Quarters: An Update

UPDATE:  I didn't receive as many comments as I had hoped, but regardless, I'm going to donate $100 to the Heart of Missouri United Way to benefit the relief efforts in Joplin, Missouri, which are still underway and will be for some time.

photo via tribalwar

I'm sure you've heard of the massive tornado that snaked its way through the town of Joplin, Missouri on Sunday evening by now.  The news story has made its way all the way across the pond to England.  As you can see, the destruction was great.


I've tried to imagine, but I can't.  The list of things this community is now without just goes on and on.  No job (no income), no home, no car, no bank, no running water, no food supply, limited healthcare...

photo via AP

With houses leveled as they were, I'm sure it was a great feat for survivors to merely get themselves back out of their basements.  I know a few people with family in Joplin, that grew up there, and thank heavens they didn't suffer any loss of life.  I can't imagine how much more it resonates when you look at a picture of the ruins of your very own high school.

The road to recovery for this community will be a long one.  Rescue workers are still digging everyone out - searching for survivors and discovering those less fortunate.

photo via Reuters

Help is needed.  Just like the communities in Alabama that were affected by the very same natural disaster, just as Haiti did following its devastating earthquake, and Japan, following its own earthquake and subsequent tsunami.  It seems as though the last year has been fraught with natural disasters all over the globe.  All needing support from the human race in order to make it through.

So, here's what I'm going to do to help.  For every comment on this post received by noon on Friday, May 27, 2011, I'll donate a quarter to the Heart of Missouri United Way.  I've chosen this fund to donate to because I can specify the contribution to be dedicated specifically to those affected by the tornado in Joplin, because it is a fund with no overhead, and because an anonymous Missouri family has pledged to match contributions to this fund, up to $50,000.

So, if at the end of the week there are 1,000 comments, I will donate $250, etc.

This marks the very first 'giveaway' of sorts here on carlyklock.com, so bear with me if there are bumps in the road.  On Friday, I'll make the final tally and then post the results, along with a screenshot of my donation receipt.

I also encourage you to make a donation on your own to help however you can.  When making any donations, it's a good rule of thumb to designate where you would like them used (ex: Joplin, MO tornado relief).  Here's a list of links that will accept monetary donations, as well as blood, water, food, clothing.

• Heart of Missouri United Way 
• Kansas City Red Cross
• Community Blood Center of Greater Kansas City  
• Text "Joplin" to 90999 to donate $10. It will show up on your phone bill (how easy is that?).

I also must give credit to one of my favorite bloggers, Pioneer Woman, for this concept - she did the same thing on her blog a few weeks ago during the aftermath of the tornadoes that wreaked havoc in Alabama.  I must admit that her well-established, wildly popular blog will likely have had a greater effect that this little ol' blog of mine, but I'm trying to do what I can here in my own corner of the world.

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