A very old friend of mine sends her kindergartener to Sandy Hook Elementary School. Five and a half years ago, she was placed in my arms mere hours after her birth and I wept with joy. The thought of someone trying to hurt her makes me want to tear a wall down with my bare hands. (She attends PM K and wasn’t there yet on Friday morning when the incident happened.)

I am so angry.

This Mister Rogers quote got brought out a lot this week, and I’ve found it tremendously comforting:

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”

Some of my favorite helpers to watch have been the folks who brought therapy dogs to the community. The dogs’ sole purpose is to be a warm, gentle creature to be loved on and snugged up by people needing comfort. It’s such a warming thought, and the photos of people reacting to them are fantastic! (That link is a way for you to donate to them if you are so inspired.)

Here’s a sweet way for you and your kids to help:

The students of Sandy Hook Elementary are being moved to a vacant school a few miles away, and administrators are requesting paper snowflakes to decorate with for winter. (The photo are two that I made to send, along with a thank you note to Ms. Schulz for collecting them.)

You can make a few (instructions are here) and mail them by 1 January to:

Sandy Hook Snowflakes
c/o Lya Schulz
24 Squire road
Monroe, CT 06468