The holiday season is typically a time for families to gather round the dinner table, break bread, share stories, and enjoy one another’s company. Unfortunately, not every individual or family is able to partake in the joy of the season due to hard economic times. I strive in giving back to the community and adopt a family every year, but this year I decided to do something different.
I am very fortunate to be associated with two amazing local businesses, and I received a call asking if I was interested in being part of a Hurricane Sandy fundraiser. I immediately said yes, but since it wasn’t front page news, I, like many, thought this natural disaster was under control and in the rebuilding stages. I have never been so wrong !!
We decided to start a Hurricane Sandy “Fill A Truck” fundraiser, and then drive the filled truck to an area in need, about four hours away. I made phone calls for weeks, trying to find a drop area, and every call was a dead-end. One of the partner businesses is associated with Rotary International and he wrote a letter, asking for assistance in finding a drop area, Rotary International responded immediately with contact names and areas in need.
I started calling the contact people, and I was not prepared for what I would hear, didn’t the papers and the news say that they were in the rebuilding phase? The first woman I spoke with told me how her group is helping several churches and food pantries and after fifteen minutes on the phone I asked her if she had any damage. I had no idea that the woman I had been talking to for this length of time had lost everything, her home and business. She continued to tell me what life has been like for her, living in a house with no power, in the winter, not having a car, both were ruined, but she is focused on helping people who are left fortunate than her. This is not an isolated story, a post written on December 8 about current conditions, “The debris pile as you enter Seaside Heights is 2 stories high and the size of one or more football fields”. Visit Rotary International to read more about how you can help.
Our “Fill A Truck” fundraiser is going to be a success, and I am grateful to be a part of such a great community that is willing to help others in need.
In the Spirit of Christmas, reach out and pay it forward.
I’m excited to be a part of this edition of Collectively Creative! The theme for this month is, appropriately, being Joyful.
COLLECTIVELY CREATIVE:
![prayers[4]](https://lizsincerely.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/prayers4.jpg?w=300&h=152)
Sincerely Liz 
Such a great post! Thank you for bringing awareness to this important cause that is far from over!
Kenley
Thank you, every little bit helps, and I am honored to be part of it.
What a lovely post, Liz! Thank you for reminding us of this need. You’re the best! 🙂
Thank you, you are the queen of pay it forward 🙂
“Fill A Truck” sounds like an amazing fundraiser…It is easy to forget, as life returns to normal, that there are so, so many still suffering. Thank you for this post, Liz.
Thank you Kelly for Collectively Creative, your special editions are a wonderful thing, I always enjoy reading the other posts, as well as yours 🙂
thanks for sharing! i was thinking too that people were rebuilding too… so thanks for making it clearer that is not the case and that our help is still needed!
Thank you, and thank you for your wonderful posts, I love the quest idea, I may have to do that next year 🙂
Ha! You should try it, i bet you’ll have fun! 🙂
It is a shame that our news feels the need to keep every one engaged by focusing on the newest, biggest, story rather than the ongoing news which we should be hearing about. I had some idea that areas were still in bad shape, but I thought most by now had power. How awful that we forget so quickly. Good luck with your fill a truck.
Thank you, and yes it is true, if it isn’t on the front page, it isn’t news. I praying that everyone has power soon, especially for Christmas.
Me too. It’s hard to celebrate knowing so many are without basic needs.
Now that’s really the true spirit of the season. What a wonderful post! I like the idea of celebrating the holidays by giving back. Hope you fill a truck and more!
Along those lines: One house near us has an amazing lights display. It has its own radio station and synchronized light show — it’s really something to see. This year, the folks who own the house also put out a brand-new, large, candy-striped recycling bin (the huge ones on wheels) and asked people to fill it with non-perishables for one of the local food pantries. So many in need this year…
Hope you have a lovely and peaceful holiday!
Thank you, that is such a wonderful idea of your neighbors, I hope others do the same 🙂
You and the others will spread a lot of joy this year.
thank you 🙂 Have a lovely and peaceful holiday!
Bravo to you! Your help and kindness is probably changing more lives than you know! Happy holidays. 🙂
Thank you 🙂 Your post inspired me today, I made 20 bows for gifts out of the rolls, thanks for the great post !!
That’s awesome! I love hearing when people are inspired! :).
This is truly a wonderful post because it highlights the essence of ongoing caring, making a difference and what Christmas should be all about. I so enjoyed your writing style and your message. Thank you! ~ Thea
Thank you 🙂 Without the two local businesses this could never happen, I feel blessed that I was asked to coordinate it.
it is truly something special!
What an amazing and inspirational post. Thank you so much for sharing your compassion and ideas with all of us!
~Erin