But no sooner had I written it than I had a chance to really and truly help.  Haiti may be a world away, but its a small world.  Suddenly “refugees” (probably not techincally the correct word) started arriving in Chicago and, due to some contacts that we have we got to help coordinate getting pack-n-plays for newly arrived Haitian babies to sleep in.

And now I’ve started getting word about the need for good homes to take in about 1,000 Haitian children who are arriving alone.  Safe Families is working on this, if you are interested.

Then on WGN, I learned that Dupage County’s very own Glen Ellyn Bible Church is working to bring Haitian orphans, who’s orphanage was destroyed, to families in the USA.  This is a pretty amazing story…they are actually working with Peter Roskam, Hillary Clinton, and others to hopefully bring this about.  Here’s a link to the WGN story.

Children’s Boutique M and Em’s in downtown Glen Ellyn is collecting new and gently used clothing until February 1st.  They will send the donated items to Haiti through a non-profit service organization so that the clothes get into the hands of those who need them. To thank you for your contribution, you will receive a 25% discount on any purchases when you bring in your donation. What an easy way to help that doesn’t cost you anything.

Here are some other sites that may be worth checking out if you are interested in what is being done and what you may be able to do:

World Vision

Samaritan’s Purse

American Red Cross

Doctor’s Without Borders

Help Haiti Now

Suddenly the world is very small, and suddenly we do have ways to help.  Whether we house an orphan or share a pack-n-play or just drop  off some old clothes, there is something all of us can do to reach out to people who are in desperate need.  Will we?

What stories do you know?  How have you been involved in the crisis?  Post a comment, send us a link, or better yet become a guest blogger for DupageMamas.com!

Related posts:

1. Calling all Moms! (Haiti Relief, SuperNanny, Legos, and Disney)
2. Hope for Haiti Fun Fair!!!
3. Helping to Feed Other People’s Families

Calling all Moms! Mandie and Amy at Just We Moms are trying to motivate moms to give any dollar amount toward Haiti Earthquake Relief. They’ve chosen Samaritan’s Purse as the charity to give funds to. Samaritan’s Purse sent out a DC-3 plane with emergency relief supplies yesterday and have plans to send more as they are able. If you would like to help, you can donate by visiting www.firstgiving.org/jwm or by spreading the word with a blog post or tweet to your followers. Here’s a sample tweet:  Calling all Moms! Donate to Earthquake relief in Haiti thru Samaritan’s Purse at http://bit.ly/8FeQRW Thanks in advance for any help you can give the cause!

Wanna be on SuperNanny?

I know we could all use a nanny, but do you need The SuperNanny?  You might actually have the chance – ABC is casting for their upcoming season and they’re coming to Chicago!  Too funny – over Christmas a family member was telling us all about the antics on this show, and now we could possibly be on it.  If you’re interested, send an email to annaabbey@gmail.com.

Martin Luther King Day at LEGOLAND!

If you’re looking for a way to introduce your kids to Martin Luther King day, how about at LEGOLAND in Schaumburg?  Its Dream Weekend to Honor Martin Luther King Jr. at LEGOLAND® Discovery Center, January 16 – 18, 2010.  Guests throughout the weekend can participate in an interactive mural build which depicts King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech.  Kids visiting LEGOLAND Discovery Center can share their dreams by placing their written thoughts and drawings in the attraction’s “Dream Box.”

Disney on Ice

Disney on Ice is coming once again to Chicago! More than 50 characters from 16 Disney stories – including Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen from Walt Disney Pictures’ just-released film, The Princess and the Frog, in their live, on-ice debut – take audiences on a thrilling tour to exotic destinations, holidays and festivals around the world!  Opening Night is Wednesday, January 20th at the United Center and you can find out about tickets here.

Related posts:

1. Helping Haiti
2. Celebrating Dr. King
3. Disney on Ice: a Magical Journey