It’s probably a good thing to start looking at “three good things” again but I thought it might be interesting and helpful for more to look at three things from three angles. One thing from my life, one thing from the world, and a final good thing that you can do. So here goes.
First off, despite having a record-breaking snowstorm we never lost power, heat or water. (Can you believe once years ago after a cold snap our apartment in downtown Toronto had a frozen water pipe to the house and we were without water for almost a week!). It doesn’t mean it was easy. Sage and Daegan both had things to do downtown earlier in the day and due to transit diversions and delays the trip that would normally take maybe a bit over an hour took closer to five hours. It’s OK, though. They had chicken vindaloo ready and waiting for them at home. They reported that when they were on buses the roads were mostly clear and the drivers felt caring and competent. I’m sure they were still very relieved to get to the subway station and underground where they could go back up to full speed.
In the end depending on where you were in Toronto total accumulation ranges between 40-60 centimetres (16-24 inches).
Some exciting medical news. It looks quite likely that the shingles vaccine also seems to work to prevent dementia. Another good reason to get this vaccine – as if avoiding shingles was not enough on its own. I’ve heard mixed feedback on the side effects from “nothing” to “I felt a little tired” to “I had flu-like symptoms for a day or two”. I was somewhere in the middle. Both doses made me a little headachy and sleepy but otherwise no issue.
Are you looking for a way to help folks in the US deal with immigration raids and harrassment? A group of authors, illustrators, agents and editors is doing a charity auction. Visit the “Publishing for Minnesota” site and choose things like the ability to spend time asking editors or agents questions, having someone review/edit your work, buy art prints or get signed copies of books. Just make your choice and show them a receipt from one of the organizations below.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota: ILCM is a nonprofit organization that provides free immigration legal representation to low-income immigrants and refugees in Minnesota and North Dakota.
Women’s Foundation of Minnesota: IRRF is a coalition of philanthropic leaders rooted in communities most impacted by immigration-related harm. IRRF ensures that resources move quickly, responsibly, and with community accountability to trusted organizations responding to immigration-related emergencies across Minnesota.
Midwest Immigrant Bond Fund: The Midwest Immigration Bond Fund pays out bonds for residents of, and people detained in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, and fights for the abolition of immigration detention.
Dios Habla Hoy Church Food Distribution (South Minneapolis): DHH Operation is a community outreach effort led by DHH Church to provide food and urgent assistance to families in need. This church is located in South Minneapolis, and they’ve been doing incredible food distribution to folks who are staying home and avoiding public spaces due to fear and uncertainty caused by immigration enforcement.
Community Aid Network MN: Community Aid Network (CANMN) is a grassroots volunteer-led organization located in the Bancroft neighborhood of Minneapolis, MN. We work to build solidarity with our neighbors, organize volunteers and redistribute resources to ensure everyone has the means for dignified survival.
Central Area Neighborhood Development:
The Central Neighborhood Care Team (Central Care Team), is one of six strategically organized groups within a larger group of Central Neighborhood residents organizing with a twofold mission: relationship building and resistance. This GoFundMe raises funds for critical rent assistance as families stay home.
For support across the country:
Immigrant Defense Project: IDP fights to end the current era of unprecedented mass criminalization, detention, and deportation through a multipronged strategy including advocacy, litigation, legal advice and training, community defense, grassroots alliances, and strategic communications.
HandsOffNYC: Provide resources for neighborhood groups as they stand against ICE kidnappings. Whether it’s training over 1000 people at once at our borough trainings, or making sure that local spotters have basic supplies like whistles and handouts, your donation will directly impact our ability to build and expand the movement.
They’re all excellent causes and help with things that, quite frankly, I’ve felt pretty darned helpless about.
What good things are happening in your life or do you know about? Share it in the comments.
I am glad all is working even after a snow storm. The winter image looks lovely.
Here the temperature mark says -8C but no snow.
Same – I’m actually pretty amazed at how things went. Yes, the subway was disrupted most of yesterday too and buses were diverting on roads with big hills. But now main roads are mostly clear as are sidewalks. It’s going to be cold for a while, though. About -12 now and that’s about as warm as it’ll get for the next little while.
[…] – remember that charity auction I told you about to help folks in Minneapolis? Sage tried to bid on a few things, even setting an alarm for 11:30 PM […]