A Helping Hand

The disaster that recently occurred in Japan is tragic to say the least.  Lives have been ruined; a country has been entirely demolished. In this time of great despair, it is hard to find a light at the end of the tunnel.  But perhaps there is some hope as we turn to each other for support.  Charity organizations are advertising on televisions, radios, and Internet sites.  Everyone has the opportunity to support the people in Japan whose lives have been so greatly affected by this terrible incident.  But as I look for ways to help I can’t help but question our true willingness to help others.  Do we only offer aid in times of natural disasters?  There are millions of people in need of our assistant each day yet it seems we are not willing to lend a helping hand on an everyday basis.  However, as I was surfing YouTube recently I came across a company that understands that helping is important no matter how small the gesture.

Toms is a philanthropic organization that is dedicated to helping underprivileged children around the world.  This organization has been around for approximately 4-5 years.  They sell shoes that $40, but for each pair sold on pair is donated to a child in need.  They come in an assortment of colors and materials.  Over the years they have expanded and now even sell heels and have a wedding line.  On the Toms website you can even purchase their “one for one” collection t-shirts and pair of shoes will be donated.   This company has developed into multimillion-dollar organization and is still continuing to grow and expand. This organization and those who help it prosper clearly show that all hope is not lost. People are still willing to help others in need. However, it is still true that bigger steps can be taken to offer assistance to others on a daily basis.