Sunday morning. Up at just after 5 AM, not able to sleep. But of course I open up my laptop and find people all over the world that are talking. Spreading out their ideas or sharing something, anything new.
This week I learned in a very concrete way that all of these people - you people - are real. Over the last several years I've been fortunate to meet many people in my network, forming some deep friendships. But this week I've also learned the kindness and compassion of people.
Last Saturday we found out that Barbara Barreda had lost her home in the fires raging through Los Angeles. Jen Wagner and I decided to call for donations for her since she had nothing; only what was thrown in her car. We posted on our blogs and emailed a few people. By the end of the first day we had several hundred dollars, within twenty four hours this number was almost two thousand dollars. And now, a week later, we were able to send Barbara a cheque for $3 784. While a few people gave fairly significant amounts, many of these donations came in the $20 - $40 range. But we had over 100 people donate and of course, every little bit helps and adds up.
This is just one of those things that would not have been possible before the internet. There is no way that we could have worked together to collect money like this to help someone. I think it shows that we are a network, but we are also a caring community that can pull together when we need to.
Below is the list of people who have donated money. Several people have also requested to remian anonymous and their contributions are no less valuable. We want to thank everyone for their money, their time, their thoughts and prayers; these count too. And of course, donations are still being accepted. If you did not have an opportunity to give and still want to, please do so and we will pass all of the donations along.
In the end, all I can say is simply: thank you.
Adina Sullivan
Alan Lutz
Alex Ragone
Alice Barr
Anita Brady
Ann Oro
Anne Truger
Annelise Woitulewicz
Arvind Grover
Beth Adamczyk
Bob Cotter
Brenda Muench
Carla Beard
Charles Roy
Cheryl Capozzoli
Chris Walsh
Christine Hellyer
Christopher Bradley
Christopher Harris
Christopher Keogh
Christopher Lehmann
Clarence Fisher
Colin Becker
Cynthia Marston
Dane Conrad
Dean Shareski
Debra Cotter
Dennis Grice
Diamond M Engineering, LLC
Diana Kenney
Dori Friedman
Elizabeth Bleich Davis
Elizabeth Holmes
Elizabeth Still
Fran Ruth
Grundy Benjamin
Henry Thiele
Janice Stearns
Janna Chiang
Jason Wright
jean woodward
Jedidiah Tate
Jeffrey Utecht
Jeremy Stiffler
Jill Berkowicz
John Batey
John Toomey
Joquetta Johnson
Joyce Valenza
Judith Wolf
Karen Henke
Karen Richardson
Karl Fisch
Kathleen Klingensmith
Kathleen McNamara
Kathy Shields
Kelley Connolly
Kern Kelley
Kevin Honeycutt
Kevin Willson
Kim Breuninger
Kristen Vassos
Lee Kolbert
Linda Davenport
Lisa Durff
Lucy Gray
Marc Helfand
Margarita Vidal Hammer
Marian Thacher
Mary Linn
Colleen King
Matthew Stark
Misty O'Connor
MKAT Enterprises
Nanci B Greene
Patricia Rosen
Patrick Higgins, Jr
Paul Wood
Paula Galland
Peggy George
Penny Lindballe
R Hurley
Richard Barth
Samantha Morra
Sammy Beam
Shannon McNeice
Sharon Betts
Sharon Peters
Sharon Elin
Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach
Sinclair Mackenzie
Stephen Taffee
Steve Hargadon
Susan Sedro
Susan Young
Theodore Shatagin
Theresa Zanatta
Thomas Welch
Virginia Paisie
Jennifer Wagner
Bruce Crabtree
Vincent Vrotny
Clarence Fisher's class
Michelle Krill
Glenn R Moses
Ann Oro
Chris Harbeck
John Evans
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