I love reading stories about natural disasters featuring average, everyday people like you and me rolling up their sleeves and making a difference. The thing is that I often can't think of ways to help, other than the usual giving of cash.
So I asked Jacqueline Lloyd, author of The Thief Of The Sacred for some creative ideas.
"Often, there are local rescue and rehab non-profits that are helping out their community in a very effective way. They're usually small, nimble organizations, and knowledgeable about what is truly needed.
For example, if you want to help the animals affected by the disaster, you can Google the area and animal rescue.
This is also an excellent opportunity to teach your children compassion and empathy. Contact organizations within the affected area that mean something to you or your family.
For example, if your kids are into karate or dance, Google the studios in that area and give them a call to see what they might need.
I'm also willing to bet someone in that karate studio or community churches would know families who were severely impacted by the disaster.
I'm a big fan of "adopting" families- especially when the children can develop a connection with each other. More than anything, people grieving the loss of their entire world need to know that someone out there cares what happens to them. You can make a huge difference, not just with financial assistance but also emotional support.
For example, for a special family that lost everything in our October 2007 wildfires, I put together www.boothsfamilyfund.com and a petition asking the TV show Extreme Makeover Home Edition to put the Booths on their show. We've received web visitors and petition signers from as far away as Australia and Europe!"
See that's what I mean. A lady (though Jacqueline Lloyd isn't exactly average) making a big difference in the world.