Those who are inclined, would you help us to help others this holiday? In your community or in our little red bucket we can do so much! I like the advertisement, "when you put money in this kettle, expect change"

Through the Linked In Helping Friends Community , we are supplying a virtual red Salvation Army Kettle.

Last year, my despair ran so deep, I wondered if I could even survive the holidays. In a year of career uncertainty, friends had been laid off, I moved cross country, from CO to OH, discovering we were pregnant with our 3rd and last baby, Quinn. On the day of hurricane Katrina, his heart stopped beating and miscarried. Returning home from the hospital from two back to back surgeries I watched with sorrow the greater tragedies of hurricane Katrina unfolding and I felt a hurricane had swept my soul. What helped me through the grief was knowing that someone who lost everything BUT their child needed all the things I would never be able to use again.

I needed to get the pain out of my heart and the materials on to better use. I knew that the lesson from this experience was gratitude for my two beautiful kids, and it was time to find the strength to move on. I packed up my maternity clothing that I hoped would have had just a few more months of wear, before I wore them home from the hospital. I packed up the baby accessories we had begun to recollect, the baby blankets, the diapers, and distributed them among the Salvation Army and Veterans for Peace for distribution in the gulf. It felt good to know that someone would benefit from the goods that I could not use. It gave me hope.. healing would take longer... but I needed that.

This is just a year later. Baby Quinn's ornament hangs at the top of our Christmas tree-- a rocking horse 2005 memorial. I won't forget him, the hopes he represented.. I also will not forget those families much less fortunate than ours who are still rebuilding from a loss of home, family, and memories in the gulf. This Christmas we continued the tradition and increased it..

In gratitude for the family we do have, and to continue to enrich the lives of those less fortunate, and in memory of Baby Quinn-- may our children grow to know a world of kindness and caring like we saw. We have seen that the world is full of resourceful, giving, and caring people.

Strangers brought kindness when we needed it most. People for the most part are basically good, and made better when in a spirit of connectedness to one another. May I be able to provide even part of the comfort offered our family during our trials and tribulations of 2005.

Other Ways to Make a Difference:
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* Run a community food drive.

* Make room for what you do want, give on what you don't and it is a great help to others! Again pool with the neighbors or your office mates to arrange a drive or pickup for Salvation Army, Katrina's Angels, or other good causes that help build people. The toys your kids don't use, the clothes that do not fit, the warm blankets, could help a number of people!

* If you hear of companies who are hiring, forward them to the Linked In Helping Friends Career Network Community where many great people are looking for jobs.

* Volunteer for rebuilding or service opportunities -- it really makes a difference!

LinkedIn HFCN join by clicking this Linked In Group invitation
HFCN Salvation Army Virtual Kettle
Katrinas Angels