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Norwalk Delegate Crowdsources Expenses For Democratic National Convention

NORWALK, Conn. — With plans to attend the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia as a delegate later this month, a 23-year-old Bernie Sanders supporter from Norwalk turned to GoFundMe to to help defray the cost of his trip.

Chris Yerinides (far right) is using GoFundMe to help fund his trip to Democratic National Convention later this month.

Chris Yerinides (far right) is using GoFundMe to help fund his trip to Democratic National Convention later this month.

Photo Credit: GoFundMe

“It would hard to do this entirely by myself,” Chris Yerinides, a recent college graduate, told Daily Voice. 

The results have been successful: Yerinides has raised more than $1,200 out of his $1,500 goal as of Thursday evening.

Yerinides said he has never been to a political convention and doesn’t know exactly what to expect. But he does have an idea of the work ahead.

“We’re going to be finalizing the Democratic Party Platform while we’re there and that’s going to be huge,” Yerinides said.

An ardent Sanders supporter, he said the convention is a chance to push the platform towards Sanders’ views.

Yerinides said he’s proud to represent the 4th Congressional District at the convention. The district spans 17 towns in southwestern Connecticut and encompasses most of Fairfield County.

Yerinides is also thankful for the support of many, including Doug Sutherland of Democracy for America’s Fairfield County chapter — a “huge ally” in everything he has done so far, he said.

Yerinides plans to carpool to the convention with fellow 4th Congressional District delegates Nina Sherwood and Luis Magana.

“I wouldn’t pick any other two people to run with,” Yerinides said. “I’m very excited to be going to the convention with the two of them.”

Yerinides said he intends to keep expenses to a minimum and follow in the footsteps of the Sanders campaign, which Yerinides said traveled frugally.

“We don’t want to waste any of it or use it in excess,” he said. “Every dollar we raise is really going to go as far as it possibly can.”

The 2016 Democratic Convention will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia from July 25 to July 28.

For more information on Yerinides’ GoFundMe campaign, visit its website here.

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