Operation Goody Bag

By Deirdre Imus No words are necessary.

Their young faces convey the unimaginable anguish and confusion of the quake's youngest victims and the heroic efforts of the men and women fighting to save their lives. While the U.S. and nations around the world generously respond with humanitarian aid and teams of medical personnel give care and comfort to the injured, Haiti's children, many of them alone, are understandably traumatized. The necessities - food, water, shelter, and monetary donations - are arriving from around the world while medical teams work tirelessly to save the wounded and volunteers clear the rubble. Life was tough enough for these children before the quake.

Most of them have only known poverty. Even with the outpouring of humanitarian aid, it will take a very long time for the children of Haiti to psychologically recover from seeing their city collapse around them taking what little they had and watching it disappear before their eyes. We all want to do something... And they need everything.

As the news coverage subsides, the people of Haiti will continue to need humanitarian aid for the foreseeable future. This is why the Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology is announcing a new initiative - Kids-love-Kids - and joining with Operation Goody Bag and the Catholic Medical Mission Board (CMMB) to send goody bags filled with such items as organic lollipops, Glee (r) gum, teddy bears, coloring books, crayons and expressions of support and friendship to the children of Haiti.

Started as a student-centered service learning initiative, Operation Goody Bag was specifically designed to show America's military and first responders our appreciation for their dedication and to develop in students an understanding of the value of public service. Operation Goody Bag has shipped over 125,000 goody bags to the men and women serving at home and abroad to keep America safe.

To learn more about Operation Goody Bag visit http://operationgoodybag.org/id1.html

CMMB is working with us to ship all the goody bags directly to the children of Haiti. CMMB has placed, shipped, or readied $3.3 million worth of medicines and medical supplies for Haiti. In January 2010, CMMB sent 47 shipments of medicines and supplies to 14 countries, valued at $9.2 million. To learn more about CMMB visit: http://www.cmmb.org/Who/mission.htm

Through our Kids-love-Kids initiative, school children will again supply heartfelt words of support and the helping hands to fill hand-colored lunch bags. We want the children of Haiti to know there are other kids in the world who really care about them. Kids-love-Kids will create a bond between U.S. school children and some of Haiti's estimated one million orphans. Start a Kids-love-Kids Club at Your School With the support of educators, the faith community and youth clubs, the goal of Kids-love-Kids is to create a kid-powered humanitarian effort nationwide.

When a child here creates a goody bag and writes a note in their own words for a Haitian child, they learn real compassion and how putting those feelings into action can be very rewarding. Through collection drives, letter writing initiatives and donations, Operation Goody Bag and Kids-love-Kids provides children - and all Americans - with an easy and fun way to get involved in community service and personally express their caring and concern for Haiti's children.

How Big Is Your Heart?

You can help multiply this important relief effort with a donation of $4/bag. A gift of $100 helps purchase the contents for 25 "goody bags." To make a donation with a credit card, simply select "Operation Goody Bag" from the pulldown menu: Donate Now via the HUMC Foundation.

The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center is part of Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC), a 501 (c) not for profit corporation. America's generosity has been overwhelming. Let's continue to show our appreciation to the selfless volunteers and give the children of Haiti something to lift their spirits while their country is being rebuilt.

Deirdre Imus is the Founder and President of The Deirdre Imus Environmental Center for Pediatric Oncology (r) at Hackensack University Medical Center and Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Imus Cattle Ranch for Kids with Cancer. Deirdre is the author of four books, including three national bestsellers. She is a frequent speaker on green living and children's health issues, and is a contributor to FoxNewsHealth.com. For more information go to www.dienviro.com