31 for 21 Challenge: October 5

I think everyone should be passionate about something (or many things) that helps others and then be doing something that helps support that passion. Imagine for a second if every single one of us just had one passion that we actively supported and helped. Cancer research, breastfeeding, animal rights, autism awareness, feeding the hungry, supporting our troops, housing the homeless, providing free medical services for those in need, visiting/helping the elderly...the list goes on and on and on for the needs that are out there just waiting for someone to notice and support.

Lately I've become aware of something that I never knew existed before and it breaks my heart each and every time I hear about it. In Eastern Europe, many children born with Down syndrome or other "disabilities" are immediately placed into an orphanage. When they turn four and have not been adopted, they are placed into a mental institution and usually do not leave. The conditions in both places are horrible, children/babies usually spend their days in a crib, all day, every day, without being picked up and cuddled or hugged or loved.

It doesn't take me long to start crying when I read about the conditions, the helpless children, the isolation and malnutrition. It doesn't take long for me to get angry when I see pictures, pictures of children who look like they are babies, yet they are five years old.

I sit and wonder, how can I not have known about this? How can things like this be happening in our world and most of us never even know??

There are horrible living conditions out there in our world for millions of people, children, babies. I know a lot of people suffer just miles from my home, the homeless, the hungry, the abused, the poor. And yet so many of us do nothing, not a single thing to help anyone, anywhere.

Because of this, I want to challenge you to two things: first, click on the links below that will take you to other blogs which talk more about these orphanages in other countries. Please, read them, learn, educate yourself so you can educate someone else and so many of us are not forever blind to this issue. The posts are much more eloquently written and informative than mine.

Secondly, do something. If not for these children then for others, for someone, something, somewhere. Find what you are most passionate about, what fills you with the most sadness and heartbreak and figure out how you can help make a difference.

Tell me if it doesn't lift your heart to help and make you forget about your daily (probably) pretty insignificant complaints and burdens.

But don't tell me the one thing you can do will not make a difference. It can, and it will.

Tell me, too, if you already are making a difference somewhere, maybe your reply will be an eye-opener for someone to say or think to themselves, "Hey, I can do that too!"

Please take twenty minutes to read through these, or five minutes and read through one:

Adeye has many wonderful, beautiful posts on her blog. But, read this one and let me know if it doesn't fill you with emotion.

The blog, Jewels in My Crown has a wonderful, heart-wrenching story here . She is also currently running a fundraiser for a sweet little girl named Tori, and giving away an Apple Ipod Touch phone.

Check out this blog, from "a girl who has a brother with Down syndrome." She has a lot of good information about the orphanages on her site.

And finally, this is not a blog, but a website to check out:

Reece's Rainbow- they have a wonderful program to help promote the international adoption of children with Down syndrome. It was started by one mother who is now making a huge difference. What an inspiration!

Thank you, from me and from every single person and/or every animal or organization that will benefit from whatever you do, wherever you do it.