Given the enormity of the Nepalese earthquake disaster, I am dedicating this blog post to all of the victims affected by this catastrophic event.

Shortly after the quake hit, I received an email from a Nepalese young man whom I mentored ten years ago when he was a college student here in the U.S. We have kept in touch over the years. He wrote to tell me that, thankfully, both his parents survived the quake and that he had heard from most of his other family members. He asked me to sign a petition requesting Partners in Health and the U.S. government to coordinate rescue efforts for the victims in Nepal. Here is the link to the petition at Change.org.

I also paid a visit yesterday to a close friend who works for Mercy Corps here in Portland. She had just finished going through devastating images taken within 24 hours of the quake, and she was visibly distraught by the suffering she had just witnessed through the photos. I believe Mercy Corps currently has 90 of its people over in Nepal helping with the relief effort, but they obviously could use a lot of support themselves as well. Here is the link to Mercy Corps if you are inspired to donate to the relief efforts they are spear heading.

Hands together,

Lori