By: Chris Stead

Goth Help Us is a humanity based group focused on what the Goth culture can do for humanity, as the motto says, “Serving humanity from the underground up.” Started by Rebecca Hohm in mid-July of 2006, this organization that has been around for a mere 1 year has been growing by leaps an bounds. It is understandable with the fact that Goths are generally emotionally driven people, and helping humanity is something that gives an emotional being an outlet. Aside from the overall goodwill that is felt by people that are helped by this organization, Goth Help Us is also empowering Goths to redefine how the mainstream views our subculture. This has been demonstrated quite well by the San Diego chapter which we talked about in the May issue. Rebecca was good enough to give us some of her time amidst her increasingly busy schedule of good works.

Gothic Angst Webzine (GAW): What is the main goal of Goth Help Us?

Rebecca Hohm (RH): It’s quite simple actually. We just serve humanity in any way possible. Each volunteer does their own thing in their own way but the common thread is just helping people in some way. Some serve food to the homeless, some help build homes for Habitat for Humanity, some pick up litter, some clean beaches, some have bake sales and donate the proceeds to local charities. The list is endless. We just do something–anything–to make our world better somehow, and in the interim we get to feel really good about ourselves just by helping others out. If you’re going to be addicted to something, it might as well be positive, and the feeling of helping others is what we’re addicted to.

GAW: What is the plan to approach this goal?

RH: There is no real plan per se. Each chapter works independently and they just keep me informed of what they’re doing. Rarely do I say no to anything. I have wonderful people out there running chapters that are doing a remarkable job serving humanity. No matter what anyone does to help others, whether they’re involved with Goth Help Us or not, just makes our world better. Besides, we all need help sometimes. Helping is the easy part. Asking for it is the hard part.

GAW: What was the reason that you started Goth Help Us?

RH: The main reason was to give my friends and I something to do that was positive. I am very activist in nature and like working for various causes and charities. I was limited in how much work I could do alone though, but since starting Goth Help Us, I suddenly have 8000 hands. I had no idea so many people out there believed in things like I did and I am just gathering them together. Now we’re a true force of good and all kinds of cool things are being done now.

GAW: I read about an experience that you had as a teen helping a disabled student at a school dance. Aside from Goth Help Us, what other public good works did this inspire you to do?

RH: I am not one to brag about the things I do or have done. I feel that people that go out to help others and then turn around and brag about it to everyone that will listen, tarnishes the true meaning of it. The feeling of helping others feels so wonderful to me that I am selfish in ways and don’t want to share my experiences or exploit them in any way. To answer your question though, I have done many, many things to help others and all of it has inspired me. I am who I am because of all of it.

GAW: Tell us about some of your personal experiences with Goth Help Us. Has it been a good experience for you?

RH: I absolutely love running this organization. I hear every tiny detail of what we do and how we’ve helped people and the joy that it’s brought to the volunteers. To date, GHU has been absolutely instrumental in helping to keep 8 teen Goths alive. There may be more, but I personally know of 8. Kids that were absolutely depressed and distraught, and at their wits end, somehow stumbled across GHU. They all realized that going out to the events and helping others, finding camaraderie with other Goths, and getting involved in something positive not only made them feel better about themselves, but it also gave them back the will to live. If nothing else, that is what makes me the proudest. As far as other personal experiences, I can’t even begin to tell you all what I do or have done. I am involved with almost every aspect of Goth Help Us, from the initial set up of a chapter, to rallying the volunteers, to trying to motivate and inspire every person involved. I donate roughly 30 hours a week to this, plus work full-time at a regular job, plus mother my young son, plus try to be an attentive partner to my man. It’s difficult at times but somehow it’s all working out and everyone is happy—especially me.

GAW: How many US chapters are there currently?

RH: We just dissolved some chapters and have a few new ones in the works, but at this particular moment, we have 22 chapters and we’re in 5 countries. This number seems to be constantly changing though because we are growing so rapidly.

GAW: Aside from the US, how many countries has Goth Help Us touched?

RH: I would guess most of them. We have physical chapters in 5, but we have volunteers all over the globe. If there isn’t a chapter nearby, then most GHU volunteers just do things on their own, in the GHU name. It works best if the volunteers have organized events and can gather together to do them, but it isn’t necessary. One person can make just as much of a difference as a group can—sometimes even more.

GAW: If there is anything that you would like to see happen with Goth Help Us, what is it?

RH: I would like to see more chapters form. I would like more exposure so that more Goths will know we’re out there. And if I could really dream big, I would like more monetary donations to come in so that we can have initial start up money to mass produce products like t-shirts, stickers, and compilation CD’s (from all of our musician/band volunteers). Without an initial investment to really get us rolling we’re kind of just treading water right now. Once the money gets donated to us, then for example we can get t-shirts made in bulk, sell them at a profit, and then donate 100% of the proceeds to charity. But until that day comes, we’re happy to just keep doing what we’re doing.

GAW: What is required of people that get involved with Goth Help Us?

RH: They need time, energy, and a desire to make a difference in this world. That’s it. All ages, and abilities are welcome. We have old, young, blind, deaf, mentally-challenged, wheelchair-bound, bed-ridden, and terminally ill volunteers and they all are an absolute asset to us. We have something to do for everyone. And speaking of the physically or mentally challenged, we have realized that the only disabilities that anyone truly has are the ones they place on themselves. You can do anything you want to do. You just have to want it bad enough.

GAW: What benefits do people get for being a part of Goth Help Us?

RH: The main benefit is the satisfaction of a job well done. The feeling of helping others is amazing and I wish everyone could experience it. We are all selfish in ways and the general thought of doing something and getting nothing out of it dissuades most people. But once they actually go out and do it, they realize how wonderful the mental high is. They get instantly addicted and then want to do it more and more. Kind of like love; the more you give away, the more you get. But aside from all that, you meet awesome people, make new friends, have cool adventures, and gain valuable life experience.

GAW: If someone wants to get involved, what should they do?

RH: Their best bet is to find us on the web at www.gothhelpus.org or on MySpace at www.myspace.com/gothhelpus. Once they’re there, they can see if there’s a chapter near them. If not, they can join the new GHU Global Street Team and help keep this party rockin’.

Check out Goth Help Us at:

Goth Help Us Website