linda's raw food newsletter Hello there Good Fiddle Heads People! I wanted to acknowledge the heart breaking devastation that Hurricane Sandy left and honor the resiliency of the people that live there as well as the outpouring of help that is coming to them all already. What a storm. There was so much damage, devastation and loss in NJ and parts of NY and CT. Those of you that know me know I am a Jersey Girl. The first 27 years of my life were going to any beach/boardwalk I could to visit mother ocean. All my haunts are gone. All I have left are my memories and I'm grateful for the memories. I'm saddened by the devastation, I know it will get rebuilt and I also know it will be different - maybe better maybe worse but definitely different. Change happens. I'm grateful to have heard back from most of my peeps in the tri-state area. Damage to houses ranged from terrible to some being lucky to not get anything. Downed trees and wires are everywhere. Some are still without power as I write this - my brother and his family among several without power (and my family is not known for being avid campers... but we are adaptable...) Another storm is expected on Wednesday and I hope mother nature is kind to my NJ and all its people. I want to acknowledge the folks in Cuba and other parts of the Carribean, too, who were also devastated by this storm. This was an unprecidented storm that was far reaching in its path. I'm still shocked to hear how man inland places in NJ got affected. This was a life-changing storm for so many. What has been heartening is the outreach of support. Utility trucks from Ohio, Michigan, Alabama and EVERYWHERE are coming to help get power back on so that people can get warm. We're all in this together, folks. (If you recall, many Vermonters were devastated by floods last year. Hurricane damage in VT? It still boggles the mind.) Many people are calling these weather patterns "the new normal." Keep the prayers and good thoughts coming. So we're all in this together. I want to post some links for ways in which we can help. My home needs me and it needs you. This is a lot of damage and the recovery is going to take a while. Here's what I found so far and I'll post more when I can:

• Help Jersey - http://helpjersey.com/give
• Red Cross - (Don't forget NY, CT, and the Carribean!)
• Jersey Cares - type in a zip code and find information/drop off points
• a wonderful post with many other links for helping NY and NJ
• ATTENTION CENTRAL VERMONTERS: My friend is going down this weekend to take items to places for donation. Blankets, cleaning supplies, baby items, gently used clothes (think COLD weather clothes/accessories) and non-perishable food items. Please contact me and we'll coordinate the drop off to my friend Jen (another Jersey Girl living here in VT.)

These ways in which we can help greatly lift up the folks who are feeling very down, devastated, alone and/or confused by what they see before them. Thank you for your open eyes and hearts. all love, Linda Vermont Fiddle Heads http://www.vt-fiddle.com Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VTFiddleHeads?ref=nf P.S. Please contact me if you are interested raw food classes or challenges. P.P.S. Be sure to check us on the web as we have lots of new products online and in the store, too, always. We've posted up a few new items!