Early last week before the Haiti earthquake devastation, I was sitting in my studio thinking about these words.  

 

These specific words circulated around my mind as I was preparing to make a batch of cheerful charms to contribute to my friend Cheryl’s volunteer program to help the women and children at a local safe home.   Cheryl was in the process of putting together a kit containing writing and art supplies for each of the thirty residents.  These gifts are meant to encourage the women in this home to find and express their voice through writing – a possible therapeutic exercise in the healing process.  As soon as Cheryl mentioned her plans for these little packages of hope, I felt compelled to contribute.  Several years ago I started wearing necklaces with positive words and found that doing this one small thing helped me to gain a more positive perspective.  Even though I know that my personal struggles might not be anywhere near what the women and children in this home have suffered through, I thought that it would be a good idea to share something that worked for me by making charms for these women.  The charms, along with Cheryl’s other donations, are being completed today at an event at Brook’s school in celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday.  The main focus of the event is on spreading the message of giving back.

 While in the middle of making these charms, the shocking news of the earthquake in Haiti arrived… shaking me up…waking me up.  When something as horrible as this happens, what can anyone really do?  If we’re in a position to donate money, we can choose to help out this way.  But judging by what I’ve been hearing in the dollars department, the billions needed seem so out of reach.  This realization led me to feel helpless… powerless.  What can anyone do to help when there’s such an overwhelming need?   And physically going there to help out isn’t even an option (I’m not a trauma surgeon or a UN worker or…plus one could easily become part of the problem arriving without enough personal supplies like food, water, etc.)  The only option is to leave it to the organizations that have the know-how and resources, but these organizations need money…doesn’t it feel like it always comes down to money? 

After a couple of days wrestling with these questions and thoughts, it occurred to me that I could channel this frustration of not having billions of dollars to donate by trying to help out in other ways.  For instance, I could continue to send smaller amounts of money to Haiti, and at the same time,  I could focus more on directly contributing to causes closer to home.  There are plenty of organizations practically in my backyard that are currently in serious need of assistance.   I would like to believe that making an effort, any effort at all, could somehow make a difference in the end.  The trick is getting more people involved right?  Am I being naive or can we each make a difference a little bit at a time?

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