11/5/12

Hurricane Sandy - What YOU can do

While most of us sit in our cozy homes,complete with heat, our most prized possessions and a sense of space, the victims of hurricane Sandy are still trying to get their lives together and back on track.  We can view their situation from a distance and say that's just a shame and go on with our lives or we can try and make a difference in some way by being in their shoes and giving them what it is that we think we would need if we were in their situation.  American Red Cross

Sometimes that may be in the form of cash.  The American Red Cross is accepting cash donations for the victims and is the single most mobilized unit in the areas affected.  It's important to centralize the efforts at a time of disaster.  Most of the time there is enough chaos already, added confusion only makes it more difficult to streamline the efforts.

So how can you help with cash?  You can make a donation yourself, you can ask your employer to match the contributions of the employees, you can hold a fundraiser and donate that way, ask your church, your local school to get involved in fundraising, knowing that at any time any one of us could be in the same situation.

The Red Cross also needs blood - you may be able to donate blood.

Call the companies that make the following most requested products during this crisis and ask for them to donate to the American Red Cross the following items:

Generators - Companies like Kohler

Garbage bags -Companies like Glad and Hefty

Flashlights - Companies like Maglite, REI

Batteries - Companies like Duracell and Energizer

Paper towels - Companies like Bounty and Scott

Baby wipes - Companies like Pampers, Huggies

Baby food - Companies like Gerber and Heinz

Diapers - Companies like Pampers, Huggies, Costco Brand

Formula - Companies like Similac, Enfamil, Carnation

A stuffed animal to comfort a child - Companies like Target, Kohls, Toys R Us

Last but not least, contact a local radio station asking for their assistance.  Maybe it's to get the biggest donation for a local company you know to help the victims, sometimes all it takes is a phone call.

Living with loss can be devastating and paralyzing.  If you are a therapist in the area, perhaps you could donate your time.  Notify the Red Cross and station yourself.  The psychology of the loss could be very detrimental.  Currently we are living in a society that is much attached to "things".  Losing them, could make us feel less valuable.  Counseling services for both the adults and children could help them get back on track and begin to rebuild their hope and their lives.

Today I'll be contacting some national corporations to inquire about what they can do in these efforts.  Our environmental changes are not coming to an end, they will continue.  We must pull together to make sure all of our human family is taken care of.  I challenge you to make a phone call, a donation, or begin an action in the healing of our humanity today.  Maybe I'll hear your name on the radio or your school name because you banned some children together to make a difference.  Taking actions like this is helping to heal our world.  It takes so little, won't you do your part?

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