No matter where in this beautiful planet of ours you are right now, I’m sure you all have heard or seen the results of hurricane Matthew. Some of you might be even going online 24/7 to look for ways to help the victims (over 800 dead in Haiti and 80% of homes damaged… and counting) so I decided to focus today’s post on providing links and info I found while searching for volunteering opportunities. For those that wish to travel to Haiti to help, I haven’t been able to find anything online. I would like to go too! If you have information, please share the name of the nonprofits or links by commenting below. For everyone else who wishes to help but can’t make it over there, here are all the ways in which we can help. This is the third time that a natural disaster hits Haiti in 6 years. (2010 7.0-magnitude earthquake, 2012 Sandy, 2016 Matthew). They need our help more than ever!

1) DONATE ITEMS: Haiti is in urgent need of medical supplies, non-perishable food, toiletries, feminine hygiene products, blankets, aqua tabs for water purification, clothes, and construction items (such as: nails, sheet metal, and tools). There are several locations throughout the US gathering all the donations in shipping containers to be immediately shipped out to Haiti. Click on your location below for details.

-New York (Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island): Call the consulate or click below to find exact locations provided by this NY Daily News article. Consulate: (212) 697-9767.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/caribbeat-rush-battered-haiti-article-1.2822899

-Florida (Orlando): donate items and volunteer preparing everything to be shipped out to Haiti. Monday through Friday.

https://cleantheworld.org/get-involved/become-a-volunteer/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-hurricane-matthew-orlando-clean-the-world-helps-haiti-20161008-story.html

-Florida (Miami and everyone else): donate cash or volunteer at locations.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article106211427.html

2) DONATE CASH: this Huffington Post article provides more than nine organizations that are raising funds to send medical aid and food to Haiti. There’s even one, Save The Children, that is creating “children play zones” in Haiti to protect and entertain kids amidst the chaos.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-help-haiti-hurricane-matthew_us_57f7a14be4b0b6a4303177ca

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/apps/nlnet/content2.aspx?c=8rKLIXMGIpI4E&b=9357115&ct=14926365&notoc=1

3) HELP ANIMALS: And last but not least, here’s an article with tips on how to help animals hurt by Hurricane Matthew, and below another link to ASPCA’s fundraiser page for the animals they are rescuing from the affected areas.

https://www.bustle.com/articles/187865-11-ways-to-help-stray-cats-dogs-other-animals-during-hurricane-matthew

https://secure.aspca.org/donate/201610fir-web-T1-P1?ms=wb_hom_position1-oct-fir-hurricane-matthew-20161007&initialms=wb_hom_position1-oct-fir-hurricane-matthew-20161007&pcode=WEB1HOM&lpcode=WEB2HOM

This is all I have for now, guys. If I find more nonprofits or ways in which we can all help, I'll update this post and let you know. Please comment or email me with info you wish to share with the world.

It's time for us to come together and create a massive wave of healing and positive change.

Let’s talk bracelets. Who in this planet doesn't love them? In case you have noticed already, I’m a HUGE hippie-chic jewelry fan and kind of love to stack up my wrist with as many bracelets as possible. But here’s the trick. I don’t just wear any bracelet or necklace or ring. I like wearing things that have a meaning. Bracelets that are either spiritual, give back to our world, or are unique gifts I’ve received from family and friends. And to be honest, I believe in their healing power so much I never take them off! They are my protectors, my positive energy charms and my constant reminders that there’s hope in this world and that limits don’t exist. One of those is my “Brave” red wrap-around braided bracelet. I wear this one with pride because the story behind it is nothing less than truly inspiring. The bracelet’s brass charm says “Brave” (Klaa-han) in Khmer and was handmade in Cambodia. A country where gender inequality still stains many aspects of the Cambodian society and the illiteracy rate of women is much higher than that of men. In order to create opportunity to counter all these wrongs, Jessica Hendricks designed "The Brave Collection". Beautiful jewelry pieces carved and woven by hand by local Cambodian artisans who come from underprivileged backgrounds. Each piece serves as a symbol of bravery to empower women across the globe and to support the work of fair-trade artisans. To make this jewelry line even more breathtaking, 10% of the profits are donated to fight human trafficking and fund leadership programs for women. Each piece comes delicately packaged in a silk pouch hand-woven in Cambodia, and a Brave jewelry box.

Are you guys as touched with this story as I am? I hope so! Christmas is around the corner and “The Brave Collection” makes the perfect opportunity to inspire those you love to believe in shopping with a conscience and giving back. There are many injustices going on in this world we are completely unaware of, guys. Lack of courage in women is one of them. Let’s help put a stop to that by wearing the courage and being the voice.

Love, Valeria.

Click here to browse through the collection.

Time to come together. Let's help Haiti & Hurricane Matthew Victims.

Courage is contagious! A bracelet with a purpose.