Like most people, once Russia invaded the Ukraine, I had an urgent desire to help. So many refugees flooding into Poland and other areas in Europe with nothing, but what they could carry. I am in awe of the Ukrainian peoples strength, perseverance, and love for their Country. How does one person help? My quick answer to how the individual helps a humanitarian crisis, is simple. Join together with other like minded individuals to create a bigger impact. I am not a doctor, I do not have a large spokesperson platform, I barely even have time for anything but going through the day to day activities that make up my life. What I do have is a camera, and I am surrounded by a community that cares. I reached out to Facebook’s Annapolis Moms Club, and to my Instagram community https://www.instagram.com/raisingwildonesphotography/ , and was quickly sold out for Personality Photos for Ukraine.
So let me tell you how wonderful personality photos are! The beauty of personality photos, is it doesn’t matter if your child is wearing miss matched socks, their favorite orange shirt, won’t let go of their lovey for a photo. You don’t have to plan outfits. You don’t have to worry about how they will behave. These photos are just about them. If they want to wear an astronauts helmet (see my kid above lol) than wonderful! Also, full disclaimer, my little girl seen blowing the bubble does not know how to blow bubbles. I’ll give you one guess as to how that worked.
I had about 25 families come meet me at my Stevensville, Maryland photography studio. We are dog friendly too! So I loved seeing some of your fur pups come in strutting their stuff, for a little pet photography.
All in all we were able to raise just over $1200 that was donated to www.care.org. That money was then matched for an ultimate $2400 to help families, children, and the elderly refugees flooding out of the Ukraine. It is a very small drop in the bucket. I know that. But I couldn’t be more proud of the my community for coming together, to be one of the many drops in one of the many buckets that are making a difference to the Ukrainian people as they fight for their survival and their Nation. So here are a few of the beautiful kids that I got to meet the other week. And let me tell you, I loved sitting down with these kids to see what they liked to do, and what makes them happy. It was really the highlight of my day!
