I remember like it was yesterday. My cousin and I were playing catch in his front yard, trying to emulate our favorite pitcher Dennis Eckersley of the Oakland A’s who’s playing in the World Series, when we felt a tremble on the ground. The windows on the house were shaking and we just stood wondering what had just happened. It was 1989, an earthquake with the magnitude of 7.1 shook San Francisco. Consider that we are 2 hours away from San Francisco in Marina, we felt it. The earthquake killed 67 people with more than 3,000 injured and left thousands of people homeless not to mention billions of dollars in damage.
And now Haiti. With the magnitude of 7.0 and 33 aftershocks! Each ranging from 4.2 to 5.9 magnitudes. That’s 33 more earthquakes after the big shock! 3 million people are now in desperate need for emergency aid.
I was 8 years old at the time and I couldn’t sympathize what had happened in San Francisco. The only thing concerning me was that I couldn’t play my video games because the power was out. Luckily, we had a gas stove so we were able to still eat. But the people of Haiti, they don’t have anything. Despair litters the streets as they wait for help. We should all contribute in some way, either its donations or prayers, just something to keep the people of Haiti strong.
There are many ways to donate and even your local grocery stores may take donations for the Haiti Relief Fund. You can also donate here…
To my shame, I didn’t think about the earthquake in Haiti much, until a customer came in my line the other day…
Generous Man: Hey, you have anything for Haiti?
I didn’t really understood what he meant.
Me: Haiti?
Generous Man: Yeah to donate.
I showed him the canister of coins for the Haiti Relief Fund on my checkstand.
Generous Man: No, no. I want to donate more than this.
Me: Oh! Hang on a sec!
I knew there was a code to enter for the donation so customers can do it with their payment cards but I didn’t know it offhand. It was right in front of me the whole time…
Me: Got it.
Generous Man: Thank you.
Me: How much would you like to donate?
Generous Man: Make it 10 bucks.
I handed him his receipt and thanked him. 10 bucks, that will go a long way for the people of Haiti. Just imagine if everyone contributed just their spare change…
Wherever your at Mr. Cariaga. Thank you again.
See you guys on Monday!
{ 15 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow, that’s a flashback. I remember 1989…I was getting off work and everyone was glued to the TV set. Living in L.A. you definitely sympathize with tragedies like Haiti, but it’s impossible to relate.
I can’t quit looking at the before/after images.
I just mentioned the bay area earthquake on my Facebook the other day. My status asked if people remembered what they were doing at that time in 1989. It was scary!!!
Anywho..you’re right, if we all gave at least $10, even $5, can you imagine the difference that would make? That’s not even including the hundreds of thousands from corporations and the “rich and famous.”
But, more importantly, we can just continue to pray for the people and their country!!
I love the fact that he said, no, no.I want to give more than this. Love this post Paul.
Love this post…My prayers are there with them in this time of need…I work at NNMC Bethesda, MD A naval medical hosp…Our medical ship the Comfort is there now helping them with their medical needs…Such a huge sacrifice to help those in need…God bless all…
a perfect reminder! Thank you so much. I love the way you told this story in the context of your own earthquake experience too.
Nice post. Thanks for reminding us to get up and do something.
Thanks for this reminder, Paul. Everyone should give SOMETHING. It makes a huge difference when we all come together for a good cause.
People can donate $10 to the Red Cross by texting “Haiti” to 90999 or visiting http://www.redcross.org
I did.
Hi, Paul.
Thanks for the kind words. But, please, call me “Dade.”
Great blog!
Dade
I was in a magnitude 7.1 in 1999. That shit is no joke. Luckily it was in the middle of the desert and no one was hurt. Hopefully, all the money actually goes to Haiti and builds the infrastructure needed to survive that environment.
I donated to the 90999 text line. The last I heard, which was quite a few days ago, was that they had already made 21 million off texts alone. It made my heart happy to hear that.
What a sweet story! This is all so very traumatic and you’re right. If everyone donated even just a dollar, Haiti would get millions in minutes. It’s the little things that count…
Lovely post, Paul.
I remember watching the breaking news the evening after the quake and Bill Clinton was saying, “It’s great to want to contribute food and supplies, but what they’re really going to need is money.” Then they scrolled a text number so you could donate cash straight from your cell.
Couldn’t have been easier.
This is a wonderful post.
Every time I think of Haiti, I get an ache in the pit of my stomach. A co-worker of mine lost her sister.
Excellent post. There is goodness in the world! UNICEF was the charity I chose to give to for this. There are so many other good choices too. And what does this tell us…? Lots of people making a difference. So glad to know it. It’s going to take a long time; hope we all continue our support and don’t start changing the channel, so to speak.
On the first full day following the earthquake in Haite I got emails sent to post little signs that people could donate at the register if they wanted. I didn’t read the info just hung it on our canisters. I got a call from a clerk asking me if our company was matching and which organization was the money going to be given to. I didn’t know the answer. I knew I had to find out quickly so I made a call and was told we are giving the money to the Red Cross, we weren’t matching, but our company had given a $100,000 donation on the first day. It really makes my hurt go out to the people there every time someone gives a donation. I was completely shocked when a women asked if she could donate $25 that day, since most people were giving spare change. Thanks for posting the blog.