Sorry for the gimmick-y title.
However, there is nothing gimmicky about what’s going on in the northeastern United States and parts of the Caribbean right now. Thousands of people have lost everything—their homes, their livelihoods, members of their family…
Today’s post is a reminder that there are more important things in life than chocolate.
This time, I’m not joking.
The victims of Hurricane Sandy are currently in desperate need of food, clothing, water, and medical supplies. Many are stuck in shelters, not knowing when they’ll be allowed to return home- or if their homes even still exist. To raise as much money as possible, my first thought was to host a giveaway, where you’d make a donation for an entry. But a lot of you probably already have made a donation, especially since a few other bloggers have already hosted donation giveaways.
How you can help:
EDIT: I really did have the best of intentions with my initial idea. Getting the advertisers to help with the fundraiser was, I thought, a brilliant way to raise the most money possible, since big companies have much more money to give than individual blog readers. I’d initially hoped to raise at least $2000, then match that number myself, and also ask if any companies would match it.
But then I started getting hate mail. A lot of hate mail. And hateful comments on the post. Hateful comments from people who were doing nothing, themselves, to help raise money, yet who had no problem criticizing the efforts of someone who really did want to help. My idea was not meant to be a publicity stunt or to get me more page views, and it’s really disgusting that anyone would think that. Some of my own relatives and friends lost a lot more than their electricity to this storm. (Both my parents grew up in one of the hardest-hit areas of New York, and many of our relatives still live there.)
I’m taking down the entire idea, not to give in to the haters; but because this was supposed to be an idea that would help, and it just seems to be doing more harm (and engendering more hatred) than good. (There are a few other reasons–things I didn’t initially think about–such as the fact that I’d rather send money now than wait until December.)
I’m making a private donation to the Red Cross, and I hope you all will do the same.
Good for you for calling out the trolls. Most people have no idea how grim it is here in NY/NJ. We got 6″ of snow last night with many people still without power.
Donations to the Red Cross are ok — but, as in the 9/11 disaster — many donations don’t come to us. There is a Hurricane Sandy wedding registry for Jersey City here: https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftinyurl.com%2Fsandynj&h=mAQFl1ned
Several blogs are running pleas for homemade warm stuff, like “My Merry Messy Life”: http://mymerrymessylife.com/2012/11/crochet-knit-and-sew-your-way-to-help-victims-of-hurricane-sandy.html
Hi Katie! Just wanted to say that I know your heart was in the right place with the fundraising efforts. Anyone who reads your blog regularly knows what a sweet person you are! Also wanted to say thanks for the link to your friend Gina’s website. I’m always looking for new exercises and motivation and her website looks really cool. I will definitely check out her bake sale on Friday!
Sometimes I wonder what this world has come to with all of this hatred people have built up and take out on others. The cyber world has made it easier for people to think it is ok to be hateful while hiding behind their electronic devices. Would they really behave this way if they had to confront you in person? I highly doubt it but wouldn’t be surprised if they did because they do not know any better. If you do not believe in something someone is trying to do to help others then move on and do not participate. Leave your comments to yourself and be miserable on your own. Do not bring other people down. I applaud you for your efforts and I did click all over your site, but I do that anyway because I am always finding new recipes to try for my son who cannot have dairy. Your site has become a lifesaver for my son and I because your recipes are so quick and easy, healthy and of course yummy! He can be a normal child and eat what the other kids are eating. Continue what you are doing and feel good about what a great and caring person you are and do not worry about the haters. We need more people in the world like you because they are becoming far and few between! Your blog screams what a great, genuine, caring person you are and it is obvious the people with those reactions are not happy and are jealous.
Good grief, I’m sorry you caught so much flack for trying to do a good thing. That’s just ridiculous. You are a sweet person. Thanks for your efforts and for giving us this donation information!
Oh Katie, I’m sorry there are so many jerks out there. As they say, “No good deed goes unpunished.” You did nothing to deserve the backlash you received. Keep your head up.
It’s too bad that rude, ignorant people try to ruin a good deed. Thanks for being such a kind person and wanting to help others. That is truly what life is all about!
Oh poor Katie! I knew right away that you weren’t trying to feather your own nest, when you announced your fundraiser, and you can be darn sure I clicked extra through your recipes to support you. People can be so awful, and yet so nice. Welcome to the human race!
I really admire the graceful way you handled the edit to this post/fundraising idea. It’s a shame that it didn’t work out, but I’m sure you still inspired a lot of people!
Don’t think I’ll ever understand what prompts some people to foster negativity as though it were something desireable. I love your site and love your can-do attitude. Seems clear that you won’t let the nay-sayers get to you. Good.
I’m sorry you’re canceling the fundraiser. While I don’t know the amount/type of hate mail you were getting, I read through the (currently) 135 comments and saw one negative one, from JC, who didn’t even come back after his/her first comment, and about 10 comments directly defending you against JC’s accusations. It’s great that the community you have here at your blog is so willing to support you, but you’re a public figure because of your blog and your future cookbook, which means that people are allowed to criticize you. Plus, this is your full-time job — in many other professions, people get reviews (both positive and negative) all the time. I agree that JC was overly confrontational, but it was just one comment (again, I realize I don’t know how much “hate mail” you got). JC doesn’t know you, and neither do I, so our comments don’t reflect who you actually are, just your CCK persona. My guess is that other food bloggers moderate comments to keep negative ones out, or else they just let them pass without responding. Here, it seems like posters are willing to “feed the trolls” by getting really defensive, and you seem to support that (for example, saying there were “hateful comments” when there was just one, and calling JC’s ideas “disgusting).
I guess my point is that I’d like to see you encourage your readers to ignore any negative comments, given that they come with the territory of having a public persona (unless you expect the whole world to always agree with you) — and I think you could best do that by leading by example. For your sake, I hope what you think about yourself and your work isn’t affected by what a few anonymous strangers say.
Thanks, and keep cooking! I love your recipes. 🙂
I don’t think it’s Katie’s job to reign in the commenters that want to defend her from attacking comments. Just like attackers have the right to leave their remarks if they are constructive, defenders have a right to defend. I think Katie does a great job of this, letting people say their opinions as long as they’re not completely disrespectful, and if a person has the gall to leave a rude comment, well then he or she deserves to deal with anyone who wants to respond. The comments in her most recent post about white chocolate chips is tribute to this fact. One of the commenters there is in my opinion completely nuts, but Katie has correctly allowed her comments to stand. Anyone saying anything in a not completely rude way shoudln’t have to have their comments moderated. As for this comment thread, I don’t think JC was the only negative commenter. There are entire gossip websites where Katie’s idea was discussed, and the things people were saying made me sick!
Also sorry for my comment name. I didn’t mean to be confusing, but Jessica is my name too ;).
Another Jessica, I too saw the comments in the other thread you are talking about, and honestly speaking, I have to respectfully disagree with you. A person (who also seems to be knowledgeable on the subject) just expressed an opinion contrary to Katie’s and the readers started attacking her calling her “hard” and mean and ignorant. It is not cool. I agree it is not Katie’s “job” to reign in the commenters but this is her blog and she can control such things. Many bloggers do respectfully ask their readers to refrain from attacking each other. I visit this site because it is a feel-good place for me, but lately readers are changing it by simply attacking anyone who happens to disagree with Katie. The comments section is meant to debates and discussions, and unless anyone is being rude, I don’t see why they have to face such things. That said, I am not talking about JC, he/she deserved the backlash.
I wasn’t actually talking about a thread on this blog.
Sorry, quite confused now. First about “which” Jessica you are and secondly about the topic. I thought we were talking about the white chocolate thread. In any case, if I misunderstood,I do apologise.
Jessica, I agree with you. Even I feel that it is best to ignore such things as far as possible or at least respond without getting defensive. Katie does manage to do so most of the time but many of the readers don’t. I was reading the comments section in another thread and someone said that white chocolate IS chocolate. People just started attacking her saying she is being “hard” on Katie and should check facts first before commenting etc. The said commenter also had an entire blog dedicated to chocolate and seemed pretty knowledgeable about the subject. It would have been a different matter if she had said something really offensive but honestly speaking, I saw nothing of the sorts. It makes one feel that they cannot disagree or express different opinions here at all without the risk of being attacked. That said, JC was indeed quite rude and I can see how it might have hurt people. I am sorry that this turned out to be nasty but then you cannot please everyone. I would have been more happy if Katie had just ignored such comments and continued with her fundraising. After all the people who need help are the ones that matter.
Anyway Katie, I do not mean to cause offense in any way, just expressing my point of view. I thought this was a good idea, and I do really admire your efforts. Its incredibly sweet that you tried, and that is more than what you can say for most people. I am going ahead and donating to red cross too.
Harsha, I agree with you. I wish Katie would have just ignored the comments and continued on with her fundraising. There is no need in feeding negativity. It will only allow it to grow. The first thing I thought when I read the edit was the possibility of increased criticism claiming that there were too many clicks and the amount was too much to donate so she had to stop it. In my opinion, this would be complete legitimate if it happened but haters would never see it like this. That cliche – ‘haters will be haters’ is 100% true. People like that just don’t change. They hate themselves and everyone around them far and wide. They’re mad at life. They’re mad at themselves. And their definitely mad at a happy, positive personality who is successful at what she does. This is the sad reality today.