Joplin Fundraiser Update

I’m delighted to report that together we raised $833.50 to send to the Rodriguez and Ramierz families in Joplin who lost their homes, cars, and even a workplace in the devastating tornado last week. A huge THANK YOU to everyone who bought books, spread the word, or made a direct donation to the cause, and a special thanks to friend of the blog, Lois Hirt.

Our real total was even higher, because we received several emails from readers who asked for the family's address so they could send cash directly, and Judith made an additional donation to the After the Storm efforts for North Minneapolis.

In other news, I was surprised and pleased when my local paper (the Register Guard) ran a short piece about our fundraiser. Every link, Twitter, and news story helped make a small difference in the family’s life.

I wrote this post last night, at the end of Memorial Day, and it seemed fitting to be reminded of the tremendous generosity and courage of so many people around the country. From the smallest acts of kindness to the sacrifice of soldiers' lives for our country, we have much to be grateful for.—L.J.