Be the Cause

Author: Sonali Fiske

Giving Thanks for Thanksgiving

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Mahatma Ghandi said: “… We are one undivided & indivisible family… .” It was with that energy we served the children who came to share Thanksgiving Day with us. With the help of Stand Up For Kids, 11 boys & girls, accustomed to living life on the streets of Long Beach & Orange County, enjoyed a traditional meal at the Royal Cup Cafe in Long Beach, the very same haven we lovingly call the Seva Cafe.

Thanks to a very successful food drive & generous donations, over 20 volunteers gathered together to cook, set-up, decorate, serve & make it a genuine feast for these kids – our kids.

In addition, each kid received a gift bag with a t-shirt, inspirational quote book, food & much more. All the extra food was packaged in take-out containers & distributed at nearby Lincoln Park.

I can’t convey the immense priviledge we felt as volunteers to be of service to our youth. Standing in their midst, it was so evident to us that none of us lives this life alone… as an island. But that we’re all inter-connected, somehow united in this intricately woven fabric. The precious homeless child on the corner of the street, the Be The Cause volunteer, and he that donated the can of green beans. Together – we came together as one.

On Thanksgiving Day, we shed tears of sorrow, applauded as each child was introduced by their Stand Up For Kids counselor, & stood in awe of all the love that enveloped that room.

Our sincerest gratitude goes to each & every volunteer, those behind the scenes as well as those who served on that special day. Thank you to Rajeev for opening his arms & his doors to us, & for donating 3 turkey dinners as well. Thank you to Michele Benderra & her family for their tireless attention to the details.

It was an unforgettable Thanksgiving Day with “the family.”

Check out the pictures!

Our experience at ground zero – Sri Lanka’s Tsunami

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We weren’t fully prepared to accept what our eyes beheld as we approached the tsunami zone in Southern Sri Lanka. Three months later, the remaining ruin appears as much as it did on CNN in the immediate aftermath of the Tsunami. Although much of the debris has been cleared & the roads more accessible, there’s a lot left to do.

Although victims still lie in relief tents supplied by the big name NGO’s & fresh water stations are positioned every ¼ mile, the rebuilding phase has begun! Sri Lanka’s government has accomplished a lot in supplying victims with their immediate needs & they have dispelled the fear of waterborne disease. Many kit homes are already under construction & the government hopes to have victims adequately housed before the Monsoon season arrives.

With trepidation, we approached the villages, careful not to impede on the victims small space of serenity they collectively share. One man built a makeshift house 40 feet above in a coconut tree, fearing the tsunami’s return. They bombarded us with harrowing tales of a crashing 10-foot wave that ravaged their lives, taking their children, few belongings, & homes of up to a ¼ mile inland. Many of them lack sleep at night, fearing that the roaring waves within earshot will ravage their villages once again. We gazed at them, teary-eyed & sorrowful.

We found that some fisher folk have been given a fresh new start by various organizations including a Belgian Army Unit whom we befriended. Similarly, within the coming weeks, LifeNets will supply several affected fishing families a vessel, in order to restore their livelihood & feed their children. We have identified & personally met fishermen who are simply longing for such a rebirth. It is our turn to extend our hearts & hands in aid & enable these men to charge back out to sea – what a privilege!

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