When You Want To Help After A Natural Or Manmade Disaster

Sensitive people often feel led to DO SOMETHING when they hear of a plane crash, an earthquake, a terrorist attack, the extensive wildfires, or even families devastated by war.

Good for you that you are interested in helping the families after the difficult circumstances that you heard about through the news. We had a tornado hit our neighborhood when we lived in Raleigh, NC so I have thought about this subject many times. We now live in an area that was hit with “100 year floods” 3 times in 5 years, and many of our neighbors lost their homes at least temporarily. Do what is in your heart, and remember that not everyone will always understand what you are trying to do.

September 11 was a huge turning point for many of us. We shifted our focus and re-examined what we consider important in out lives, and how to use our talents. After the area calmed down a bit, and people were trying to get back to work, I rented conference rooms and held free workshops to help people deal with the stress and trauma so that they could take care of themselves and their families again. It was miraculous, and I felt so good about the work. n
Here are a few ideas:nn*Do some research to find out if you can partner with large recognized organizations. Red Cross, ministries through your church, etc. Even if you have an idea that they have never considered before, you might be able to get the project done under their umbrella.n n*Do a special in your business where a percentage of all sales that you get in a timeframe will go to a fund for the families. Maybe a 30 day period, 2 percent. You will probably get some publicity for the cause, and for your business. Make sure that you get the word out so that you can make a significant difference with your project.n n*Organize a donation of clothing, toys, canned goods, whatever you think would be helpful to the families. Do you have space to accept donations? Can you get descriptions of what they need, what would be helpful for them? Research so that you know what they need, and how you can get it there. Sometimes there is a lot of security in the area of the problem, and unless you are working with the Red Cross or a recognized ministry, they won’t let you in to help or deliver the items.nn*Identify the skills, training, and interests that you have, and the other people that you know that might want to help. Even a child that has a passion for providing teddy bears to the children when they no longer have their toys after a fire or in a warzone area, can make a huge difference with a toy project. We have all read about the wonderful projects in magazines that started with one person’s passionate idea, no matter hold old they are!n n*If you live nearby, or can arrange a short trip to help, you might be able to organize some nice projects:nn*Run an event that would be relaxing for them and invite the families. Sometimes when we go through stressful times, it would be nice to just forget our problems for a bit. Even more if they have children. The children would probably appreciate a fun afte
oon.n n*Offer to organize volunteers to babysit, help with taxes, whatever else the families might need while they sort out their lives.n n*Have a picture day. Often during fires/tornados/floods, it is the personal stuff that gets lost forever. Maybe you can find some high school yearbooks that would replace them for some of the people, maybe other people have photos that include their family members. Sometimes just putting the suggestion out there allows people to contribute that didn't realize that they had something valuable to other people.

Whatever you decide, you can probably get a newspaper article or some radio or TV coverage in your local area of the project. Do a press release and send it out. Also, put up flyers in local shops,YMCA’s, etc. Send out a mailing to your clients and neighbors. Do email to local people, too.

Hope that gives you one or two ideas that you can use. I know that you will be successful, because your heart is in the right place. There is no shame in promoting your business a bit while helping out. Think of all of the companies that donate to charity, they get plenty of advertising time for that.nncopyright 2008, Dr. Sally Witt, The Center for Healing & Training, Inc.
215/736-0900n