Nova Scotia single dad uses crowdfunding to raise $7K for kids' Christmas

The bills are paid, the house won't be sold for taxes and there is enough moneyleft over to give John Nowe's children a good Christmas all because of crowdfunding.

The Milton, N.S., single dad was nearly in tears Wednesday as he spoke of the 231 responses he received after launching aGoFundMecampaign.

The campaign brought in about $9,000, with about $1,500 goingto the fee charged by the website.

"My house is saved. My power won't be shut off, so I am going to doquite well and I want to thank everybody in Canada, the U.S.," Nowe said.

"I can'teven remember all the places that I've gotten responses from. I'vethanked every one of them personally."

Difficult to find job with benefits

Quite a few responses were people who had fallen on tough times in the past, he said.

Nowehas threechildren, two of whom have cystic fibrosis and Type 1 diabetes. He also hasType 1 diabetes.

"One young lady that was raised by a single mom,she said had it notbeen for her neighbours ... she wouldn't have had any Christmases andshe understands how tough it must be. She has CF as well."

Amachinist by trade, Nowehas been looking for a full-time job since theclosure of the Bowater Mersey paper mill near Liverpool in 2012.

His most recent job was a nine-month contract position with Nova Scotia Power, but it didn't have benefits. That position ended last week.

'Thank you to everyone everywhere'

"I'm very multi-talented. I went to school two years ago and tookrefrigeration and air conditioning. I really haven't been able to findtoo much in that area," he said.

"I can do carpentry, anything like that. I learn very fast."

In the meantime, the family has some breathing space and will enjoy Christmas this year, he said.

"There are other families out there and I truly wish, if there wouldhave been enough, I definitely would have helped out as many aspossible,"he said.

"I just want to say thank you to everyone everywhere and MerryChristmas."