Monday Motivator: Giving Back

I've been doing my best to avoid news about the oil spill.  I didn't want to read the statistics or see the pictures, because I knew it would only make me sad and angry.  And there was nothing I could do about it.

Of course, spending as much time online as I do, there was no way I could avoid it entirely.  The first article I read was one I came across on the Weather Channel's website while I was innocently checking the forecast.  It gave several startling illustrations of just how much oil is spilling into the gulf on a daily basis--enough to fill 52 Olympic swimming pools, 3,813 tanker trucks, or enough to cover an area from the middle of Long Island well into Pennsylvania.  And this wasn't the total amount, this was daily.  It was mind-blowing. 

And reading about the 29 dolphins and 227 sea turtles that had been found dead at the time (this was June 2; I cringe to think of what the numbers must be now) truly broke my heart.  Not to mention all of the other creatures who have survived and are suffering, covered in oil.  Not to mention the long-term damage that's been done.  Not to mention the human lives that have been lost, as well.

So here I sat, deeply saddened and still convinced that there was nothing I could do.  Silly me.  Thankfully, my friend, fellow nature-lover, and generally gung-ho activist-type, Ed, called me up to suggest that I start a new jewelry line for my Etsy shop and donate a portion of the proceeds to clean-up efforts.  Of course!  Why didn't I think of that? 

I dunno, but now I'm in the process of trying to decide on a specific charity to donate to.  I'm currently leaning toward the Gulf Restoration Network, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I want to make sure the money goes to a group who will actually use at least the vast majority of it for it's intended purpose rather than advertising and such. 

Once I've decided, I'll be back with further details.  And if anyone else is doing something similar, leave me a comment with a link to your shop, and I'll compile a list.  Let's help get this mess cleaned up!