A Season for Giving: paying it forward with Stonyfield

It's hard for me not to turn away because the suffering is so intense. That's how I feel when I see images from Aleppo. To imagine, even for a moment, what it would be like if this was my life, if that was my child brings me to a place of intense emotion. I just can't sometimes. It’s not just the physical suffering, it’s the emotional trauma the absolute shock that will stay with these children, these mothers and fathers, these people for the rest of their lives. The loss, the grief, the intense anxiety, the absolute fear that war produces are unimaginable.

This year, instead of asking us to share a holiday recipe, Stonyfield asked each of it's bloggers to instead "Pay it Forward." They sent along gift cards for us to use in any way we felt compelled, to help give back. At first I thought I might use the $50 to buy coats or food for a local food pantry or maybe some toys to give to Toys for Tots or we could have donated to CHaD-all worthy causes and easily documentable experiences. I could have taken the kids with me and I could have snapped a picture of them putting coats or toys in a donation bin. It would have made for a "good" blog post.

But I just couldn't get past the images from Aleppo. So I opted to donate to aid in Aleppo through Together Rising. Donating online isn't a very "documentable" moment, so there aren't any pictures. If anything, hopefully writing about where I used the gift card will point you in the direction of where you can make a donation to a credible agency that is making a difference in Aleppo.

There are a lot of options out there when it comes to providing aid, but Together Rising specifically mapped out what the money would purchase:

• We are going to purchase and fully equip two ambulances with medicine and medical supplies for 6 months, and enable The White Helmets to rescue children and vulnerable people trapped in the rubble;
• We will equip the mobile hospital – that you helped to send, and which is arriving in Aleppo on Christmas Day – with medicine and supplies for serving the injured;
• We are going to help Independent Doctor’s Association fund the planning of the first pediatric hospital in the region; and
• We are going to continue to fund the work of the Help Refugees volunteer network devoted to delivering people to safety.

(From Momastery.com)

Since I had talked to the kids about possibly purchasing coats or toys, they were surprised when we didn't. It gave me a chance to tell them about Aleppo and we talked about the medical care that people in war-torn countries need. What gets me though is that they need so much more than medical care, the need is so great.

If you want to donate through Together Rising go HERE.

--Sarah

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