the area most affected by cooking and taking food to others. We are proud to have her join us as a member and boy, does she pay it forward!

A member has been under a strain with the job slowdown and was threatened with losing their home. An arrangement was worked out but they needed $600 within 6 days. A special angel challenged us and met us dollar for dollar and we got there in just 3 1/2 days! Hugs to that *very special* angel.

We recently had a month long marathon of auctions for a member whose husband was severely injured in a boating accident. We were able to send $400 from our account to help with their insurance payment and raised $1029 to send to PAY IT FORWARD!

July, 2007: We sent $250 to help with some much-needed dental work. Also in July we found our group founder was burdened with both the need to sell her business and find another job, and an injury that her husband suffered on the job at their business. The lack of health insurance was causing him to forego much-needed physical therapy. The 4ALF group was able to send $400 to help out: An additional $170.00 was sent to help out in the job search expenses.

May, 2007 --we learned that another Alfie had surgery and was unable to continue working. Her SO had also left the home, cutting the family income greatly. Thankfully, we were able send $300 to help keep her phone service and eBay listings continuing and to help pay the bills.

One of our member's needed a little extra for travel expenses to get to and from the hospital during her mother's illness. We were able to help with a little from our account.

In early February 2007 a member faced the loss of her overtime hours and the sharp curtailing of her husband's work hours at the same time. We were able to help out with a donation of $200 to help with the bills until the work picked up again.

Also in February, we were made aware that another husband had walked out on the family some months before and she was trying to manage on her own through the winter. Thanks to our great Alfies and the ever-present listing contests we were able to send $250 to help with the bills.

January 2007: One of our families was hit with a work layoff late in 2006 and having her cars pilfered at the same time. We were happy to be able to send $200 to help out: in March we were able to send an additional $150.00.

Christmas of 2006 we sent $300 from our account to military families we know from the AL board. Three families were selected and sent gift certificates. I believe that we enjoyed that so much it will probably be an annual event until we bring our boys and girls home!

In August, 2006, one of our members had a situation and we were able to help with a donation of $80.

During the last week of April 2006, a bombshell was dropped on one of our own, when her husband walked out on the family. Our amazing group rallied together, and during the last weekend of the month, we sent $300 immediately and we raised $441 in straight donations alone! Auctions raised $345.63. These donations, along with what was already in the account, allowed us to PAY FORWARD $1019.87!!

Another member recently got behind in her bills and her electricity had to be turned off, again we banded together to raise funds to help her, and on March 26 we provided her with $248.00 to get her electricity restored. On March 27 she was able to return home with her power fully restored! We again PAID IT FORWARD!

We took our second step to Pay It Forward on February 8 by donating $160 in cash and gifts to help with a boardie’s devastating loss of income while her hubby was off work during his recovery; we provided another $325.17 to them on February 11, $436.16 on February 18, and $336.95 on February 27, for a total of $1,258.28 PAID FORWARD to the family!

The first recipient and the one that started this group rolling before it was official was a member's son's tragic injury. Over $1000 poured in to help with medical bills, clothing and appliances he could use one handed during his recovery.

We are a private group, but welcome people to join us in our quest to 'Pay It Forward' and Lend a Helping Hand by purchasing auctions with 4ALF in the title. The winning bid amount will be forwarded on your behalf to the group. Our group is uplifting, inspirational and unbelievably supportive. But then, That's What Friends Are For!