When I first heard about Hurricane Harvey, and the damage it was doing, I felt very detached.
-It is not anywhere near me
-I don’t personally know anyone there being affected by it
-There is a lot going on in the world right now and this is just one more peice of horrible news that I am reading about
It is easy to think that it’s not my problem
…
Today, a friend posted about the Texas Diaper Bank. It is an organization that provides diapers, wipes and other baby essentials for families in need during a crisis.
This brought it home to me.
If my home had flooded, I wouldn’t have thought to grab diapers or baby formula. I would have grabbed my family and maybe a few items that couldn’t be replaced.
I would hopefully end up in a shelter or a place of safety and would then start to think of all the daily essentials I was without. How long would my baby need to go without a diaper change?
If a stranger walked up to me and handed me a diaper and some wipes in that moment, I know I would start crying. I would be so full of gratitude for something so simple, I wouldn’t be able to help it.
A diaper wouldn’t fix all my problems, but it would fix the problem I was having in that moment and more importantly it would show me that I am not forgotten and that someone cares.
That helped me choose to make the difference that I can make.
Everyone’s experience with crisis, whether personal or removed, is different. The trigger that helps us help one another is different. But the need for help is real.
It doesn’t matter how or how much.
Below are some links that will get you started.
Coast x Coast Motherhood 