One of us

Whether you lurk in the shadows or you run group buys, we are all an integral part of the community. Makers and group buys would be nothing without the people supporting them. In many ways, it is the general population (not the makers) who determine the landscape of this community. After all, even the most talented artisans are nameless without the patronage of their fans. This is a truth that I’ve held near to my heart. Hell, it wasn’t that long ago when I quietly admired keyboard photos. The days that I would typed out a response on a Reddit or GeekHack thread just to delete it in fear of judgement.

But what is true for me may not align with how the community perceives contributors. It’s common to see our peers hold artisans in high regard. Why not? We admire their work. Often times, when we elevate certain individuals, we perpetuate this sense of classism. At worst, it becomes divisive. After having witnessed this on numerous occasions, we believe that we (as community members) should never lose sight of our personal contributions to what makes this hobby flourish.

KeyKollectiv is fortunate enough to have had the privilege of leaving an impact on the people around us. Without you, there is no us. Not a day passes that we don’t recognize that our involvement in the community would not exist if it weren’t for the numerous fans and friends we have made along the way. With that said, I strongly believe that KeyKollectiv is no exception. There are numerous members of the community who are in need of help. We’ve donated, on many occasions, to those who are much less fortunate than us. People who had to say goodbye to the community just to stay afloat. Those who dedicated countless hours and money to meticulously curate their collections just to sell it all in times of need. Those who are not nearly as lucky as we have been or have the luxury of selling something they create.

We are beyond grateful for the overwhelming love and support from the community. It is out of this mutual admiration, that we must respectfully decline the proceeds from this raffle. We understand that a lot of time and effort was put into organizing this event and we are truly honored and touched by this gesture. This community is a better place because of people like you. And it is people like you that bring us back in our darkest times. I would like to see donations returned to their owners or given to others who are less fortunate. And if it is the will of the organizers to continue, we would be elated to donate the money to an established charity or invest in a project (like meetups) that will make the mech community a better place.

If you truly feel compelled to help KeyKollectiv, your support is the only form of currency we accept. All we can hope is for you to extend your kindness to others. Share that rarely-used cap with the guy/girl who is too afraid to ask. He/she might, one day, come to the conclusion that this is a place worth coming back to. Who knows, he/she might just end up being a person you could call your friend. Someone who will be there to support you in your endeavors.

Kudos & Godspeed