Change for Haiti

Cecelia came home earlier this week and asked me if she could bring money to school. I of course said "no" because you can't really trust a five yr. old to take money to school and not lose it. In fact before Christmas she asked me for a few dollars to buy candy canes for her friends and teacher. Well, Cecelia bought them on Monday then came home and said she gave the big kids her money and they didn't give her the candy. Poor kiddo, she basically thought that they took her money, she was kind of sad about the whole situation! Turns out that the 6th graders were selling them during the week and delivering them to the classrooms during the Christmas parties on the last day of school. She just didn't understand what was going on and she didn't speak up and ask anyone after she gave them her money and didn't get anything in return. So, after that scenario I'm a little hesitant to send money with her. So when she asked me if she could bring money to school I just said "No, I don't think that's a good idea honey". Well, she explained that they have a jar set up by the secretaries office and that they are collecting change to send to Haiti. She said that she wanted to fill up the whole jar so it was over flowing from the top. She was so excited and enthusiastic about the whole thing. She asked me for all the change from my purse and I obliged, next she emptied out her piggy bank, and then she emptied out my piggy bank (which is basically just a jar of coins on my dresser). She was so proud of herself. And I'm proud of her too. In the initial aftermath of the earthquake I watched a lot of CNN coverage from Haiti so she was well aware of what was going on. I couldn't help it, it was just so engrossing and tragic! I wish I already had my BSN and was done with school. I would have gone to help in a heartbeat if I was given the opportunity. At some point I would really like to work for a local or national organization where I could go with a group as a first responder for emergencies like tsunamis in Thai land, earthquakes in Haiti or floods like Katrina. I know we all wish we could do more. Just when you think to yourself "what is the world coming to" something tragic like that happens and everyone around the world opens their hearts to help in whatever way they can, and once again I am humbled by how much good is in the hearts of people. I just hope that after all of the emergency relief is completed that people don't forget how much there will still be left to do in order to help Haiti; it is the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The people there are condemned to die young and live a really hard life while they are alive. No one should have to live like that! I just hope that the support continues once all the camera crews leave.