LOFT Cares BCRF Blogger Collaboration
Some morning perspective:
At 9AM, I received a call from Tara, my producer over at RTL, asking if I was available this morning to talk about Brangelina’s possible break-up. “I’ll be there in about an hour,” she said, “but be warned: we’re coming to you straight from JFK after spending ten days in Haiti, so we might smell a little bad.”
While we set up for the shoot, Tara and cameraman Sergei described the flight back: they managed to find a ride on a plane carrying mostly orphaned children, and each adult was assigned several children to care for (that’s her on the plane with a couple of orphans). Most of the adults on the plane were adoptive fathers from the United States who had flown to Haiti to pick up their new children, some of whom had been waiting for years for their adoptions to go through but now were the unlikely beneficiaries of a tragedy that encouraged authorities to speed up the process.
Tara told me about a young woman she met - a journalist - whose four-year-old son stayed alive for three days buried deep in the rubble while she passed him food and water and kept his spirits up by talking to him day and night. On the fourth day, workers began their efforts to dig him out, and he was crushed to death by falling concrete. The woman carried her son’s body 10 miles to her family’s crypt, where she buried him. Tara told me about witnessing amputations performed with Leathermans, sleeping next to the pool at her hotel because she was so afraid that the walls would come down around her while she rested, and watching a man jump from a balcony during an aftershock.
And then the camera started rolling, and I smiled and gave my opinion on whether Brad and Jen will be getting back together anytime soon.
There have been days when I’ve been prouder of myself.
Earlier this evening, Kendrick and I headed over to the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church to volunteer at the soup kitchen, and were treated to a tour of the facilities (which include a shelter that sleeps 10-12). We talked to the wonderful people who run the soup kitchen, several of whom told me that they worked there because they themselves had been in similar situations in years past, and wanted to help others as they had been helped.
Besides the soup kitchen, Madison Avenue Presbyterian has many other volunteer opportunities, including the Angel Tree Program, which provides presents for children whose parents are in prison, and shifts at the shelter. Of course, this is just one of countless churches around the city offering such services; I’d advise you to just stop into your local church or homeless shelter and ask what you can do to help.
(Incidentally, I’m not affiliated with this church - or any church, for that matter - but I fully support the wonderful services that they provide to the community.)
Check out the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter for info on shelters in your area.
Meghan and I announcing that the runway show is about to start. The DJ, Chris Bachmann of 103.5 KTU, was great (and super nice).
All the ladies showed up to support us! L to R, me, Amanda, Cary, Kate, Liz, and my lovely co-host.
Greeting the guests, microphone and notes for speech in hand (I was a little nervous).
Dana-Maxx dress, Betsey Johnson sweater tights, Juno heels.
Last night, Meghan and the Cheshire Cat (that’s me) co-hosted an event for Dana-Maxx to benefit the Women’s Funding Network: an organization that acts as a global champion for investment in women and works to reduce poverty, increase access to education and healthcare, and protect women against violence and abuse.
Above, we’re wearing Dana-Maxx’s fabulous designs. This shot was taken just as the doors were about to open; later, we changed into two more gorgeous dresses.
Every year, my family and I stop by the post office to participate in “Operation Santa Claus,” which began informally in the 1920s when postal workers started sending presents to impoverished children whose letters to Santa Claus (address: North Pole) had ended up in the “dead letters” box.
It’s such a simple charity to participate in, and so incredibly fulfilling: all you do is stop by the post office, sift through the piles of letters (most from children, but some from parents asking Santa Claus for things like bottles for their newborns), pick up as many gifts as you can, and deliver them to the needy families. Sometimes the children greet you at the door with enormous smiles and you get invited in for coffee; other times you covertly drop Santa’s gifts off with the parents. Either way, I promise: it’s an experience not to be missed.
Although Operation Santa Claus is based in NYC, many post offices around the country participate in a similar program. Inquire at your local post office for details and find out how you can get involved.
Today, December 1st, is World AIDS Day.
Some ways you can take action:
- Get tested for HIV (I’ve been tested, and I encourage all of you to do the same). Go here for a list of free and confidential NYC-area clinics.
- Decide not to engage in high-risk behaviors and learn how to protect yourself.
- Talk about HIV prevention with family and friends.
- Provide support to people living with HIV/AIDS (go to the GMHC website to learn how get involved).
Wednesday afternoon, I met with Dana-Maxx (in purple; that’s her assistant Vladimir on the left) to discuss the details of her upcoming trunk show to benefit the Women’s Funding Network, an organization that protects women against violence and abuse. I’ll be co-hosting the event with Meghan, and will post more info as soon as we nail down the date!
If you’re looking for a charity to donate to this holiday season (or recently cleaned out your closet and want to donate your hand-me-downs to a good cause), consider The Uniform Project. In May 2009, Sheena Matheiken pledged to wear the same dress every day for an entire year both as an exercise in sustainable fashion and as a fundraiser for the Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that funds uniforms and educational supplies for children living in Indian slums. You can donate to the cause itself, or donate accessories (Sheena has 7 identical dresses, but reinvents the look daily with vintage or hand-me-down accoutrements).
Take a moment to check out the site; it’s pretty amazing.
I was in awe of honoree Jane Aronson, an adoption medicine specialist and head of the Worldwide Orphans Foundation (WWO), and was brought to tears by the video depicting her life’s work: helping to find loving homes for orphans around the world. Dr. Aronson was visibly emotional upon accepting her award from Katie Couric, and only became even more so when Couric brought up thirty or so international children whom Aronson had helped to place in American homes to join her on stage. It was a beautiful tribute to a beautiful woman.
To learn more about Dr. Aronson’s work with the WWO, click here.
Reader Molly wrote to tell me about Shannon Lambert, who was recently named a 2009 L’Oreal Woman of Worth for her volunteer work with Pandora’s Project, an organization that provides support, information, and resources to sexual violence survivors and their supporters. She was chosen for this honor from more than 2,500 applicants, and Pandora’s will receive a $5,000 donation from L’Oreal. The organization is now part of an online vote to win $25,000, so if you would like to show your support for Pandora’s Project please go here, enter your email address in the box on the right, and click on the “submit vote” button (you don’t need to register). Each email address is allowed one vote, and voting ends November 24.
Shannon is one brave and driven young woman, and I, for one, would like to show my support for her remarkable achievement in creating the largest international online sexual abuse survivor community.
If you or any of your loved ones have been a victim of rape, sexual assault, or sexual abuse, consider connecting with others through Pandora’s Aquarium, an online support group that is safely monitored by a diverse group of survivors.
If you are in crisis or need professional support now, please check out these resources to find help.
