What California Strong Means to Me

In November 2018 southern California was hit hard by devastation and destruction. Tragedy first struck when a a gunman opened fire and killed a dozen people in country bar. Less than 24 hours later wildfires broke out along the coast turning towns into nothing but ash. Thousands of miles away the city of Milwaukee could feel proud that some members of their favorite sports team were about to step up to the plate and help out.

Christian Yelich, Ryan Braun and Mike Moustakas set out the help Southern California and its residents who were trying to recover from this devastating series of events.

You may wonder why I feel a need to donate to charity that supports a state that I am not even from. Well, let me tell you a little story. A week before the Borderline shooting and the devastating fires I flew to Los Angeles to visit a friend for the weekend. At the time there was small fire burning north of Santa Barbara but there was not real threat and many thought it would soon be contained. I really wasn't aware that this small fire was even happening until I met a young women at a pilates class in West Hollywood. We got to talking before the class and she had confided in me that she was going through a rough time, her parents had to evacuate there home a day earlier because that small fire nobody was concerned about was burning a path directly towards their home, now this women had her parents were living with her in her small studio apartment. I felt sorry for this young women and I gave her some reassurance that everything happens for a reason at that she would get through this. There was really nothing I could do to help but I desperately wished I could have done more.

A few days after I got home from the west coast California Strong was started. Immeaditley I got online and found out how I could help. I bought merchandise and made a donation. While filling in the information for my donation I couldn't help but this of Naida, the women I had met a week earlier in Hollywood, I hoped that some power out there could help bring my donation to her.

I choose to support to California Strong because there are thousands of people going through the same if not worse situation as Naida is. I had a somewhat personal connection to donate to this cause because I had met her but that doesn't mean you can't donate. Every little bit helps and even the smallest donation can make you feel like you are changing the world for the better (because you are).

California Strong teamed up with the Ventura County YMCA to raise money and awareness to those affected by the Borderline shooting and the California wildfires. California Strong promoted a number of fundraising efforts including an online auction and celebrity softball game at Pepperdine University in Malibu.

It is not to late to support California Strong. If you wish to donate to the cause click here.

100% of profits will go toward those in need. To learn more about California Strong or to purchase merchandise click here.

xx,

Hailey