How Can I Help?

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how can i help

My Facebook feed has been full of pictures that really just break my heart. Yes, a tragedy is happening in Columbia and much of South Carolina. So many have lost everything — homes, possessions and worst of all, loved ones.

Yet through all the destruction, my neighborhood was barely impacted. It feels … strange.

Just a few miles from me, there are people without water, electricity and food. Shelters have opened a few miles down the road to assist those in need, but it seems odd that somehow my family has come through unscathed.

On Sunday after the storm, we were able to drop off food, toiletries and clothing to a shelter in Lexington. I was so overwhelmed at how gracious and giving everyone was — and I’m not talking about the volunteers (although they were wonderful) — I am talking about people who were there because they were displaced.

They needed water.

They needed food.

They only had the clothes on their backs.

Still, they showed spirit and faith and hope for what was to come. To say the least, I was humbled.

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Now what I see mostly in my feed is “How can I help?” While the worst is over in some ways, we are not finished with the impact this “1000 year” flood will have on our community. For some, the work has just begun.

I know there will be negative impacts, but the biggest impression I have from all of this is how much people want to help. Shelters are receiving food, water and clothing from every direction. So many of my mom friends are helping in any way they can — picking up donations in parking lots and delivering them, making meals for those in need, I even saw someone offering babysitting for first responders.

South Carolina moms, you are a wonder! 

Thank you for helping even when you are not sure what is needed.

Thank you for helping even when you have four children to take care of yourself.

Thank you for helping when you have to worry about your own house being threatened by the waters.

Thank you for helping when your husband is out working on lines somewhere.

Thank you for helping when you are pregnant with twins and have another set to take care of at home.

We depend on mothers every day to help take care of their families. In this time of crisis, many of them are not only doing their normal day-to-day tasks, but also helping out their community any way they can. And again, I am humbled.

Keep up the good work, Columbia moms! You rock beyond all expectations!

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