You may be wondering what difference you can make as you see the incredibly sad news on TV and all the suffering. Well, my close friend Karen felt exactly the same way and was compelled to move into action. She is brilliant at bringing talent together that touches your heart while making a difference in this world. Here is her press release below for a special event called Hope For Haiti this coming weekend – take a peek!
Another Ordinary Miracle
For many, the scope of the tragedy in Haiti is simply too much to take in. There is so much destruction and devastation it is hard to believe anyone can make a difference. But every day there are stories about how people are making a difference. Hope For Haiti, a fundraising evening to be held this Saturday at the Friendship Community Church, will bring together Victoria residents in an act of generosity and hope.
Almost immediately Victorians were looking for ways to help. Karen Elgersma was watching the devastation and wondering ‘what can I possibly do to help? Maybe not much, but I have to try.’.
Elgersma started calling and emailing all the extraordinary people she knew and asked them if they could somehow help create an “ordinary miracle” of people coming together in the spirit of community. Every one of them said yes.. On Saturday night at 7:00 pm, these incredibly talented people will come together to sing, speak, read and perform because they want to help.
“As a TV reporter for the past 12 years here in Victoria, I have learned one thing, that when people come together to raise money for something they care about, something magical happens. They don’t just raise money but they raise hope, says co-organizer Karen Elgersma, TV reporter for Shaw TV’s The Daily. “And somehow that hope stretches across countries, across cultures and it manifests something beautiful.”
A number of members of the media and community are participating. Singers include Charlotte Elgersma who will open the evening with a special version of Josh Grobin’s You Raise Me Up, Astrid Braunschmidt of A News, and James Green of The Daily with the Paul Wainwright Trio. Dan Khan and Sucheta Singh of The Daily have prepared special readings, Karen Elgersma will emcee. Other talent includes Sunny Shams, Dr. Bones and The Blues Project, The Riverside Trio and a number of members of the community. Of course we will also have a special rendition of the song Ordinary Miracle.
Once people heard about the opportunity to help they jumped at the chance. “One young girl emailed me and asked if she could read a poem. She just wanted to do something, anything for the people of Haiti,” says Elgersma.
Hope for Haiti will be held Saturday, January 30th at 7:00 PM at Friendship Community Church at 7820 Central Saanich Road at Mount Newton X Road. Tickets are available at the door by donation to The Red Cross or Samaritan’s Purse Canada. Tax receipts will be provided. For more info call 250-652-2723.
I hope you might get a chance to partake in this special evening of entertainment. You’ll be glad you went and your heart will grow 10x’s bigger!
Have a great week:)
Julie, thank you for highlighting this special fundraising event that Karen Elgersma is organizing for the people of Haiti. I’ll be sure to spread the word to family and friends. Every donation makes a difference.