No Child Should Have to Eat Mud Pies
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 9:41AM 
by Sheil Caldwell
Are you wealthy yet? This morning as I gathered some documents I need for a meeting I enjoyed several cups of coffee, a beautiful bagel with peanut butter, colored my hair, listened to some motivational materials and painted an item I plan to reuse in my newly redecorated office.
While I sit in my warm home writing this blog post I occasionally gaze out the window to the large back yard. I smile and listen to the crows as they try to scare away any would be contenders for the peanuts I threw out to feed the squirrels and chipmunks who have been scavenging for days. My neighbor scoffs because they eat his garden so I try to lure them to my yard. I’m happy to let them eat the pears from the pear tree, the day old bread, cereal or peanuts. As usual the crows are victorious and have left little for the squirrels. 
The television news channel is being broadcast from Haiti. As I watch the devastation I feel a little like a crow. I am reminded how very wealthy not only am I, but how much I love that big yellow above-ground metal pool in the middle of the back yard. I am thankful that I get to walk barefoot through the fresh cut grass, cocktail in one hand, magazine in the other, and sit in harmony for a while as I soak every summer. Oh sure I wish for a beautiful in ground but we’re just not willing to trade the time it would take to earn the money to upgrade when we already have one. And I am reminded that no matter how dire our situations may seem there is opportunity here. It’s everywhere. We only have to imagine, decide and act to have more than we need.
Click the photo to learn more about legendary photographer Dorthea LangeHaitian mothers are reported to have fed their children mud pies due to a complete lack of food. But my daughter had two Yoohoos, a bowl of cereal, an apple and a pack of crackers in her backpack. When she comes home having not eaten her snack I think she must be “starving.” I cannot even fathom handing her a mud pie and I want to do something, so no mother has to.
We have 10% unemployment rate here. Haiti has 50% unemployment. Our average income for a family of four is approximately $40,000.00 annually. In Haiti they live on a dollar a day. A second grader can do the math. But what can I do? Well it may not be a fix but I can help and so can you.
I have a limited supply of the patent-pending Baggonizer, style no 1, which have been discontinued. This particular style will never be sold again and the inventory isn’t doing anyone any good. Until now. While supplies last, I am selling them for $12.00 and offering free shipping. All proceeds will be donated to the Haitian relief efforts. You can keep it to organize your reusable bags or give it as a gift to grandma, mom or the next door neighbor who watches the kids get off the bus when you are five minutes late.
If you have a product you would like to sell off and donate the proceeds, please send a message to the author. Together we can make a difference and we can be reminded just how wealthy we really are!
CLICK HERE TO BUY THE Haiti BAGGONIZER: 
About Sheil Caldwell
As founder of Bagonizer, LLC, Sheil is developing her first product, Baggonizer, Everything you need for the reusable bag routine (tm).......from car to cart to checkout (tm). Simultaneously she is creating a line of home products under her CegiLavar label. In addition, Sheil's sense of adventure has landed her a few minor acting roles in a television commercial, infomercial, and an episode of Forensic Files among others. She is currently writing her first book.