Post #257231 by ookoo lady on Wed, Sep 27, 2006 7:43 AM

Happy Birthday Purple Jade!

I hope the coming year brings a restoration of all the good things in your life. I extend that wish to everyone who lost their homes, jobs, friends, family, and community in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

I would like to tell some of your story to the newer members of Tiki Central.

Purple Jade lives in New Orleans, and she is an artist and longtime member of Tiki Central. After the hurricane, she and her husband escaped with their lives and pets but very little else.

To help provide emergency funds, TikiFarm produced a set of Katrina mugs, utilyzing Purple Jade's designs. Much of the work, and all of the proceeds, were donated to Purple Jade. During a one-day sale, Tiki Central members helped raise over $6000.00 for her.

These mugs, which remind us to "Remember" and "Rebuild", are a true symbol of our ohana. I am very proud of the people who helped make them come about.

That experience provides a dramatic counterpoint to events that have occured on this board more recently. It shows that we have the power to do make positive changes in the lives of deserving people.

If I got any of the details wrong, or omitted anything important, please post it.