We all get caught up in our own lives. I know I have. From my kid heading to Egypt (Boo, I miss you so much) for a year to study Arabic to taking friends home for the holidays to that darn Master's degree (just a few more classes, it's half over now!). It's my stuff, and I'm wrapped up. Rick isn't though:

He has been asking listeners to stop by his outdoor studio and donate either food or money to help Project S.H.A.R.E and Carlisle C.A.R.E.S., two organizations that help feed those in need in Central Pennsylvania. This is the third year he's spent a week outdoors.

Unlike the dearth of right wing talk radio hosts who spend every moment on air spreading lies and hate, Smith is a breath of fresh air. All he is aiming for is that "people will empty their hearts and wallets and grocery bags and help us out."

Could you imagine if this was your life? Rick's doing this for a week, and for a third time, to draw attention, but what if this was a day to day reality:

According to a news report, "the reality is I've got three small children and I can't imagine if this were my reality. I can't imagine where I would go or what I would do," said Smith.

I can't even begin to imagine. What are the kinds of decisions, lack of decisions, forced situations that can lead you to being this kind of screwed? As wrapped up in my own stuff as I am, as many of are, it's a breath of fresh air to hear about folks like Rick, doing what should be done, drawing attention to a real issue, and one that often flies under our radar.

You can donate online for Rick's effort here. You can also listen to Rick's show online at www.thericksmithshow.com and if you're in Central PA, you can pick up his talk radio show every weeknight from 9PM-12AM on WIOO 97.9FM and WEOO 93.9FM. I'm a bit partial to Rick, probably because of what he talks about, working men and women, and there's also the time he had me on the show. What can I say, I'm still a little wrapped up, huh?

If you get a chance check out Rick's blog and webcam and see how his homeless week has gone thericksmithshow.com And, give him some love.

Blessed Be

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I gave to Oxfam during the Tsunami and I gave to the humane society for Katrina (mostly because I couldn't bring myself to give to the Red Cross or the Salvation Army, and if I couldn't give to the humans, I had to give to the animals).

This morning, I gave to ShelterBox. It wasn't much, but I figure, if I gave $$ and I can inspire 5 more folks to give $$ even just a dollar, and then they inspire 5 others and those 5 inspire 5 each, well, you get the point.

So, What's in the box? From Shelterbox:

• One 49 gallon box (The Shelterbox) initially the container for delivery of the materials listed below. Once delivered, can be used as water tank, food store, cot, table, etc.

• One ten-person tent, including two fabric interior privacy partitions, outer fly-sheet and repair kit. These tents are considered ‘winter suitable’ by international relief standards.

• Vinyl insulated sleeping mats and lightweight thermal blankets. More compact than sleeping bags, these mats and blankets have multiple uses. The blanket can also be fashioned to catch water, as a tarp, etc. while the mat also serves as a ground ‘table’ for meals, or tent rugs.

• One pack of 180 water purification tablets or a water purification kit; and one 5 gallon flat-pack water container (Each tablet will purify a full container of water providing 1,800 gallons of clean drinking water which should be sufficient for a family of ten for up to three months).

• Two 2.1 gallon, collapsible, plastic water carriers.

• One collapsible trenching shovel

• Rope, 164 foot

• Repellant-treated mosquito netting

• Ten PVC Ponchos/ ten HD plastic bags

• Tool kit in canvas bag: hachet, jack-knife, screwdriver, hammer, hoe head etc.

• Multi-fueled cook stove

• Eating utensils: enamel plates/cups

• Children's activity kit-simple school supplies, stickers and coloring book

I'm just a working woman in the US. But I didn't think I could stand by and not try to help, even in a small way, my fellow human beings in Haiti.

Please, take a minute and give. If you can't give, and some can't, forward the information to others, perhaps one of those people can, and then encourage those folks to forward the information to others... If we can't help in Haiti now, perhaps we can make sure that Shelterbox has enough resources to make sure that they can provide the next box to the next family in the next disaster area.

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