:: Operation: Help Out Xiu! ::: February 2009

On a daily basis we go about taking our lives and things for granted. Very rarely do we stop and give thanks for all that we have. Unfortunately, this is no longer an option for about 200 people, who are now bereft of their home and personal belongings. On Tuesday, February 24th, 2009 a massive fire broke out on 22 James Street apartment building located at the heart of New York City's Chinatown at around 3:00 AM. As a result, 28 people were reported injured and 2 people were killed.

Among the survivors is our friend Xiu Huang, current senior at Midwood High School in Brooklyn, NY, and her mother. Both, to our relief, exited the razed building unharmed and are fine now--except they have nothing. All their possessions were destroyed by the flames. They are currently in a homeless shelter, provided by the Red Cross, in Harlem, NYC and have only been given $50 for food for 15 days. That is not nearly enough money to cover basic living costs in NY.

To everyone who knows Xiu, it is unanimous that she is indeed a special girl. She has incredible intrapersonal strength, which allows her to take life in a stride and view all the negative happenings of life in an optimistic way. There has literally not been one day where you wouldn't find her smiling, laughing, and saying "hi" to everyone--her wide grin and bright eyes tell it all. In addition, she is probably one of the kindest and humblest people you would ever meet here in NY. She would probably even go out of her way to say "hi" before even meeting you! She is also an excellent student here at Midwood as she has challenged herself with extremely difficult courses such as AP Calculus BC, AP Physics B, and AP Statistics.

As of now, efforts are being made to collect cash at our school, yet only a small amount has been procured. Thanks to everyone's work so far, Xiu has been able to get some clothing to wear and decent meals. This is not enough, though. This endeavor, to help Xiu and her family stabilize, has only just begun.

We ask that anyone who reads this blog please open their hearts and minds to this situation. She is regular teen like we all are, or once were, therefore she should feel like one too. All we ask is for each person to donate $2 towards getting her the necessities (food and housing above all else) and things to help lift her spirits, as well as her mother's (a functional computer--an essential tool nowadays). The method of donation will be via PayPal, but you DO NOT need to make an account to donate. All that is required is a credit card, debit card, or bank account. PayPal is probably the most secure form of payment over the internet, to this date, as the recipients of the payments cannot see the payer's credit/debit/bank information. Once the transaction is complete, all the sensitive information is erased--not stored.

Please. In time of need, Xiu and her mother can use every dollar that is donated--all 100% of proceeds will go to them as there is no profit involved. Yes, it is true that we are in an economic recession and yes money is tight, but $2 will make sure that Xiu does not stay homeless, in need, and can go to school normally. With $2, most people can buy a cup of coffee, a bagel, or even 2 iTunes songs. Can't you make a small sacrifice that will help the life of someone who is in dire need--at the cost of one bagel or coffee? Surely if you were in the same situation, wouldn't you want the help as well? It only takes 2 minutes of your time and $2.

[Of course, you are welcome to donate more than $2; they would deeply appreciate it]

Thank You

Midwood Students Online Fundraising
Operation: Help Out Xiu!
help.xiu.huang@gmail.com