Helping Haiti
Everyone watching the nightly news recently has seen the devastation in Haiti and are probably all in agreement that we all want to help any way we can. Maybe you helped (or will help) through text donations on our phone or by bringing supplies to organizations or just simply praying for relief to come soon to the earthquake-shaken island.
The city of Eustis gave several people, including myself, the opportunity to give more than many possibly thought they could last night when LASER (Lake and Sumter Emergency Recovery) held a packaging event for county residents to package food for those in Haiti.
Reading the e-mail about it sent from a local charity to me, I immediately wanted to help and pre-register the next day. I felt I needed to do this, especially after reading about Aaron Jackson and the Planting Peace organization he started that provides orphanages in Haiti.
In the article, which many of you should read, Aaron states the obvious that the efforts and goodwill aspirations for Haiti made by the world right now will dwindling months and years down the road as people become concerned with something else in the world.
Last night, though, the pain and suffering of those in Haiti were on the minds of several hundred volunteers as we put together food mixes of vegetables, rice and soy in a package to feed a family of six or six individuals.
While packaging, we shared smiles, laughter and conversation, ending each 15 minute set of packaging with a cheer and applause.
I was able to do four different jobs the four times I went through the packaging line in the two and a half hour period (additional half hour spent in line to help due to mass amount of volunteers). I got to pass the bags along the line, measure each bag that came through, seal the bag (the most tedious job) and pad it down to prepare it for being boxed.
All the while, I couldn’t get over the volunteer euphoria that I was feeling and that everyone seemed to be feeling. Nothing beats being able to help those in need and only get out of it a stronger sense of what you can do for others.
LASER is continuing their Haiti relief efforts today until 4 pm while an additional day of packaging possibly tomorrow. Go out and help out those who are in need.
Before I go, between 5 pm and 8 pm last night we packaged 60,000 meals for the Haitian people. I was part of that effort and you can be too, so go and help!
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