Fear friends and lurkers,
As the world knows by now a major earthquake struck southern Haiti on Tuesday, inflicting a catastrophe on the Caribbean nation. Up to 4,000 dead. It is difficult to know how to respond to a tragedy like this. It doesn’t take a lot to ignore it. I hadn’t checked the news yesterday, so I didn’t hear about it until my husband told me this morning.
Since ignoring it is a terrible option then what? I tend to feel anguish and sorrow. But if I start reading all the stories about the suffering it is too much. Believe it or not it was Facebook that brought it down to earth for me. I have a FB contact whose father lives in Haiti. Another whose niece is there on a service trip for two weeks. Another a brother. All of a sudden something that was intellectually tragic hits me in the stomach.
What if that was my father, or niece, or friend?
I can pray, but I need to do more. So a small gift or larger if I can spare it toward a worthwhile organization seems the compassionate response.
I hope you will consider the same.
Be well,
Melody
P.S. I do not make it a practice to “fund raise” here on my blog. In fact I never have. And I won’t very often. Thanks.
This organization, ONE DAY’S WAGES, is a grassroots movement of people motivated by their compassion and desire for justice.
Their goal — to fight Extreme Global Poverty. ODW is the emissary, in a sense, but gives away 100% of what it raises.
All of the money goes to the purpose of sustainable relief and they partner with smaller organizations in developing regions. Their vision is to inspire people around the world to simply donate one day’s wages and to renew that pledge annually.
Here is the story of the couple that started One Day’s Wages. You can also find out how to give if you decide that is something you want to do. There is a nifty calculator to help you figure out one day of your wages.
“They started a Facebook group, Fight Global Poverty, and pledged to donate $1 for each member who joined, up to a total of $100,000. The group now has more than 1 million members, and Mr. Cho and his wife will contribute about $68,000 this year — representing a year’s wages — and the rest next year. One Day’s Wages received tax-exempt status in May and started its Web site last month at www.onedayswages.org. “It’s easy to be drawn to the multimillion-dollar donations, but we’re doing ourselves a disservice by not elevating the stories of the working mothers and fathers who also contribute what are significant amounts to them,” Mr. Cho said.” [New York Times]
The people of Haiti are clearly in need. There are many worthy agencies that could use our help. I urge you to consider helping in some way and this one I recommend. But don’t take my word for it.
Logic & Imagination 