What a week

Jennifer says: I had another theme in mind for this week’s article, but given the recent events I’ve changed my mind.

I think most of us get caught up in our own little worlds, basking in our success and wallowing in our own little miseries. I’m especially guilty of the wallowing part these past two weeks. It’s been bitterly cold and I’ve been “suffering” trying to keep warm. And the job… yeah, wow. But anyway, as I contemplate how miserable my life is at the moment, breaking news of the disaster in Haiti comes. I read the online articles and click with stunned amazement at the first images being posted. The thought that comes to mind is “oh my God”. I forget the petty issues that I’ve let take up way too space in my head. I look at the massive piles of now unidentifiable buildings and the look of anguish on the few people scattered in the photographs. I think to myself, what would I do in that situation? How would I take care of my sons? Where would we go for shelter, food, clean water? I cannot fully comprehend what it would be like to be stuck in the middle of such destruction. And I hope to God that my family never finds out. Pretty soon after the earth quake news breaks, it’s announced that we are now under a Tsunami watch. Its night time, we’re on a pretty flat island. That’s a scary thought. But thankfully, the announcement also says it’s not likely we will be hit with one. Then morning comes once again and we’re all still safe. By now a lot of the stories are about the aid efforts being set up and how they plan to get items to the most needy. One in particular strikes me, Yele Haiti. The article is about how the donations are adding up very quickly, especially the ones set up through texting on a cell phone. Yele Haiti is one of these. They ask you to text a code and a $5.00 charge will appear on your cell phone bill (in the States). Five dollars, it impresses me that they only ask for a $5 donation. Some of the ads for other charities that I see ask for $20 a month – no offense meant. I think the $5 strategy is brilliant. I think most people will not hesitate to give $5 to help people in this situation. I think many people stop to think about $20, especially in this economy. As a result, Yele Haiti has raised an incredible amount of money in less than 24 hours since the news broke. So this morning, I find the website and read a little more about it. Although I had already made up my mind to make a donation. Online they have a donation page where you can choose the amount to give, so I typed in my amount and pressed enter. Immediately I felt a sense of satisfaction in that I, in a small way, helped someone who really needs it. Imagine how much could be accomplished if everyone gave five or ten dollars. Or unused clothes, anything to help someone else. I believe there’s always enough to give a couple dollars to a worthy cause. It’s amazing that when you really believe there’s always enough to give - that there really is enough to give.