Blog It Forward
Published in Widowism by chefswidowI don’t know Anissa Mayhew. I met her briefly at BlogHer while sneaking a smoke out back. Since that brief (and very hilarious) meeting I have been a reader of her blog, Aiming Low. Last week I was saddened to hear that she had a stroke, this being her second. The 35 year old mother of 3 was in the icu fighting for her life. I followed the twitter thoughts and prayers, read the website updates, and kept her own family close in my prayers.
I found that Anissa was in my thoughts alot last week and over the weekend I knew that I had to do something. Because I only know her through her words, I felt odd speaking about her on Twitter. Unfortunately I have watched as people use other people’s tragedies to promote their own agendas. Blech. But I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I couldn’t stop thinking about the simple fact that she too is a mother like me, close in age, with 3 children. I decided that I was going to help. I was going to use what I have been given (the restaurant) to help her family in their time of need. I have been a blogger for 4 years. In that time I have met some of the most amazing people. I have bonded with them and some of them have even turned into beautiful friendships. The interwebs have changed my life and I hope know that if we were ever at a dark point in our life, the interwebs would turn the light on for us.
The idea of Blog It Forward was born. As bloggers we have the power and the network to help people. And that is precisely what Blog It Forward is all about. Helping a women I don’t know. A woman you don’t know. Three children that I will probably never meet. A husband that needs strength. Providing just a little sliver of hope…
The holiday season is often lost in translation. This year I will not let it be. Please join me in the celebration* of giving for a friend in need:
If only I could drive up to Cleveland that day! I never even met Anissa and she’s on my mind too…
i’ll be there, and i’ll be blogging about it later today!
[...] don’t know Anissa Mayhew. And until last week, I never even heard her name. That was until Amelia e-mailed several local bloggers asking for help. None of us know her. But she’s a fellow [...]
I am going to try and get there. that is one of my rare days off this time of year [working in retail has its drawbacks] and i am going to drag a long a friend of mine who is a Chef at the Pentagon and cooks for the Joint Chiefs of Staff for the Air Force.
we are excited! Hope to meet you as well!
You already know that I’ll be there! I’ll also be blogging about it later today. =)
Awesome idea. Brava. I will sooooo be there.
im too far away :/ but im passing it forward!
What a wonderful and thoughtful gesture! I have added the event to the calendar on my blog for everyone who visits to see and I plan on attending as well. Hopefully I can drag some of my other friends along with me as well.
What an awesome gesture! I found you thru OHMommy. I live in Cleveland so I will definitely try to come (will also blog and retweet)
What a lovely and thoughtful idea. I’m the organizer of a local Happy Hour group through Meetup.com (we’ve been to the Greenhouse Tavern for a Happy Hour before and loved it). I just posted the event on our site. Hopefully we can get a crowd together to help her and her family.
You are so amazing for doing this. Wish I could be there, but Canada is a bit of a far commute
This is amazing. Looks like I need to get myself to Cleveland.
What a great idea! I wish I lived closer, but I will be lifting a glass to Anissa with you all in spirit.
Thank you to everyone for sharing Blog It Forward. What a great response. I look forward to meeting you all and toasting to Anissa.
A
I would so be there in a heartbeat… if it wasn’t for the 2 hr drive…
Looking forward to it, its on the calendar now!
count me in.
You are such a special person to put this together for Anissa!! Amazing…..
Unfortunately, I live in TN…………..However, I will forward this info to my sister and some of her friends that live in the area.
I hope you guys have a great turnout.
Thanks!
PS: We will be “home” for Christmas and we hope to make it down to GHT for dinner. If so, I hope to get to meet you and Jonathan…..
I don’t know Anissa but feel very touched by her situation. I’m am going to try to put a Detroit contingency together and roll into Cleveland Dec. 3
I heard about the event through Meetup – thanks Jill! I’ve alerted my local blogger friends and posted an event on the Cleveland Social Media Club site. See you all there!
This is fantastic! If I lived anywhere near you I’d be there!! Thanks for doing this.
This is just amazing and touching. The one time I wish I wasn’t a Texan.
You are simply amazing for doing this! I’m planning on being there (once i get childcare figured out).
This is such a generous and heartwarming thing that you (& Chef) are doing. I’m going to try and make it, and will certainly blog/tweet about it until then.
I’m new to blogging, and I’m unemployed, but I’m coming and will do what I can. See you all there!
This is absolutely amazing and inspiring. I hope you don’t mind if Cincinnati copy-cats you soon dude.
[...] local blogging queen, Chef’s Widow decided that the CLE should gather to do something and Blog it Forward was [...]
It was great fun. I wish I could have mixed with the crowd more, but I had to sit down and eat and I had another event to attend afterwards!
BTW, the Greenhouse makes an EXCELLENT bar burger!
[...] http://www.chefswidow.com/2009/11/23/2827/ [...]
Thank you for this information.