How can we help children in America and Haiti?

Today I read the most heartbreaking story I have ever read. It had a happy ending in a sense, the entire family is together again, but a family of 6 only owns a blanket, a sheet, and a few diapers, yet they proclaim “God has shown favor on us.” They are so inspiring!!!!! It is an article in People magazine titled Natasha’s Choice by Steve Helling and Alex Tresniowski. I read it today at the dentist office, as I don’t get any magazines at my house. It’s on newsstands today and it is probably at your local library if you want to read the article. I can’t get it out of my mind. My heart wants to jump on the next plane to Haiti and help, but I know I can’t do that…..at least not right now. So what can I do…..help from here. I am a firm believer in helping people at “home” too, so I’m going to start a series of posts on how we can help children in America and in Haiti. I would love if others would join in and post how to help children in their own countries!

• Pray – everyone can use prayers, praying for the children, their families, the government and all the agencies that can help children suffering.
• Visit Save the Children and donate to help children in America and other parts of the world. Always do research on an agency before donating to find out what percentage of your donation goes to help and find out if they are a reputable agency.
• Order your Valentine’s from here to help Children in Haiti.
• Make a pillowcase! Join the Challenge to make 1 million pillowcases. They will be donated to foster children, cancer patients, victims of domestic violence and others.
• Clean out your pantry and donate all your usable food to a food pantry or directly to a family in need.
• Visit the website Haiti Children for ways you can help the children in Haiti.

Sometimes there is no money to give, I can understand that, so I will continue to look for ideas on how we can help with what we already have! Do you have ideas? I would love to hear them! Please send me an email.