Jill Manrique

Friends, my friend - the awesomely inspiring and absolutely unstoppable Jill Manrique - is heading to Greece this summer to be a helper to refugees. Guys, Jill is you, me, and everyone. Jill is one person, taking a leap, like so many of my other friends. She is packing her bag and going to do some good for people who could really use the help. She can make a major difference and you can too.

She decided this was her way to help. What is your way?

Help My Friend Jill Help Refugees.

Valentina Caceres

I don't even need to write my own words. A friend I met through Carry the Future, Valentina, shared this story recently:

"I was walking around with a soccer ball ready to start a game with the first kid that came and asked me to play, and these little cuties big brother was the one. He walked up to me asking about the ball and telling me he had 8 brothers and sisters that would love to have the ball to play with. He grabbed my hand and walked me through a sea of tents to get to the one he lived in. He opened his tent where his mom and little brothers and sisters were hiding from the strong winds. They invited me in as if they've known me their whole life. The kids were all so bored in there with absolutely nothing to play with... So I told them id be back with some goodies for them. The little cutie wanted a baby so bad she asked me if I had a doll to give her and I had the perfect one! She was so excited about her doll!!! She immediately named her Zuzu💕"

Her original story here.

She did not give up. He did not give up. And so, I will not give up.

Take a good long look into her soulful eyes. Into his too. These two don't deserve to be in this situation. She did not ask for this. He did not ask for this.

Every single day I will speak out. Every single day I will tell someone this has to stop. I will say it over and over again until my voice is gone. Until my words are heard. Until this crisis ends and these families are embraced, protected, and loved. I will not give up.

She did not give up. He did not give up. And so, I will not give up.

Photo courtesy of Carry the Future

"We are runners from a war."

I have friends who are engineers. Some have families already, some may someday. Suppose, friends, your city was perpetually bombed, routinely terrorized, and left in ruin - many of your friends, family, and neighbors dead. Would you not become a runner from war to protect whoever you had left?

The International Rescue Committee shared a link to a beautiful column highlight just a few lives uprooted by this crisis. If you can stomach it - and I urge you to stomach it, read their stories below. 

Like any father, Yousef just wants to provide for his family. 

The 33-year old was an engineer back home in Syria and very much misses being able to support himself and his family. Currently, he his living in a large communal tent with his two children and his wife, who is pregnant. All he wants is to feel safe.

“We don’t want anything from anyone,” he says. “We are runners from a war. Just understand us. We don’t need anything.”

Read the whole column here.