How to Help – Blondie Birdie

I’ve lived through a few significant natural disasters in my lifetime- two tornadoes (one of which was a F3 and had killed a couple of people as it swept through Western Massachusetts,) record-breaking snowstorms/blizzards, an Earthquake that thankfully only made my chair at work wobble a bit for a few short seconds- and more than a handful of hurricanes of varying strength and speed.

All- with the exception of the mini earthquake- were pretty scary. I grew up inland, away from the coast- so hurricanes only ever really caused a lot of rain, a lot of wind, and the occasional inconveniencing power outage- but I’d seen how they could wash away entire coastal communities in a matter of minutes with high speed winds and flash flooding.

A couple of times a year, when Mother Nature gets herself into a frenzy and wreaks havoc- I seek out organizations with impeccable records and reputations who are doing incredible work to help survivors and rebuild the lives of those affected by natural disasters.

It’s important to do the research, since not every “go-to” charity or organization can be up-front and honest about where finances and donations really end up.

And having seen the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian after it had hovered over the Bahamas before slowly making it’s way towards the East Coast- I wanted to do anything to help- even if it was just something small. That level of destruction is unfathomable to me.

If you’re looking for ways to help, may I direct you to the following?

Global Giving – GG are raising funds to provide residents in the Bahamas with food, water and medicine while simultaneously undertaking the task of rebuilding the affected communities from the ground up.
YachtAid Global – Working with yacht owners in the area to coordinate deliveries of goods- YachtAid Global are actively working on bringing hygiene kits, tarps, mosquito nets and food to the Bahamas in preparation for establishing long-term care for residents.
World Central Kitchen – With a relief team recently deployed to the Bahamas- WCK is establishing kitchens around the area to feed residents and rescue workers presently cleaning up the aftermath.
Grand Bahama Disaster Relief – Set up by the Grand Bahama Port Authority, you have the option of donating either money to pay for supplies/rebuilding costs- or donating goods directly via drop-off points or through sites like Amazon.

If you know of an organization who is doing fantastic work with Dorian relief efforts- please feel free to leave a comment and share! It would be greatly appreciated!

I’ll be back on Monday with my usual types of posts- but until then- be good to one another.

Have a great weekend, everyone.

– Ashley –

One of my favorite things about my job is that my office believes very strongly in giving back to our community. Whether it’s holding fundraisers for local non-profits, sponsoring local businesses and teams in their charitable endeavors or educating and encouraging growth and development within our neighborhoods- it’s always rewarding (and fun!) to pitch in and work together as a team to help others and make our city a cleaner, safer and more compassionate place.

With Thanksgiving less than two weeks away, my company’s focus has shifted to the pending holiday season- and that includes helping those less fortunate stay fed and warm in the frigid New England temperatures. We’re currently holding a food drive and coat collection to benefit our local shelters and pantries. The holidays can be rough- even on the most fortunate and happy people in the world. Imagine how much worse it is for those who are down on their luck this time of year?

Inspired by the overwhelming outpouring of support and eagerness my co-workers have displayed when it comes to lending a helping hand to strangers- I wanted to share some links for non-profit organizations who are truly saving lives this time of year for anyone who reads Blondie Birdie and might want to do something to help out, too.

Find Your Local Food Bank – Head on over to Feeding America’s website, tap in your location, and voila! You’ll be connected to the food bank closest to you. From there, you can bring non-perishable goods to be delivered and/or distributed to those in need. For a full-list of appropriate non-perishable foods, simply CLICK HERE.

Send Some Love to Our Troops & Their Families – Our neighborhoods include plenty of military families, as well- many of whom are spending the holidays while their loved ones are overseas. Homefront America is taking donations to provide hundreds of military families with the groceries necessary to feed their loved ones without the worry or the hassle that comes with preparing a meal.

Don’t Forget Our Elders – During the holidays, we spend time with family and friends from all over and from all walks of life- but there are some elderly men and women who don’t have the luxury of being able to sit around a table for Thanksgiving dinner with their loved ones. Meals on Wheels is taking up volunteers to bring food and groceries to the elderly who are unable to get to their local grocery stores or prepare their meals themselves. Not only are you keeping our older generations from going hungry- but it’s a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends, too!

Help Someone Keep Warm – Growing up in Massachusetts, I can attest that we never really fully adapt to the cold. We just wear as many layers as possible and try to put up with it as best we can until Spring rolls back around. That being said, I can’t imagine not having an adequate coat this time of year. Sadly, many people go without proper protective wear to shield them from the harsher elements.

If you have a gently worn coat that either doesn’t fir you anymore, or has been replaced with something new- you can donate your older coat to places like the previously linked Burlington Coat Factory, New York Cares or, if you’d rather just purchase a new coat for someone in need- Operation Warm.

Even just a little bit of support and willingness to take action can do SO much and change someone’s whole life. You can make a difference- and now is the perfect time to do it!

And for those in the Boston area: My office is taking donations through next Friday (11/17/17). If you’d like to help out- drop me a line and we can coordinate a day and time for me to swing by and pick up your donation!

Enjoy your weekend, everyone. Try to stay warm out there!

– Ashley –

Tag: How to Help

Hurricane Dorian: How To Help

Thanks AND Giving…