Oil Spill Relief?

The oil spill may have been capped, but ask most businesswomen and they’ll tell you one of the most frustrating parts of the BP oil spill is not being able to do a thing about it.

Ashley Lewis, a global marketing consultant, showed up at the beach one day determined to volunteer. “There were hundreds of us. We couldn’t do anything since we didn’t have hazardous materials training.”

Patty Prats-Swanson, public affairs manager for Georgia-Pacific’s Port Hudson Operations, made nearly a dozen calls to find a way to help. So far, Georgia-Pacific has donated five pallets of Brawny, one pallet of Angel Soft and one pallet of Spectrum office papers to help remove oil from wildlife. “We just wanted to do something to help that helpless feeling,” says Prats-Swanson.

How can you help?

Envicorp Products, an environmental products small business, is donating 100 percent of their profits to the gulf oil spill relief efforts. Here are other businesses doing the same and accepting contributions.

Want to directly donate to an organization? Oxfam America and the National Wildlife Foundation provide assistance to communities affected by the oil spill. Plus, if you live along the coast, visit your city website for calls for clean-up volunteers and sign up for the appropriate training.

Other easy ways to help? Proceeds from purchases of Dawn detergent go toward bird clean up in the gulf.

Bonus PINK Link: A woman photographer shares her personal journey of heartbreak and healing in the rape-ravaged Congo.

By Muriel Vega

“Take care of the earth and she will take care of you.” Unknown