Every week I take my daughter to the local YMCA for her gymnastics lessons - twice. I take my computer along and get many of my reviews written while I wait for my daughter to do her tumbles, her beam walking, and her bar work. Last week, both times, a group of children were selling popcorn in the YMCA lobby to raise money to "help Haiti." The smell of the popcorn drove me crazy, but the eager faces of those children lightened my heart. They were doing all they could for others, and they were doing a great job. I was very proud of them.
I have read numerous articles about children raising money for the victims of the Haitian earthquake and every time they give me hope. One little seven-year-old Londoner rode his bike around and around his local park and raised 150,000 pounds for Unicef. Here he is doing his part to help.
So many people have suffered as a result of the earthquake in Haiti, but the stories of the Haitian children are, to me, the most heartbreaking. I don't have much to offer them except my small donations of money, hand-made knitted hats, gloves and blankets, and my good wishes. I cannot send them books - which I would do - because they need food, water, medicines and other basic supplies right now. I hope to send books later when they are in a better situation to receive them. I can ask you to help these children, and that is what I am doing here. I know many of your have seen horrific images from Haiti and I know that it seems overwhelming. Just think of the children in your life, and in their names help the children of others.
Perhaps the children in your family or community would like to do their part. Organizing a walk-a-thon, a run-a-thon, a bike-a-thon, or a read-a-thon won't take a lot of effort if lots of people give a little of their time. Children will feel empowered as they walk, run, bike or read to raise those precious cents, pence, and yen.
These are some organizations that are helping the children (and their families) in Haiti:
http://www.haitichildren.com/
http://www.hopeforhaitischildren.org/
http://www.danitaschildren.org/
http://www.unicef.org/
Thank you in advance for your help.
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