Invest your offer of help to those who are investing in helping to rebuild areas and people.

If you are feeling the desire to financially assist those who are
physically assisting the victims of Harvey, Irma, the wildfires and the
earthquake I ask you to consider those who do not invest in advertising. I
would never speak ill of the fantastic work of the organization that has
been all over the media, running ads with athletes and stars, and the
first relief agency you think of because of the readiness of their name,
what I am asking you to consider is that as a first hand responder to
quite a few disasters I personally saw the strength and importance of
the Christian relief agencies.
Some of the Christian relief
agencies that I have personally worked alongside are: Samaritan's
Purse, Salvation Army, Convoy of Hope, International Conference of
Police Chaplains, Crisis Response International.
The importance of
an organization that becomes boots on the ground in crisis with the
goal of not just lifting up those who have been crushed but filling them
up as well. These organizations send forth those who are trained in
emotional and physiological first aid, crisis intervention, and put an
emphasis on extending hand to hand assistance that allows for the
responder to become a friend.
As one who has been among an army of
organizations hours after a natural disaster I have been impressed with
the coordination of the aid and the respect and unity that each of
these organizations has of and with one another. Meals were delivered
to those clearing debris by volunteers walking the streets, trees and
heavy debris were cleared by teams of volunteers who have put forth
their heavy equipment to be God's miracle in the storm, hands and feet
of so many have united to fix roofs, put fences back up so a backyard
can once again become a backyard, united victims and volunteers under
one roof to feed them, pray with them, and tend to physical and
emotional wounds. I could go on with first hand stories and details of
witnessing the Holy Spirit in action in a place where it feels like the
devil has danced.
I ask you to consider donating to one of the
aforementioned, or one of so many other Christian relief agencies.
Check out their website, take a peek at the reviews, ask others who have
volunteered, but know that these people representing these agencies are
already present and in action without pomp and circumstance, nor any
need for acknowledgment. They are not there to make a profit from their
presence they are there to be a representative of the presence of God
in the storm. There are there reminding us that God does not cause the
storm but He does move through those who care to make it their mission
to walk with you through it. God can only move through our hands and
feet, and these organizations can only aid with the donations of those
who understand how important physical, spiritual AND emotional relief
is.
I speak as one who represents a non-profit who has received
donations that have aided many in this corner of the world during their
storm. Your donations have been and continue to be the hope in a
hopeless situation right here in our community. Without your financial,
physical and in-kind donations I can do nothing but listen and wish I
could help. With you we help.
I know those who are leading the
charge in the battered areas of our world right now hope you will trust
and invest in them as well to continue to bring light, hope and help.
Wishing you peace, love, light and a hand to lift you when needed,
Terri

https://www.samaritanspurse.or...

http://www.salvationarmyusa.or...

https://www.convoyofhope.org/

Terri O'Neill-Borders Founder/ Exec. Director Hope and Friendship Foundation

www.hopeandfriendshipfoundatio...

terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com