Atiliay noun, a play off the French word “atelier”; a workshop/studio, esp of an artist or designer; my creative space

Notes plural noun, a brief record of facts, topics, thoughts written down as an aid to memory; a short informal letter

 

How do we find hope when there is so much chaos and destruction? Where can we turn to for inspiration in difficult and sad times--does that even exist? What can we do when we feel helpless watching these situations unfold? As Mr. Rogers once shared, we look for the helpers. 

Last night I was reading about a man in southern Lebanon who has been running an animal shelter and caring for 300 dogs. With the recent airstrikes hitting his region and as thousands of people tried to leave, he has stayed behind not only to care for the dogs he already has but to drive around and rescue strays and pets who have been left behind to feed and provide shelter for. It made me feel so much gratitude for this person I have never met, that there are still really good people out there, doing what they can to help, giving us hope, inspiring us, showing us that humanity still exists.

Look for the helpers.

 

In the past weeks and months, there have been many stories of bravery, dedication, community, and kindness that shine through the darkness. 

 

And when we don't know what to do and feel helpless, we can support the helpers by donating money, time, fundraising, or spreading the word. Below are some non-profits and resources to check out who are helping those affected by natural disasters and war, organized by location:

 

Beloved Asheville 
“Our immediate focus has been on critical necessities like food, water, and healthcare for survival and stability. As winter looms, we are securing warm and safe housing for the displaced.”

 

“Please consider a donation to help us continue delivering these needed supplies. Once we unload we can transport animals in our trailer if needed. We will be back throughout the week to assist with animal evacuations as the coordinating teams are ready to start mobilizing those resources.”

 

“We are working tirelessly to get your incredible donations to those in need, but the demand is overwhelming—we’re sending supplies out almost as fast as they’re coming in. Your support is still hugely needed to help our friends in these hard-hit areas recover! Every bit helps as we continue to deliver these much-needed supplies to Western NC. Thank you for your continued support and generosity.”

 

“If people join my program, Money Bootcamp, they’ll be helping me spend my time giving aid to people here. While I will need their patience on live events for a few weeks, all the bootcamp material is still immediately available to them. And I will deliver, with gratitude, a 1:1 to everyone who joins during this emergency. I will also give the best tax updates & live sessions this year. Plus, they’ll be helping me get emergency tax money into the pockets of people who need it.” 

“Hurricane Milton has made landfall in Florida after a series of tornadoes earlier today, bringing life-threatening flooding and a path of destruction to vulnerable families just hit by Hurricane Helene. Baby2Baby already has 600,000 emergency supplies including diapers, formula, blankets and hygiene products on the ground in Florida and additional shipments of critical items on the way. Donate to our hurricane relief fund at the link in bio to ensure we can reach children and babies relying on our support in the wake of this horrific disaster.”
 

“Feeding Tampa Bay and our Disaster Readiness team are FEMA trained and prepared to handle disaster situations. In partnership with the Tampa Bay area Emergency Operations Centers, we work directly with local emergency management operations to provide food, water, and hygiene items to our service area, state, and neighboring states during crisis situations. Our goal is to make sure you have the resources you need to prepare and recover throughout storm season. So far we have supported neighbors with 538,291 meals at 56 emergency distributions in our most affected areas, in addition to our daily efforts, for a total of 1,507,607."

 

Palestine 101 - A Mini Guide & An Action Guide
Both guides linked above come in the form of Instagram slides. They are informative, easy and quick to read, and understand. For a more comprehensive list of resources and the Mini Guide in a downloadable PDF format, visit Protect Palestine.

 

The mini guides include a section on where to donate. One organization listed is Operation Olive Branch to support direct aid which led me to PAL Humanity Initiative who primarily distributes diapers, menstrual/hygiene kits, and formula. Both are GoFundMe pages--it's beautiful to see the support and solidarity in the comments here.
 

PAL Humanity Initiative 
 

Houssein Hamza is the man I was reading about at the start of this note. “As long as I can reach the dogs and leave them food and water, I will not leave. I have a responsibility. I can’t leave them.” You can donate via PayPal linked above or through their FundAHope page.
 

Sunflower of Peace 
“We work to empower Ukrainians to survive and withstand the grave challenges of this war by fulfilling their medical, humanitarian, and psychological needs. With offices both in the United States and in Ukraine and an extensive global network of volunteers, we can identify critical gaps, procure needed supplies, and deliver our aid to Ukraine's most dire destinations. In all we do, we are guided by the principles of transparency, accountability, agility, and collaboration. Volunteers are the heart, brain, and engine of our operations. Sunflower of Peace is a global movement that empowers all supporters of Ukraine to make a lasting and meaningful impact.”

 

I try my best to share organizations and resources that I've vetted and feel are good places making an impact and I encourage you to do the same. Here are two places you can start to get more info on a variety of non-profits.
 

Wrapping this up with a few more words of wisdom from Fred Rogers:

 

"All of us, at some time or other, need help. Whether we're giving or receiving help, each one of us has something valuable to bring to this world. That's one of the things that connects us as neighbors—in our own way, each one of us is a giver and a receiver."

 

"The media shows the tiniest percentage of what people do. There are millions and millions of people doing wonderful things all over the world, and they're generally not the ones being touted in the news."

 

Take good care and talk to you soon,

 

PS: Here are 61 more Mr. Rogers' quotes that are wise and comforting in that Mr. Rogers kind of way. I grew up watching his show and really liked it when he fed his fish but the puppets always kind of freaked me out lol Anyone else?

 

 

 

 

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