Miles away from the devastated northeast corner of the United States, and even farther away from the storm-ravaged Caribbean, it is easy to watch the news, scroll through the online media sources, and murmur to oneself, “such a shame, how awful.” Skimming through Facebook posts from friends close to and far from the path of Hurricane Sandy, reports are shared of the damage, the fatalities, the early estimates of reconstruction timelines and costs. One can sit back and say, “I wish I were closer, then I could help.”
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
~ Theodore Roosevelt
I can help. You can help. We all can help.
1. “I wish I were able to help financially.”
Numerous nonprofit relief organizations are already assisting victims of Hurricane Sandy. According to ABC news, these organizations are providing shelter, food and other supplies, and are seeking donations:
- The American Red Cross ~ call 800-Red-Cross or text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or make a donation through their website.
- The Salvation Army ~ donate through their website
- Feeding America ~ donate through their website
- AmeriCares ~ donate through their website
- World Vision ~ go to their website to donate, or text “GIVEUSA” to 777444 to make a $10 contribution to the organization’s disaster response.
- Save the Children ~ donate through their website
I encourage you to conduct your own due diligence efforts if you decide that making a monetary donation is a way you are able to help in the wake of this disaster. Charity Navigator is an online resource I have found helpful in evaluating nonprofit organizations, but there are also charity review and evaluation resources through the Better Business Bureau’s Charities link, and GuideStar nonprofit reports. I made donations to the Red Cross and Save the Children on behalf of our family today.
2. “I wish I were able to volunteer.”
Samaritan’s Purse has a “Disaster Relief Volunteer Network.” Teams of up to 15 people can register to help out with a variety of volunteer needs through this site. The link for Hurricane Sandy volunteer efforts is here.
3. “I wish I were able to donate blood.”
The New York Blood Center is seeking donations, and the ABC news article noted that routine blood drives were cancelled due to the storm, further crippling the usual necessary blood supply.
The American Red Cross also is encouraging people wherever they live to donate blood, which can help bolster blood supplies and provide surplus for shipments to those locations in need. For blood donation-specific information, check out the American Red Cross website specific to blood donation resources.
It is time to change “I wish I were” to “I am glad I did.”
Thank you to ABC News, the Huffington Post, and CNN for sharing these disaster relief resources.
“Each of us as human beings has a responsibility to reach out to help our brothers and sisters affected by disasters. One day it may be us or our loved ones needing someone to reach out and help.”
~ Michael W. Hawkins, American Red Cross
Ciao! ~ Kat
This post was written in response to the Daily Post’s Weekly Writing Challenge, this week’s theme being, “I Wish I Were.” Join in with your own response anytime before Friday, by completing the phrase, “I Wish I Were” — read more about the challenge here.
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28 responses to “Weekly Writing Challenge: I Wish I Were”
[…] Weekly Writing Challenge: I Wish I Were […]
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such a great post – I’m sending your volunteering link to my sister who lives in NY
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Hope your sister made it through the storm without damage – thank you for spreading the word. ~ Kat
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Yes she did Kat, she even kept her power right throughout..happy to help.
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Thanks, Kat, for posting about how to help. We can all do a little; some can do more. The key is, like you so eloquently write, to do something.
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Sharon, just think of the difference all those “something littles” could make! ~ Kat
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What a beautiful and thoughtful post… I’m glad we survived this tragedy and I wish lives were not lost… Sadly, there is so much loss. 😦
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I cannot imagine — I am sure we do not fully appreciate the scope and extent of this disaster from the photos and video in the media. ~ Kat
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I’m a Jersey girl currently living on a tropical island. I watch the news with a heavy heart from my living room in a home built with walls to withstand a hurricane, and storm shutters on all the windows. The irony is not lost on me. Thank you for your touching post, and your willingness to show others how we can all help in some way, no matter our location.
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littlemisswordy, it must be hard to watch one home being battered while hunkering down to weather the storm in another. Hope you came through without damage. Thank you for stopping by and taking time to comment ~ Kat
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What a terrific post! I hope it inspires everyone to help…
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Appreciate your comment! — just think if everyone helped a little what a difference it would make! (and that can be said about a lot of causes) ~ Kat
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This is very true. We can help in the capacity that we can. Very thoughtful of you to have shared this. The more we assist each other, the more productive and fulfilled we become.
My November wishes for you: http://teeceecounsel.wordpress.com/2012/11/01/unique-november-blessing/
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Thank you for stopping by and commenting teecee — and your November blessing is lovely! So true that helping each other is essential to a happy life. ~ Kat
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Inspiring post! You definitely will have thought differently to many who have attempted this challenge! Beautifully written post also!
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efthyc, thank you for your kind words! Watching all those news reports and storm images, yet being so removed from it all makes one feel helpless yet compelled to help in some small way. ~ Kat
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This is an inspired – and inspiring – response to the challenge. Thanks for stepping up and sharing these opportunities, Kat!
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Appreciate your comment, R.S. — I started to write my weekly gratitude post, and then found myself using the words of the writing challenge that had passed through the email box this week. I am sure we will be hearing tragic stories for weeks to come, given the images that have been distributed through the media. Very stressful for those affected. ~ Kat
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Wonderful Post! I know what they are going through and my prayers are with all those effected by Hurricane Sandy. Thank you for writing and sharing you post with all of us. 😉
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Thanks, dana, there are so many who will be feeling the effects of this storm for a long time to come. ~ Kat
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I love this post
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grannyK, I appreciate your comment! thank you ~ Kat
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I am happy to see that you have shared on this. As a Caribbean woman, I am very conscious about the effect of hurricanes and the other natural disasters to which we are prone and therefore as I read I wanted to say instead of wishing why don’t you act.
But I recognised two things, one this was part of a challenge and secondly and more important by providing the websites and areas where help can be given you did an excellent job of helping. As a Caribbean person, I thank you and add that I hope we can always keep Haiti in our minds and on our help lists, chalking off completion of our activities for the country and adding new ones. Haiti’s plight is an on-going tragedy.
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doverock, it appears Haiti experienced another round of damage with Sandy’s wrath. If folks are making donations to organizations, hopefully they will make one of their donations to an organization that extends its help to all of those affected — Save the Children mentioned some of their efforts on their website, and there are others. Thanks for your thoughtful comment, doverock ~ Kat
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What an inspiring, beautiful post, Kat!
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Peggy, thank you for your kind words. The extent of damage done by this storm is hard to get your arms around. ~ Kat
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A reminder that we are *not* masters of our destiny, after all? Agree – it’s been pretty bad, the damage, the lives lost, etc. I have friends in the area, and I hope they and everyone else there is safe!
The problem with the media etc is that one big storm happening in NYC seem to draw so much coverage whereas the ongoing and chronic problems of Africa and the Middle East and Asia, which are far more serious, get less attention. But I guess that is the way of the world. Take care, Kat!
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Many don’t realize the damage and lives lost as a result of “Sandy” in the Caribbean, as well — many disasters of different kinds in the world deserving of our attention, you are right.
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