In light of the recent earthquakes, below are some helpful tips prepared by Sonali Fiske.  Thank you Sonali!

 

How many of us have an earthquake emergency kit in our car let alone in our home? Assuming that you have the later, PLEASE consider assembling one for your car. We commute a lot & while we're surrounded by resources/supplies within our home, if we're lucky enough to be there should an earthquake strike, we don't always know what to do if in our car. I don't know, but I feel as if the year 2010 is giving us plenty of guidance.

Here's a checklist of items you should have in a car earthquake kit. This is based solely on my own research & it's not endorsed by FEMA or any other disaster agency, so it's not a comprehensive list. Make sure supplies are adequate for you + one person. Think self-sufficiency!

These items need to be compact & kept in a nylon backpack, so that it's ready to go if you're forced to travel on foot. (Also, you can purchase various ready-made kits online for about $45-100). Make sure you periodically check your kit for expiration dates, etc.
 

• Energy food bars (or dried fruit, nuts, crackers) - preferably with 2400 calories or more to keep you fueled for an extended period of time
• Light sticks - Usually has 12-hours of life or a shake light (which charges when you shake it). Don't bother with the battery-operated flashlights.
• Emergency potable water pouches/boxes - not the plastic bottles, they only have a 6-month shelf-life. The U.S. Coast Guard approved boxes/pouches have a 5-year shelf-life & safer to keep in your cars.
• Running shoes - especially for those of us that are prone to wear high heels & if you're forced to travel on foot.
• Whistle. Helpful if you need rescue. Each firefighter has one.
• Dust mask. Reduces risk of inhaling toxins & dust
• Multipurpose knife. Swiss Army type knife is best.
• Antibacterial Wipes. To ward off germs
• First Aid kit: (Place all these in a Ziploc bag) band aids, pain med, antibiotic ointment, sterile gauze, antiseptic wipes, tweezers, vinyl gloves, (and for the girls, tampons).
• Contact info: VERY IMPORTANT - on a 3x5 card, have loved ones phone numbers/addresses). If the cell towers are down, you may not have access to your phone. And how many of us have numbers memorized. Not me
• Water Purification Tablets. To purify unsanitary water. One tablet purifies one liter of water
• Emergency Blanket - The Myler ones retain 90% of body heat
• Travel-sized toilet paper/Tissues.
1. Cash. At least $50 in cash, with a couple of dollars in loose change. Most banks/ATM's may be out of service.
2. Radio. Your car radio is your primary source for emergency broadcast information. Make sure it's always in working order.
3. Map. Have a map of you local area, in the event GPS systems are unavailable.

Also, for those of you in the OC, check out the following class. For those of you outside of OC, please check with your local Red Cross chapter to see if they're offering these classes in your area:

Red Cross to Offer Free Earthquake Preparedness Class

SANTA ANA, Calif.

– Southern California woke up to a relatively minor earthquake this morning, but what if it were larger? What if it were the closer to the magnitude of those that struck Haiti or Chile?

The American Red Cross is offering a free disaster and earthquake preparedness class on March 30 at 6:30 p.m. at its Orange County headquarters, located at 600 Park Center Drive in Santa Ana.

Attendees will learn about different types of disasters that can impact our community and how to take basic steps to prepare for each.

“Preparedness is at the core of our mission,” said Monica Ruzich, a Red Cross preparedness specialist. “This presentation will help all of us know what to do when a disaster occurs.”

To sign up for the free presentation, please contact Monica at

mruzich@oc-redcross.org

or (714) 481-5329.

passing on this helpful info from Shwetha Sridharan

Dear Friends,

As I am sure you have heard, Haiti experienced a devastating earthquake yesterday.  Measuring 7.0, it has affected millions of people.  Yesterday's earthquake was one of the largest ever to hit the area - the last time an earthquake this strong struck Haiti was in the 18th century.

I was researching the best ways to help and was overwhelmed by how many organizations were accepting donations. 

So in your search to help the people of Haiti, I wanted to share what I found:

Donate Here:

Partners in Health
https://donate.pih.org/page/contribute/haiti_earthquake?source=earthquake&subsource=homepage

Interaction's list of vetted organizations (scroll down)

http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

Architecture for Humanity
http://www.architectureforhumanity.org/updates/2010-01-13-haiti-quake-appeal-update-massive-quake-and-aftershocks-caus
Text "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to Red Cross International Response Fund
The US State Department very quickly put together this number to channel relief contributions directly to first responders who will be on the ground there.  The amount will be charged on your next phone bill.
6. Educate

Questions and Answers about the Earthquake

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20100113/sc_livescience/thedevastatinghaitiearthquakequestionsandanswers


Thanks, and please feel free to forward this to all your family and friends!

Shwetha

The Walk for Hope is about bringing the community together and inspiring service, but we also hope it can be used as an instrument for non-profits to spread awareness, and for Walkers to introduce their loved ones to the causes they feel most passionately about.

Below is an email that one of our Walkers, Chelsea, sent to her friends and family about the charity she has chosen to support.  If you are interested in fundraising for a charity, you can use her message as a template.

Hey there!

My profile's link for the Walk for Hope is http://www.bethecause.org/walkforhope/web/walker/107.  From MY personal profile page you guys will be able to find a link to the charity I am supporting and after making a pledge you will be directed to the charity's website to make the actual donation.

If you have any questions at all, please let me know! Thanks in advance!

Chelsea

 Jay and I are extremely lucky; as the receiving end of info@bethecause.org our email inboxes are always filled with inspiring messages from all over  the world, like this one from 14 year old Chaz.  Thank you for sharing this with us, Chaz!  Keep on doing what you're doing

Hi, my name is Chaz...I'm 14 years old and I wrote and recorded a song called (R)evolve. I really believe that this song and its video could help change the world, and I feel it is a common goal between us. I would really love it if you checked it out, because your cause fits with the message of what we are trying to get out there. So, here's a link to my YouTube video...
 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=viaJE-qiwO4
 
I hope you like it. :)  Please feel free to let me know your thoughts and or share with others if you like it.
Thanks a bunch--Chaz

Inspiring email sent in by Julie Nguyen, a 2008 Walk for Hope participant.

 

I want to share something with you that I wrote a while ago for English class. It needed to be a narrative of something significant in our lives. It's not well written, but it's about walk for hope

Walk for hope really changed my life and impacted me with all the inspirational quotes. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of this event

“Be Unrestricted”

A Walk for Hope Narrative 

      Be bold. Be in awe. Be passionate. It was one day of the year where baggage was completely thrown off your shoulders, where no one focuses on negativity, where nothing molds itself into the dark and harsh corners of the world. One day of the year, one day to be true to yourself. One day to Walk for Hope, one day to Be the Cause.

     Picket signs were set up among this three mile peace walk. Inspirational quotes splattered with hundreds of different colors, hand drawn pictures, and styles of creativity were put out on display telling me to “speak your mind even if your voice shakes.” Telling me “the only thing that’s worst than being blind, is having sight but no vision.” I took pictures of the quotes I liked the most. After about a mile, there was an activity. I saw strips of white paper fluttering from a tree, all with words I could not quite make out. I was approached by several volunteers. “Can you write the name of someone you want to forgive? If not, you can write your definition of forgiveness on it.”

      I thought about this for a long time. What is there for me to forgive? Isn’t it just, acknowledging someone and caring for them after you’ve had disputes or being appreciative of them after prolonging fights and arguments? It really isn’t that simple. Forgiveness is not a word commonly thrown around.

      My mother walked out on my family, for, I guess you can say a better one. I once had a grip on everything, planned my own pavement towards success. When she left, I saw my grades slip and everything I once had so much control and order over fall flat out of my hands. I’ve seen her cause endless tears to my sister. I’ve seen my dad get sick and weary over her with a new struggle on his plate, trying to keep this family together. But it was far too late. Our family fell apart, shattered to pieces. Life was not as easy as it once was. I was now in second priority to my mother, compared to when I was the focus of her world. I’ve hated her for so long, felt so frustrated and neglected that my own mother left me. It was as though I was no longer important. Still today I know I am not important. It took me endless tears to finally realize it was time to move on.

      I stared back onto this fresh strip of white paper. I grabbed a sharpie from the table and closed my eyes. Swiftly bringing my sharpie to my paper, I opened my eyes and wrote down four words—four words that changed my life forever.

      I forgive you mother.

      

She abandoned me. I understand that, and I cannot stress it enough how much anger I have towards her. But she was never a bad mother. Upon bringing me up, I’ve learned hard work and sacrifice through her. I’ve learned right from wrong, high morals and standings, and for that I have thanks to give. I’ve learned to not let two years of pain overshadow all of this. “Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine.” My wounds will heal if I let it. And I did. 

 
Six months ago you volunteered at the 2008 Walk for Hope and helped make the event a HUGE success! Because of you, last year was our largest walk to date, with about a thousand walkers raising close to $15,000 for various non-profit organizations.
Thank you. It couldn't have happened without you.

...and now we have a date for WFH 2009!
This year's Walk will take place on SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17--six months from now. If at any time during these next six months you hear, see, or experience something inspiring, please hold onto that thought! Then, when you have chance, take a moment to share that idea with us so that we can attempt to bring that inspiration to the 2009 Walk for Hope. 

Ways to Get Involved 

Join the Walk for Hope Group on our newly launched website: www.bethecause.com

Planning meetings will ramp up in June, but you can check the group for updates. 

Submit a Quote
If there's an inspirational quote that is especially meaningful to you, submit it by May 15 and it will be considered for inclusion at this year's Walk.  Please include the author's full name.

Sign Up for a Team

An event of this magnitude needs strong leadership. There are nine different Walk for Hope teams: Publicity, Registration, Quotes, Entertainment, Registration, Food, Activity Stations, Booths, and Logistics. Role descriptions are listed here. If interested in leading a team, leave a comment in the discussion thread.

Activity Stations

How can we make the event more innovative and interactive? Past activity stations have included the Tree of Forgiveness, Random Act of Kindness Garden, and Letter to Yourself. Share your ideas here.

Website Development 

Location: Virtual
Time Commitment: 2-10 hours per week
We're looking for a volunteer who can give our current Walk for Hope website (www.bethecause.org/walksite) a complete overhaul. We have an idea of the changes we'd like to make, but lack the technological know-how.

Keep the inspiration flowing, and we'll see you in six months!
-WFH Committee

love notes left by visitorsSeva Cafe,Thank you for a nourishing and delicious meal. It's a beautiful experiment you have going on here. I will be back to volunteer and participate.It touches me that there are kind hearted people who want to simply enjoy the act of caring for others...I appreciate, am humbled, enjoy the emotion, thededication, the time, the thought, the sacrifice,and the act of deciding to be a part of somethingthat is outside of caring for your own needs.I thank you, I applaud you, I appreciate you, I hopeyou are given back beyond your giving, not for thereason of getting what you put into it, because thatwould be for a selfish purpose, but for the reason offeeling full in your accomplishments in your ownchoices and fulfillment in who you are.The waitress, Thu Trang, was very welcoming. We stumbled on this by fate. This is amazing. What a difference you make in the community!Hey! Thanks for your love & generosity! You are the people who make Long Beach beautiful! Much appreciation & respect. With thanks, Jared James GarciaI'm grateful for these times, for the lessons I've learned, for the love I've experienced, & for a healthy beating heart that allows me to love. I'm grateful for hope & hopeful for another day to be grateful. Be open....Open your eyes, your soul, your heart to the worldit will accept you.Ambition is greater than pessimism. Stop creating grief & start a SevaI am visiting from Sacramento but I used to live here and volunteered at the very first Seva (Royal Cup). Thanks for being. Long Beach is lucky to have this effort.Let go of the river's edge and allow love to be your guide.In other words...go with the flow. What we resist persists-Non-Attachment-This is one of the most coolest, unique experiments my family & I have ever been in! I loved everything about it! We all did! This is a wonderful experience, just like what Jesus said, "There is more joy in giving than in receiving." I want to apologize on behalf of my family; we were not aware the donations were cash only, and I know the amount is not sufficient. Thank you so much for the wonderful atmosphere and service." -The Coronado FamilyI am going to give as much as I can next time I come, you all have been so amazing (as always)... I will continue to tell good people about you because it is always good to know about amazing organizations such as yours.Be the change...it's all about the choices we make.Don't wait for circumstances to change to let yourself be happy.Food came out fast :)Salad is super delicioso!BTC is nice and cheesy!Lasagna is better than Olive Garden!Our sever, Amy, was the BEST!!Great idea, everyone was super nice!You are all beautiful people with beautiful hearts. Keep doing what you do...it is greatly appreciated.I had a wonderful experience at Seva Cafe, It's nice to know that there are some good loving people left in the world. I hope and prey that this idea catches hold and spreads throughout the country, and maybe more people will begin to realize that things aren't so bad if you take time to love, care for and share with your fellow man.O! That night whose breath I hear!To feelthat altogetherstill - peace - chaos -rapture!Crackling and flowing, the fire of change,Forever!O! To know that love is love;ravineof love and night!-UnknownThis is beautiful.

Upon leaving the Seva Cafe this week, patrons were handed envelopes containing a five-dollar bill and the following message:A man there wasThey called him madThe more he gaveThe more he had.- John BunyanHappy New Year!In the spirit of giving, someone has gifted you a $5 bill, with one small request...that you use it to spread beauty and kindness in the world.If you feel moved to, you can share your experience by leaving a comment on the bethecause.org blog post entitled: "A Beautiful 2009"Wishing you a BEAUTIFUL new year,Your Friend.

What I love about Be the Cause is that these aren't just service projects.Of course I want to help other people, but ultimately I am the one who benefits the most.We're beginning to plan our Awareness Monologues where the format is similar to the Vagina Monologues but in this case our topic is domestic violence.We just had our first meeting and when Supun read aloud the domestic violence checklist, in my head I was thinking check, check, check, check check check and check.Immediately I said to myself don't be dramatic. Every relationship is going to have problems. No one is perfect. I was never locked in a closet or beat with a golf club, unlike someone I know. It was never like that. Sometimes things happen, but I was never one of "those girls."I'm not trying to say I know better than them-- its just that I would know, or I think I would know, if it was happening to me, right? I would know the difference, I hope.When does a crappy relationship become domestic violence? A few of us will be going through a 40 hr domestic violence training course in preparation for this event. I know that whatever we learn will help us put on a really great, meaningful show, but more than anything else, this is for me. This will help ME define that line so that I have no doubt when it's being crossed. For future reference.

The Walk for Hope is a reflective journey that leads the walker along a tree-lined path decorated with lovingly created handmade quotes, all selected with great care for their insight and inspiration. In addition to these beautiful quotes, there are several activity stations along the way to give each walker the opportunity to pause, interact, reflect and sow seeds of change and growth. Here is a brief description of each activity station: Activity Station #1: Our Vision of the WorldImagine, what do we want our world to look like? Let's draw it! Markers, crayons, pencils and paint will be available for us to collectively draw our unique vision for the world. Is it world peace? Unity? Diversity? Green power? As walkers encounter this activity they will see what those who came before them have created and build upon this vision. The finished masterpiece will be presented at the main stage at the closing of the Walk for Hope.Activity Station #2: Tree of ForgivenessEach new day is an opportunity for us to be the change we wish to see in the world. With this in mind, when you enter this activity station, you will be given a paper leaf (or leaves) to write a personal message(s) of forgiveness. Whether it is an expression of forgiveness toward a world leader, someone in your community, a family member, a friend, or yourself, the messages we create will cause us to ponder upon and plant the seeds of change deep within our hearts. By the conclusion of the Walk for Hope, this amazing Tree will have been magically transformed with hundreds of colorful leaves of forgiveness, each with its own inspiring message to be shared by all whom participate. Activity Station #3: Garden of KindnessThis activity was inspired by the Walk for Hope poster, which depicts a walker moving forward in her journey through life, unaware that her actions have left a feeling of kindness blooming in the hearts of all whom she has encountered. With this in mind, on the last mile of the walk, each participant will enter into the Garden of Kindness and pick a beautiful, handmade daisy to take as a remembrance of their experience ... turn the daisy over to reveal a Random Act of Kindness to be performed at your leisure. To continue spreading joy and beauty in the world, you will then create and plant an act of kindness flower for the next walker.Although we may never fully know how our own lives and the lives of many others on our path of service may be touched by the things we do ... keep doing ... keep walking ... keep serving!! Additional Activities:- Path of Silence: A brief stretch of the 5K walk route will be dedicated to walking and reflecting in silence.- Free Hugs: Yes, enthusiastic Walk for Hope volunteers will be awaiting walkers at the finish line with arms wide open!- Live Art: Artists are scheduled to demonstrate live painting throughout the day.

Hello Everybody,I just want to thank all of you who participated in the Celebrating Human Greatness session on last Saturday . It was truly a inspirational evening full of with positive energy. I can still feel the waves of positive energy in me , every time I think about the session.I got quite few requests to conduct these sessions for some of your family and friends . I will be more than happy to facilitate Human greatness session for your gathering. Is one of the simplest ways to recognize the greatness in each one of us .Please check out the pictures of the session here :http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=soo1skv.avaiyb93&x=0&h=1&y=jdwoms&localeid=en_USThanks again..Regards and in Service..Vivek

Cause the BE.Below are suggestions from the 'New Concepts' breakout session at the All Hands On Meeting. We'd like to open it up to you to discuss these ideas or to share a suggestion of your own. (Thanks Srikanth for the summary!)Ann asked the question of how BTC can reach out to more of the mainstream society, not just socially conscious, eco-environmental friendly people, or service oriented individuals. Vivek: Wants to host a "Human Greatness Night" where ordinary people share their success stories and inspire each other. He has already done it with other groups, wants to bring it to BTC.Jesse: Katrina Concert in August, Peach 4 Kids involvementBill: shared story of family that came from Philippines and now living in Socal. He says kids/young teens don't have a avenue to channel their energies or grow and adapt into their new social environment. E.g. WFH was one of the few events that allowed them to do that. Possible project is a Youth Mentorship Program between BTC and kids in O.C. area? Jesse was asked about a Peace 4 Kids chapter in O.C. that could serve this need?Carolina: We should dialog with existing orgs. who are already doing similar outreach programs.Bharti shared her experiences about CASA and working with youths. Laura said it would be nice to have some kind of BTC leadership development for youths so they can come into BTC, get mentored, and eventually lead some of our projects. Dwight-Catholic Worker needs researchers to find out what other cities are doing on homelessness.

Be The Cause HoustonI want to say thank you to all those wonderful volunteers and supporters that made Cuddle Kits drive possible. It was a wonderful success. From Cuddle kits family and the families. Millions thanks for the help. Keep up with the good work.....................-Tammy Chan

Below are some powerful statistics (collected by Sonali) that gave us something to think about throughout the Change of Heart Weekend. * We have the means! The financial costs to end hunger are relatively slight. The UN Development Program estimates that the basic health and nutrition needs of the world's poorest people could be met for an additional $13 billion a year. Animal lovers in the United States and Europe spend more than that on pet food each year. Bread for the World, 2008 * The poorest and most marginalized groups in the world are small-holder farmers and rural landless people in the developing world; they make up three quarters of the undernourished or hungry people in the world. Bread For The World, 2008 * If all the food produced worldwide were distributed equally, every person, man, woman, and child, would be able to consume enough calories per day that no one would have to go hungry. "Imagine," as John Lennon said. But of course, food is not distributed equally; it's hardly even close. Bread For The World, 2008 * In 2006, about 10 million children died before they reached their fifth birthday. Almost all of these deaths occurred in developing countries – 3/4 of them in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, the two regions that also suffer from the highest rates of hunger. Most of these deaths are attributed, not to outright starvation, but to diseases that move in on vulnerable children whose bodies have been weakened by hunger. Bread For The World, 2008 * 4 percent of U.S. households experience hunger. Some people in these households frequently skip meals or eat too little, sometimes going without food for a whole day. 11.1 million people, including 430 thousand children, live in these homes. Bread For The World * In 2007, an average of 26.5 million people used food stamps each month. Bread For The World, 2008 * 1 = 10. For every minute that you eat, ten children die of hunger and malnutrition. * More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day. Of these, only 8 per cent are victims of famine or other emergency situations. More than 90 per cent are suffering long-term malnourishment and micronutrient deficiency. UN Millennium Project. www.unmillenniumproject.org * More than 2.6 billion people – over 40 per cent of the world's population – do not have basic sanitation, and more than one billion people still use unsafe sources of drinking water. UN Millennium Project, 2008 * Every year, six million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday. UN Millennium Project, 2008 * Today, the silent killers of poverty, hunger and easily preventable diseases, claimed the lives of some 26,500 children in the world. That is equivalent to: • 1 child dying every 3 seconds • 18 children dying every minute • A 2004 Asian Tsunami occurring every week • An Iraq-scale death toll every 15–36 days • Almost 10 million children dying every year Some 60 million children dying between 2000 and 2006 In spite of the scale of this daily/ongoing catastrophe, it rarely manages to achieve, much less sustain, prime-time, headline coverage. Globalissues.org * To satisfy all the world's sanitation and food requirements would cost only $13 billion, hardly as much as the people of the United States and the European Union spend each year on perfume. Ignacio Ramonet, "The Politics of Hunger." * Around 27-28 percent of all children in developing countries are estimated to be underweight or stunted. The two regions that account for the bulk of the deficit are South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. If current trends continue, the Millennium Development Goals target of halving the proportion of underweight children will be missed by 30 million children, largely because of slow progress in Southern Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. United Nations, Human Development Report, 2008. * In the U.S., 40-50% of all food ready for harvest never gets eaten; the impact of this waste is not just financial. Environmentally this leads to: • Wasteful use of chemicals such as fertilizers and pesticides • More fuel used for transportation; • More rotting food, creating more methane — one of the most harmful greenhouse gases that contributes to climate change. "Costing the Earth," BBC Radio, 2007 * 26,500-30,000 children die each day due to poverty. And they "die quietly in some of the poorest villages on earth, far removed from the scrutiny and the conscience of the world. Being meek and weak in life makes these dying multitudes even more invisible in death." UNICEF, 2006 * Worldwide, almost two in three people lacking access to clean water survive on less than $2 a day, with one in three living on less than $1 a day. United Nations Development Report, 2006 * Approximately 790 million people in the developing world are still chronically undernourished, almost two-thirds of whom reside in Asia and the Pacific. World Resources Institute, 2004 * About 25,000 people die every day of hunger or hunger-related causes. This is one person every three and a half seconds. United Nations, 2007

i am blessed.the universe has decided to shower me with gifts. i think i'm going to collapse from the weightlast week Madhavi and I were manning a BTC booth. we were giving out Tsunamikas, which are these tiny hand-made dolls sewn together from scraps by women who survived the tsunami in India. People kept asking us how much they cost, and we kept saying freeeeee!a woman gets out her checkbook and we tell her we're not accepting donations today...she presses a $40 check into my hand anyway.* * *on Thanksgiving we're preparing a meal for 200 people at the homeless drop-in center. for the last few weeks we've been trying to solicit ingredients and/or gift certificate donations from grocery stores, with very little luck.then Trader Joes says they will give me about $30 worth of groceries.i walk down an aisle trying to figure out what to buy, and one of the store managers runs up to me with a cart. we start throwing things into the basket...what about this what about that do you want some of this? i say can i get corn? OK! and we practically fly thru the store like contestants in Supermarket Sweep. i look at our cart and i ask him is this too much?he says let's get more...when we get to the checkout i'm $20 over. i look at him and he says "good, girl" then he's gone! he zips off with the receipt, i barely have time to say thank you.* * *i'm looking for Thanksgiving decorations for the event, 99 cent store doesn't have much of a selection so i go with natural beauty: leaves and sticks. i drive around on random errands and all of a sudden it seems the streets are littered with orange and gold leaves! Even the trees give me gifts! on my way home i get out of my car to collect pine cones.* * *someone is not letting me pay. so when i go out to eat with BTC, magically my bill is paid. when i get to the counter, the cashier won't take my money. or the waitress tells me an anonymous person has covered me. and i know who it is! i know its him, most of the time. but it still happens even when he's not there.speaking of, the other night he cut in front of me at the parking structure exit, then when i pulled up to the kiosk the parking attendant smiled and told me to go through because someone had already paid my parking fee. do you see what i mean?all the time....* * *i'm going to Sri Lanka next month... my mom doesn't exactly approve, and occasionally she will let me hear it.when am i going to start working again? that's a popular question tooalthough her words disagree sometimes, at the end of the day her actions support me 100%and the reality is, i know that i would not be going, if not for my parents.i could not spend my time volunteering right now, if not for my parents.i know i'll have to go back to work eventually, but this time right now is a gifteveryday is a giftand i am collapsing.....

this past weekend at Lights On was quietonly a few people were releasedbut there were 2 people I got to spend a lot of time talking toone was a girl who spent a month in jail for missing a DUI meetingshe spent those 30 days thinking and getting her life in ordershe's from San Diego but she wants to come back to Santa Ana every weekend to give the girls in jail free color and cuts (she's a hair stylist) to make them feel pretty :)the kind of energy she gave off was so positive and wonderful...I am still smiling from it.when her ride picked her up, she even came back to give us foodanother guy stopped by the RV for some coffee, he was an older man who was released from jail a long time ago but lost everything while serving his time and has since been homeless.he talked about how both of his parents died while he was in prison and he couldn't do anything about ithis advice: if you have a mother, tell her you love her!!the more he spoke, the more my heart broke...he was was the sweetest man ever but he's been through so muchhe'd say things like i know it will get better. you guys are here with me tonight i'm so lucky!it goes both ways, we are so lucky to have each other

My strict-traditional-filipino parents have this paranoid notion that I spend my nights talking to men in internet chatrooms, which is RIDICULOUS -- I know, since I spend Saturday nights talking to guys outside the Santa Ana jailbecause...on Saturday nights/Sunday mornings, BTC partners up with Saint Vincent De Paul for the Lights On Project, which is a plain humble RV parked down the street from the jail, 11pm-4am almost every night of the year.People who've just been released can stop by to use a cellphone, grab a cup of coffee and some snacks or a cigarette, find a sweatshirt if its cold out, and wait for their rides to pick them up. Completely free.As a volunteer, it involves a lot of waiting.Sometimes no one is released until 2 or 3am.Last Saturday I brought my prep book thinking I might study during down time (applying for a masters in public service). We used the book to prop up a crock pot of soup so that the extension cord could reach the electrical outlet.Lesson #1: Application is better than theory.If only I could explain that when I mail in my GRE scores, you know?Anyhow, when people are finally released, it's probably not at all what you're probably thinking it should be.If you are in any way hesitant about volunteering at Lights On, you might be a little disappointed.Everyone is pretty normal.However, last Saturday we did meet someone from an obscure band who could maybe possibly be nominated for a grammy this year!You heard it here first.Other brilliant things I heard while sitting on that sidewalk..(While trying to convince a homeless woman to go to a shelter)Her response: Don't worry about me, I'm used to it. I like looking at the stars. I've been in jail for a long time, the last thing I want to do is stare at walls right now. I want to look at cute guys.Ha!then I spent most of the night bonding over a bowl of soup with a nice old man named Richard, reminiscing about all the different places we've been, and his sister who passed away a long time ago. By the end of the night Richard and I were both wiping our tears on crumpled napkins, and in the background I could hear Supun's voice asking people if they needed jackets.Not a bad way to spend a Saturday night.If you're interested in voluteering, please email lightson@bethecause.org

You guys brighten up the world!By VergaceThank you for the food. You are good people.  Peace for lifeHi, it's just me again.  Cake & coffee are Chinese new year surprise to me. ~Pat H.Emancipate yourself from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.God is love.Life is the best of all.May peace and blessings rain down upon you for all your help and support and especially for the unconditional love which you are showing to us and the charities who all need this deeply.  May we all find the strength to love.Blessinz:May the universe bless those with pure heartz & saint like attitude you all  possess.Blessinz:  The FilmstressThe love for what you do is seen through your service.  Thanks for what was served tonight and good luck in the future.

Manuri asked me if I could write about my experience today. Before I do, I'd like to share a story.A long time ago, I was a temp data entry clerk.On my first day of work, for some odd reason I never introduced myself to my cubicle mates, a pair of middle-aged full time workers. One day became two, two became three, three days became four... the weeks passed and still we had never spoken to each other.When my workdays seemed so long and unbearable, I would listen in on their conversations and hope they might include me. I would think "maybe I should introduce myself now," but it always seemed too awkward. After all, we had been sitting next to each other for months, day in and day out, separated only by an inch of cardboard.How could we still be strangers after all that time?My temp contract ended after four months.I never introduced myself.I think about my cubicle mates from time to time. I wonder if they think about me, or if they even remember me. Probably not.I think about how long and lonely those four months were for me.I think about how different it could have been if I had only taken a second to say hello.Sometimes the simplest things seem so hard to do.Sometimes its the smallest, simplest things that make all the difference.On Jan 6, 2007, Manuri, Sonali, Supun, Kay, Ann, Gianna, and myself spent the afternoon at the corner of Forest and PCH in Laguna Beach, wearing t-shirts and holding up signs that read "FREE HUGS."Quite a few people walked by quickly without making eye contact with us. Some people politely replied "no thanks." And some people looked at us like we were crazy.Sonali said that maybe they think there's a catch. Free hugs? Why? Who are these people? What are they trying to sell? What do they want?Maybe if I wasn't the one wearing the shirt and holding the sign, who knows, maybe I would think that too.Even though some rejected our hugs, A LOT of people opened up their arms (and hearts) and let us in.I remember 1 little kid who said no at first, but later came back and gave Supun a big hug. He went to play in the sand but came back 5 minutes later for another hug. Then 5 minutes later he ran back to Supun and said "Another!!" He came back 5 or 6 times. It was the most beautiful thing.Honestly, I didn't know what to expect. I drove to Laguna, wanting to dedicate my hugs to my cubicle mates, hugs I could have given but was too afraid to. Every time someone stopped to embrace me, my heart jumped out of my chest. Who is this person? You want to hug me? Me? Why?I didn't expect this to make me so happy. Even now my heart is still jumping. It's past 3am and I'm not tired at all.To all the people who smiled at me or gave me a hug, I know you will never see this, but thank you for making my day.