Tag Archives: Haiti

Let it Be

23 Saturday Jan 2010

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Thursday night the Aladdin Theater hosted the Songs for Haiti benefit concert.  The vision of Stephen Marc Beaudoin who collaborated with Aladdin owner Tom Sessa to bring this important event to life.  And that they did.  It was the most beautifully moving concert I have attended.  600 people filled the Aladdin Theater … listening to music that varied in genre from pop, classical, gospel, indie, rock … and all of it was poignant.  We sang along … we danced … we cried.  And then we gave.  It was an outpouring of generosity clearly coming straight from a desperate desire to help.  In any way we can.  All to support Mercy Corps as they focus on humanitarian needs in Haiti – clean water/sanitation, food and temporary shelter supplies … now and ongoing.

This event.  This moment.  Made a difference.

Holcombe Waller, started the evening, with an amazing version of the Beatles classic, “Let it Be” (he says it was his first time singing it and that song came straight out of his heart).

And when the night is cloudy
There is still a light that shines on me
Shine on until tomorrow, let it be

I wake up to the sound of music
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be

We pray for the light to shine on the people of Haiti.  Please let it be.

One day … hope.

20 Wednesday Jan 2010

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I continue to be captivated by the images of the Haiti earthquake.  This disaster that struck so far away from our community, and yet feels as though it was in our own neighborhood.  This invisible, but very palpable, thread of compassion is connecting us to the people in Haiti.  Their pain has come into our homes and we are reaching out … to hug them … to offer aid … to be there when their world has truly crumbled down around them.

The fundraising efforts, big & small, take my breath away.  The radio-thons, concerts, children donating their allowance … reaching out to people far away … people we’ve never met … without hesitation.  It is the best in the human spirit.  It is what … when the sadness, in time, begins to fade … will bring hope.  Hope.

Drops in the Bucket

16 Saturday Jan 2010

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They came to watch the Portland Trail Blazers play basketball.  But when they saw the Mercy Corps volunteers … with their buckets … collecting money for the people of Haiti, basketball took a backseat for a moment.  Instead ..  men, women and children … reached into their wallets/purses/pockets and dropped change and bills into the buckets.  One after the next.  After the next.  And by the time this good deed was done, $65,000 was raised.  $65,000 that will help Mercy Corps as they focus their attention on providing vital clean water to survivors of the earthquake. 

The Blazers won the game.  But this night belonged to the fans.

Act

14 Thursday Jan 2010

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Compassion provides the basis for human survival.”  ~ the Dalai Lama

Though our spot in the world may be tiny, we have the power collectively to bring hope, to hear the cries for help and gather our families, neighbors and communities together and do what we can … do everything we can … to help the people in Haiti get through this horrific moment. 

http://mercycorps.org

http://medicalteams.org

http://redcross.org