Massive success of trucking convoy fundraiser causes confusion over distribution

A massively successful fundraiser to support the Canadian trucking convoy protesting vaccine mandates has caused some confusion over the distribution of the massive amount. 

As of 4 p.m. on Tuesday, January 25th, the Freedom Convoy 2022 GoFundMe had raised over $4,700,000 “to help with the costs of fuel first, and hopefully food and lodgings to help ease the pressures of this arduous task.” However, recent reports circulating the internet have claimed that GoFundMe has frozen access to the account until organizers can prove where the money is going. Tamara Lich, who started the fundraiser, claims that this rumor simply isn’t true. 

“We require that fundraisers be transparent about the flow of funds and have a clear plan for how those funds will be spent,” Rachel Hollis, GoFundMe’s director of communications, told CTV, who reported that the funds have been frozen. However, Lich says that she is cooperating with GoFundMe to ensure that the funds are distributed appropriately and according to the platform’s guidelines. 

“Right now I am working with the finance committee, organizing logistics for our drivers re: fuel, stops, hotel rooms; collecting registrations and working with our Ground Zero team prepping in Ottawa,” said Lich to Western Standard.

Although the funds were initially intended to be distributed to the participating truckers directly, the arrangement has since been changed, and GoFundMe plans to send the money directly to a bulk fuel supplier, who will then provide fuel for the drivers, reported National Post. Any excess funds will be donated to a veteran’s organization, but a specific organization was not mentioned.