Spring

Winter is over, Spring arrives - Der Winter is vorbei, Der Frühling kommt

The season is changing to spring. However, this spring feels different. It feels more needed than previous one. This was my first sighting of these native flowers. I love how they grow in clumps and then sporadically crawl the side of a hill. The Spring flowers are not in their glory yet, but I am looking forward to them.

I am not writing much these days. What can I say? Another war is forcing our neighbors to flee their homes. I am worried for them and the world in general.

As many know I am actively involved with a local group, Zharity. June will be 2 years since I joined as the President. It was a small but determined organization and it was ready to grow.  For me personally, it has been pivotal for my feeling like I have a place here, like I belong.

Through determined and amazing individuals, we have grown this past year tremendously. And ultimately the dedication and commitment of the people involved, is how we found ourselves able to step in and help right as the crisis in Ukraine unfolded.  In January, we built a customized inventory system that streamlined our work - and February followed with a storage unit. (Everyone was thrilled to get space back in their apartments). We also had a planned personal care collection for refugees, which was supposed to start on March 1. So we were ready to start supporting those affected by war in Ukraine immediately. Our original goal was to provide 300 personal care kits. The first week- we shipped 450 kits along with much needed supplies to Poland, Romania, Moldova, Slovakia and Ukraine. In total- our goal of 1 shipment in a month - has turned into 5.  One more this Friday and one more next week.  And that is not including what we are doing locally, which is what we do all year long.

We expect our local efforts to support refugee needs to grow and the team is ready. I am unbelievably proud of what we, a group of people from many different countries and all with the same goal, have accomplished to date. That is what keeps me focused on getting through this war. Knowing that I am not alone.

And you are not alone.