For just a moment, Grady and I are going to step away from the fun and frolic of the holidays, to share with you something timely.
The season of giving. It’s a time when those who have, even if it’s a little, are richer than so many others. Grady as a street refugee from New York state himself, knows what it is to be hungry and without a home or someone to care that he had food or shelter.
That’s why this year we chose to reach out to the animal rescues and residents still struggling to overcome the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. The cases of cat food shipped to the upstatenewyorkcares.com group, were part of a drive to fill a 26’ truck on Dec.1 and deliver supplies directly to the people in need. People and pets alike are still without power and fighting to overcome the problem of feeding themselves and creating habitable living spaces. Shelters lost all their cat and dog food, as well as beds, blankets, computer systems and more. As for the people, these pictures pretty much say it all. This isn’t the day after the storm…this is Dec.3.
It is heart-wrenching and at the same time inspiring, to hear stories of one family feeding four families by using their crockpot to cook for them all. The resilience is amazing, but rebuilding takes time, support, and the necessities of life to help these hard-hit areas to continue that push to rebuild. For some, their pets are all they have left. For the strays and rescues who have no families, even some of their shelters have been so severely damaged that there is no shelter to be found there anymore.
Won’t you consider giving to one of these grass roots, on-the-scene support groups who are making sure that only necessities are collected, and that every last donation goes where it is needed?
Whether it’s this group, other hurricane relief efforts, or a local rescue/shelter, there are pets and people in need who need you to help. That help can be financial or practical. Donations of time and skills are as valuable as money. Consider supporting a charity in the name of someone for whom you would normally buy a more ordinary gift. Talk to your service or professional group about adopting a family for the holiday season. Volunteer your services at a soup kitchen or shelter. There is no more valuable gift, than the care and compassion you extend to someone in need.
Please feel free to Tweet, blog or otherwise share this post, in the hope that it will inspire others to extend a helping hand as well.
A wonderful and important initiative Grady & mom. We did not realise that things were still so bad over there. Typical news – once the actual event is over there is no follow up on the life after etc.
Licks & love,
Wally & Sammy
Grady, as you know we live in the UK, My Husband and I were talking yesterday about Sandy. We had it on the news, at the highlight, now we hear nothing. Over here, it is almost like it never happened, and we think about the people and pets everyday. Thank you for posting this. Some have forgotten but we haven’t 🙂 God bless them all. xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
Thanks guys. Along with donations, they will take your prayers and good wishes. They are all so badly needed.
I hope they get all they need for this coming christmas. I love posts like these they remind me to head on down to our local toy drive and donate, and stop by on the way to our local animal shelter and see what we can do 🙂
Good for you kirbysdawgblog. Every little bit helps.
We hope you all had a fundaddiedosie Chriztmas 🙂 xx00xx
Mollie and Alfie
Yes, we did Mollie and Alfie! And as soon as I get a few minutes to myself this weekend, we’ll post something. I see that you guys had a great time with the trifle!