LENDING A HELPING HAND

September was a difficult month for many people in the world. The images depicting the wave of natural disasters remain ingrained in my mind. Lives were lost, displaced, transformed. I like to think that we have all tried to lend a helping hand to those in need, in one way or another. If you haven't, you should stop and ask yourself, "Why?" Personally, my main issue centered around the actual distribution of funds.  I wanted to make sure that the donations were truly making it to the hands of those in need. Articles like this one, and this one, gave me pause.

I encourage you to do your own research, vet the organization of your choice, and give it a try. The Better Business Bureau hosts give.org, a website that allows you to screen a charity. It gives you a breakdown of statistics so that you can determine what percentage of donations are actually allocated for relief. It's not too current though, because United for Puerto Rico is not listed, even though it is the First Lady's relief initiative and seems reputable.  At a minimum, it is a starting point.

As a lifelong Miami resident, I know what hurricanes mean. I take them seriously. I lived through Hurricane Andrew and have vivid, and distinct memories from that. When Hurricane Irma veered in our direction, it was time to hit the road. Being in a mandatory evacuation zone meant I was not going to take any chances.  However, with this decision came the turmoil of knowing that that almost all of my family stayed put, refusing to evacuate. In the end, for us, everything was OK. For so many, it has not been.

Yes, September was a difficult month. I read fashion and beauty blogs to take a break from the daily grind, to take my mind off of all of life's serious issues. I know you guys come here for that too. Sometimes, the issues are too large to ignore and not discuss. 

Thank you for your continued support.