Have a HeART For Haiti, A Blog Event

"One love, one heart, let's get together and feel all right." (Bob Marley)


Sounds pretty good, if you ask me. As have so many of you, I've been thinking about what I can do to really help the people of Haiti. One of my students, Ashley, moved to the United States from Haiti six years ago. Most of her family, including her grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins remained in Haiti. In December, Ashley's mother went back to Haiti to care for her aging parents. When we heard the news about the earthquake in Haiti last week, Ashley had no idea if any of her family had survived. The next day, thankfully, her mother was able to call Ashley. She was alive, but Ashley's grandparents were confirmed among the dead. Their bodies had been recovered from the debris of their home, which had collapsed. Ashley's mother was uncertain about the fates of the other family members. She said that an aunt's home had been destroyed, and she thought that several children were buried with their mother under the rubble. Subsequent phone calls revealed that rescue workers thought that they could hear Ashley's aunt calling for help, but when crews were able to get to the victims, they had all perished. I tell you this horrible story because, for me, this catastrophe wears a personal face: Ashley's. I see her every day 4th period. Sometimes she cries, but she comes to school. She won't stay home to grieve because, at home she would be alone. Her father flew to Haiti, last Saturday, to be with his wife. So, Ashley comes to school every day because that's where her friends are. That's where she finds comfort.

So, I've thought about what I could do to help, and I have a plan. But I need your help. I spoke with Rebecca, of Recuerda mi Corazon, last Thursday night about my idea. Rebecca has organized the Cigarbox Shrine Auction for the children of Oaxaca for the past two years, and she was kind enough to speak with me at some length and offered many helpful suggestions.

What I want to do is have a art auction to benefit recovery efforts for Haiti.

Here's how you can help:

1.Place this logo on your blog and link it to this invitation













(created for this event and dedicated to some of the most inspirational people I know, The Three Muses)and Creative Therapy).


2. Create a piece of art (or use something you've already made) and donate it to our auction, to be held in June, 2010. Since this is an international event, please consider things like size and shipping cost before you create your art.

3. Pass this information on to as many people as humanly possible, via your blog, Facebook etc, and return yourself in June to bid.


To participate, here's what you do:


1. Email me personally at kathymccullen@aol.com with your name and preferred link.

2. Create some art!

3.When the new auction site is opened in June, design and upload your own personal page with with photographs of your art and artist's information.

4. Agree to mail your art to the winning bidder, when auction closes, and to donate the proceeds to the Red Cross. All payments for art must be made in the form of a money order or cashier's check made out to the Red Cross, to make things as easy on the artist as possible.


All you have to do now is make a pledge to help. I'll give you further instructions, as time for the actual auction draws near.

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." (Buddha)


Since I started my blog two years ago, I have been overwhelmed by the kindness and support of strangers all over the world who have become my friends. This is an unbelievably generous and compassionate community of people, and, together, we can make a difference. Together, let's light a candle.

Love,
Kathy