I got two new students today. So far, I have only met one: he is a quiet fifth grader from Haiti. We hope his younger brother will join us in second grade next week. The family of five are here staying with a sister for a while. After the earthquake, they got out of Haiti by driving to the Dominican Republic, getting to Puerto Rico, and then to Miami, and finally up here. For some reason, the seven-year-old ended up in New York City, but they hope to drive down to retrieve him this weekend. Can you imagine? I couldn’t quite understand why or how or when they became separated from the seven-year-old (my Creole sucks), but they didn’t seem TOO worried about it, so I won’t be.

Can you imagine? Any of it? Having your country tumble down on you? Fleeing with about nothing and not being able to communicate with anyone at home to find out how your loved ones are? Rooming with your sister and her whole family and your whole family for an indefinite period? Arriving from the Caribbean in upstate New York in January?

And yet, I have to believe that this family is incredibly fortunate. They are whole. They had a car to get away. They had passports, valid U.S. visas, and the cash to buy tickets and get out of there. Not to mention having a safe place to land. They seem like a lovely family, and I look forward to working with them.

Did you watch the telethon tonight? No, you probably have more of a life than I do. I thought the telethon was pretty well done, although I must admit I did wonder if the people on the phone chatting to celebrities were scripted. And a little bit of uneasiness in having multi-millionaires tell me that I need to donate “anything I can” when I think most people reviewing my finances would quickly decide that I actually don’t have a thing I can donate.

But I do think that donation is good for the soul. I do. I believe that digging in and giving beyond comfort is good for you. I can’t really trouble myself with whether or not Jay-Z is giving “all that he can,” but I am going to see what I can do. For starters, I am going to place some links down below so, just in case you have been waiting for a little link to click on to donate, you can do so. Feel free to direct us toward any worthy vessel for our donations in the comments.

World Food Program
Doctors Without Borders
Oxfam America
UNICEF
Partners in Health
American Red Cross
Yele Haiti
Heifer International
Clinton Bush Haiti Fund
FMH’s Reese’s friend