Today I bring you a guest post from my esteemed colleague Sharon Crowell, who has previously served in Nepal with Acupuncturists Without Borders.
Sharon writes —
Many of us are wondering how to best use our resources to support the victims and first responders to Nepal’s devastating earthquake. Here is one easy thing you can do in the next ten minutes that will make a difference without costing you a dime.
The Fairfax County Search and Rescue Team was deployed to Nepal a few days ago. The team consists of 57 men and women along with specially trained search and rescue dogs. This mission is funded by the government and the people who are going are being paid their salary as fire fighters for the time that they are away. All meals, equipment, etc. are provided.
What the team DOES need, according to my neighbor who served on the Search and Rescue Team for more than 20 years, is notes of encouragement and support. When I asked him what we could do support those serving in Nepal, he said a simple note to the Fairfax Fire Chief would be the best thing he could think of. These notes of thanks and appreciation are copied and sent to all of those on the S&R team. My neighbor says that we can’t imagine how much it means to return home, exhausted and weary, and be greeted by notes of appreciation from people throughout the community.
So a short note, letting the Fire Chief know how proud you are that Fairfax County is serving Nepal in this way this way, wishing for the safe return home of those on the team, and anything personal you might want to say.
Thank you! For those reading this who are acupuncturists, we are in the process of figuring out how we might be able to support these folks through a community-type of acupuncture clinic, weekly for 6 weeks, once they return home. I will be working with the Fire Department on this. Please let me know if you have ideas regarding this or want to participate (pending details, I know.)
Richard R. Bowers, Jr.; Fairfax County Fire and Rescue; Department 4100; Chain Bridge Road; Fairfax, VA 22030; Snail mail is best (email address is www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fr/ ) (e-mail of the Search and Rescue Team info@vatf1.org )
Sharon can be reached at 703-623-8340