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.
will you be donating the extra money earned from the few days of extra clicking even though you had to scrap the idea?
I was wondering the same thing – Katie, what happens with the money raised from the extra clicks by people who read the original post before you decided to cancel the fundraising?
Much more than that, actually.
I’m not trying to make a profit on others’ (and my own, because it’s my family hurting too) misfortune. I belong to a lot of charity organizations, and a lot of my money goes to charity anyway.
Katie… anyone who reads this blog on a regular basis would KNOW that you’re not a selfish person and that your reasons for doing what you did were purely to help those in need. We (your faithful readers who check your blog every day) love you.
My family is on Long Island and thankfully none were severely affected. I live on the other side of the world but through my local family in the impact zone I’m doing all I can to help out. We know too many people who were devasted by Sandy not to help.
Hope your family are all okay.
I am glad that you decided to end the whole clicking thing. If you weren’t going to show us the reciepts from previous months, then there would be no way for us to tell if you were being honest or not since you can never judge how truthful someone is from over the internet.
I think you need to look at the character of the person you’re mistrusting here. Katie is not some scammer that just popped up yesterday to try and make a buck off of peoples’ suffering. She has had this blog for years, lives a compassionate vegan lifestyle, and has raised money for both Japan and Haiti before this. I also think it’s sad you didn’t give her a chance to prove your doubts wrong.
You have got to be joking!?!?!?!? Hate mail???? I can’t quite get over how some idiots (I deleted much stronger words!) can think that is appropriate. For goodness sake, wait until they or their family are in the situation where you lose everything and then see how they feel. Good grief! Kudos to you for trying to figure out a way to increase your donation. What goes around comes around.
What! Hate mail??! Who are these people? You are an amazing person and try not to let those jerks get you down! Who would be upset about someone helping to raise money and give back to those in need? ugh
Very disappointed that you decided to do away with the idea. Was it really necessary? couldnt you do a donation now if you have the means to and another one at the end of the month?
I appreciate your efforts anyways and hope the best for your relatives.
There were other reasons it wasn’t going to work. Trust me, it wasn’t just the hate mail ;). It was a good idea in theory, but unfortunately it didn’t work in the end.
Ah, I see. Well, it doesn’t hurt that I introduced your blog to a handful of friends in the process 😉
Katie – I love your blog and recipes, and I thought your idea for raising money was a wonderful one. I am so sorry to hear that negative, nasty people had to ruin it for you (and for those of us who wanted to help). It seems there is so much nastiness and hatred and bigotry in our country lately. It is really sad that when someone is trying to do good that mean spirited people have to destroy it. Keep up your positive attitude in spite of those who are so negative, and definitely keep the great recipes coming!
Um, it sounds like all the people defending Katie “hate” the haters…then aren’t they haters, too? Everybody just chill. The clicking thing is over.
It’s an assumption to think that all the people defending Katie hate the “haters”. I don’t hate them, but rather dissappointed that their comments greatly influenced Katie to take down the clicking thing.
How unfortunate that haters had to infiltrate this amazingly well-intentioned post. Wow…just stunning. I don’t understand how someone with that kind of lack of conscience could even be following your blog?? How could *anyone* come here and feel negative?! Your blog magically transforms negativity to positivity! 😉 Anyway, too bad for them, and good for you for taking the high road and offering other ways to help, and continuing to donate regardless – and now, sooner. Thanks for your big heart, and much love to you and your family.
Charity begins with each of us. We shouldn’t wait for the government to take care of us. Thanks for trying, Katie. We are in the North-western part of Jersey and were without power for two weeks. Lots of trees wiped off the forest floor. And….we were far from were the huricane actually hit. Pray for those who are in such a bad situation right now. And if you can help in another way, that is good, too.