While I cannot begin to grasp the depth of grief that the people in Connecticut must feel, I am deeply saddened by the loss of so many, especially so many so young. And I know that many people who have been touched by this tragedy are looking for a way to turn sorrow into something positive.
Recently, Ann Curry at NBC News promoted the idea of committing acts of kindness to honor those who lost their lives (Twitter hashtag #26Acts). Some people are donating christmas gifts to families in need, collecting donations of food for local food banks and shelters or offering support to the community of Newtown directly.
The primary mechanism to donate is via the Sandy Hook School Support Fund coordinated by the United Way. The fund has already raised $1.3 million that will be distributed in accordance with the community’s wishes. If you would like to contribute, click here.
Another way to give is by donating to Newtown Youth and Family Services, which is providing counseling to community members affected by the tragedy. They are accepting donations here.
Lastly, I noticed that many of the people on social media were making donations of toys and clothes to children in their local communities. So I also wanted to also post the link to the Toys for Tots Foundation, which provides holiday gifts for needy kids.
I hope you will consider making a donation or embracing the idea of #26Acts in your own way. You can follow the hashtag on Twitter to see how others are contributing.
Thank you for this, Belle. What a classy way for you to respond even in the face of the ridiculous comments earlier this week. I hope your grandmother is doing well.
Thank you for responding in some way. I know you are probably limited by your job, but I think this tragedy should transcend that.
Went to the local super store last night and bought gifts for a needy family in our church. Contributions this morning to Fisher House for Veterans and now after reading this post to the United Way for Sandy Hook. Bless you during this time of year, especially in light of your personal loss and the losses in Newton. You are one classy gal Belle.
I just wanted to leave a comment saying that I'm unsubscribing from your blog. You are free to your own opinions and to make a living anyway you wish but I can't in good conscience support you any more.
I'm sorry to hear about your grandmother and I hope your #26acts make a difference.
Thanks for the blog.
Goodbye
Amen, Marie. This is my last visit to your blog.
I don't get it. Are the same readers who demanded Belle respond the ones upset? Are the same people who said they would never read here again on Friday and Monday coming back to express their anger again? Don't let the swinging door hit you on your way out.
I like this blog. I'll keep reading. I'm also glad she posted ways to donate. Don't let them get you down, Belle.
What just happened?
Belle provided ways to commemorate/mourn the deaths of small children and people are unsubscribing??
Words escape me.
Clearly I have missed something here.
I really don't understand the vitriol in these comments (or Monday's). Nothing on Belle's blog is political, she doesn't compel readers to support her particular views, and she obviously doesn't condone criminals. I am a lifelong Democrat and oppose a lot of what the NRA advocates, but I wouldn't unsubscribe from a fashion blogger because of her views. I imagine that was why Belle stayed anonymous for so long, so that she could keep politics out of a creative forum.
I LOVE #26Acts. There was a great article about it on Jezebel last night.
I could not agree more, Jane Doe.
Belle's blog is for fashion and style not politics. (Though I must mention that even during the election when Belle posted various political gifts – she posted links to BOTH the Republican and Democrat Hanky Panky Thongs!!)
Most fashion and style bloggers I follow have not commented AT ALL on the recent events in Connecticut…why are folks so insistent on having Belle add her two cents??
Thank you, Belle…your loyal readers/followers will stay and like Jane Doe said… haters, don't let the door hit you on the way out! Perhaps Facebook is a better place for you to find and share unnecessary and ignorant commentary on all things Connecticut and beyond…
Thank you for this post Belle. It helped me gain some positive direction for the grief we are all feeling during this very sad time for our country. The level of hypocrisy of some of these commenters continues to astound me. So shallow, because I feel all of us are responsible for the events because of our complacency. Any of us who has ever purchased or played a violent video game, gone to a violent movie, bullied or made fun of one of our classmates, the list is so long. It is easy to point fingers and lash out, but perhaps it would be more productive to look inside and examine our part in the current state of our nation. None of us are blameless because we never felt the need to be involved until now. You withdraw from the only thing that can produce results, open dialog towards an attempted solution. A solution that cannot be obtained by attacking a writer of a fashion blog Especially one as generous as Belle.
Belle, since I came to DC and started reading your blog you have saved me from many a professioinal and personal faux paux. Thank you for responding to my emails and helping us with our resumes. Every bit of advice you have ever given me has been spot on. I will continue to seek your advice and be a daily reader.
Belle,
I have read your blog for a couple of years, but never commented. I enjoy reading, taking your advice, but haven't felt the need to share my comments. That is, until now. I am so very sorry for the bile and vitriol that is being spewed your direction – especially in this forum. Lest you think I am someone who is supporting you now because we agree politically – nothing could be farther from the truth. I am a 48 year old, southern Democrat living in Massachusetts. My guess is, we disagree on nearly all political issues. Having said that, nothing warrants personally attacking you because your social beliefs are different from mine or anyone else's.
Take heart, dear Belle. You may lose some readers, but many of us are still here and enjoying your work. Those of us who do remain, are less likely to vent our outrage at you.
I am sorry for the loss of your grandmother. Mine is still one of the most important people in my life.
I love the opportunities listed available to help. And we should be thankful that they are presented for us to help. What we are seeing in America is hugely due to a morality problem. So unless you also want to not only boycott Belle's blog, but Walmart because their wages aren't fair, Ralph Lauren because he made the US Olympic outfits in China most likely using child labor, quit talking on your cell phones because the precious metals for them were taken out of the DRC where rape is being used as a weapon of war the UN has allowed millions of people to die despite having the largest unit of their army there. For good measure you probably should stop talking to anyone whoever has had an abortion and committed their own murder. Perhaps in your eyes it's not as violent as what happened to the children in Connecticut, but it's still murder. Committed by the child's own mother. The US is filled with hypocrites. We should be thankful for those who not only recognize the freedom of gun rights, but also has the morals to list programs to help in wake of the tragedy.
Thanks for this post, Belle. As usual, you have shown grace and poise in the face of pressure. I appreciate very much that you addressed the tragedy — and did so with information helpful to those of us that would rather spend our time trying to assist those in need rather than leave nasty and hateful comments on a fashion blog.
I guess given the tone of many of the comments to earlier posts, you are darned if you do and darned if you don't. Those of us that don't care about your politics will continue to enjoy your blog and fashioin asvice, while hopefully those that don't like you because of where you work will really, finally leave so that the comments section can be a nicer place from here on out.
Happy holidays and sorry about your Grandmother.
Living Social will match your Toys for Tots donation if you use their site: https://www.livingsocial.com/deals/523408
Belle-
I found your blog months ago and fell in love. I find your snark entertaining and unique (most bloggers tend to be “too nice” to say things how they really are). Your style is mature and chic and your suggestions are always inspiring. That aside, I have very different political views from you and yet I have never felt you push your beliefs onto your readers. I am disgusted by others who try to attack your blog through the comments here and I am commenting for the first time to let you know that you have handled the vicious comments with class. Keep up the good work and don't let those nasty commentators get you down! Just because you have a different political belief from me does not mean I will stop reading your blog…the purpose of this blog is for fashion and professional advice and you have done a great job staying within those lines. Hope you and your family are doing well considering the loss of your grandmother…hang in there!
@ M – thank you for letting me know about the matching site for the Toys for Tots. I did not know this, but will use it today. And Belle – Good work here.
You know what would be a great way to contribute, Belle, in addition to all these other suggestions? Quitting your job at the NRA.
yes, quitting is such a great idea. So when no law abiding citizens are allowed to have guns, there will be nobody to protect themselves or others because criminals don't care about laws against guns. Rules are only good for those who follow them, and the last time I read anything about criminals, they don't care. And instead of your freedom to enjoy your spare time how you wish, looking at fashion blogs for example, you will have to worry a whole lot more about what to do in the event that someone broke into your home and tried to harm you with their illegal gun. And I'm going to give you a hint, that knife you grab from your kitchen won't protect you worth a darn. Perhaps we should disarm the police as well? Because theoretically, someone could break into their home or office and get one of those guns and use it against humanity. Probably we should disarm all of the President's bodyguards as well, because if we as a society embrace that we are all created equal then why should he be guarded any more then you or me? Notice how all of the politicians want gun restrictions in place, but no one wants to give up their bodyguards.
I for one sleep better with my 9mm in the house knowing that I can, and will protect my family.
Oh, Josephine, I'm so surprised to see you here! I mean you said you never read here anymore and that you were NEVER coming back again.
I would rather have Belle on the inside injecting humanity into this debate, but that's probably because I'm a rational person who doesn't troll people on the net.
I agree with Amy. I know this is a fashion blog, but since we are all on the subject of guns, I'm taking a moment to support Belle in her job. I happen to be pro NRA, and gasp! also interested in fashion. There do happen to be conservatives out there who enjoy this blog. And as a side note for all who think gun control will solve all the killings. They won't. A man in China walked into a school and knifed 20 little kids. Perhaps we should outlaw knives too? Another fact- Australia put into act a very tough gun law, and violent crime went up the year after something like 200%. Why do you suppose that was? Could it possibly be that as Jess pointed out, if you are the criminal you don't care about laws and that now it is much easier for you to steal/murder/commit crime because you know that most people can't protect themselves? Thoughts to ponder.
Those 30 kids in China didn't die. Thought to ponder.
I am trying to continue to read this blog because despite my intense disagreement with Belle's politics, I like her fashion sense. But the “guns are awesome” crowd is making it very difficult. While the vitriol towards Belle is rude and misguided, at least those people are leaving the blog.
I think it's obvious that this blog has a diverse readership with many opinions–some I share, some I don't. I think we need to all keep going along like before, we can talk about makeup, hair, clothes and career and leave the politics to our day jobs.
I don't have a horse in the gun race but really Amy? Do you think all the millions of people who don't own guns are sitting at home every night wondering when a criminal will break in with an illegal gun?
No! They're sitting around reading blogs, wondering how anyone can say/imply with a straight face that gun ownership is a majority in this country or that everyone who doesn't own a gun is just sitting around all scared.
We're not. We're sitting around wondering why gun owners are constantly paranoid when the majority of Americans make it through their life without dealing with an arm criminal.
Own a gun, don't own a gun. But don't act like you're really making much of a difference in society.
But hey, maybe if Adam Lanza's mom didn't know guns we wouldn't be having this conversation. Just a thought.
There gun control and banning guns are two different things. Gun control does not mean all guns go away and that mean old criminal stops terrorizing those non gun owners to turn on you. All that means you can got to put in a little more effort to get a gun.
Which is completely inline with the 2nd admendment. And which Bella here is trying to violate (in some people's eyes.)
Moving on, I'd love to hear tips on other ideas for winter skin care. I tried the say yes to carrots cream but the container is so small! What else do people use for this crazy weather?
WTF! Why are people angry about this post? This was a horrible tragedy that happened in Newtown, it was nice of Belle to spread the word on how we can all do something positive with it. I for one, am going to email my family and friends also and spread the word. Whether people choose to donate or even volunteer their time, is up to them but as a person with concience, it's up to us to at least give people the hint do to so.
Belle – don't be discouraged by some of these ridiculous comments. Your posts have always been enjoyably snarky and fashionably on point. I have never felt like you pushed your own political beliefs on others, and though we all may not see eye to eye, this post is rooted in respect and compassion for those who are hurting. Kudos to your moral compass, and never let the haters get you down girl!!!
Someone took my username! Gasp! I hope she doesn't let the door hit her on the way out.
I, however, will continue reading and enjoying your FASHION COMMENTARY, because this is a FASHION BLOG. Geez, folks, find some Christmas spirit and be nice to others, even if you don't like their politics.
It's not about not liking Belle's politics. (which I abhor). It's not just her views, it's that her entire way of making a living is to lobby for her politics, which after today's NRA press conference, I can't even stomach to even remotely support someone who supports such an arrogant, dividing group.
If Belle was a nazi would we all be like “its a fashion blog, so what if her politics is white supremacy?” I think not.
Good bye cap hill style.