giving back
Moms Can Make a Difference Through Social Media #JerseyLove
giving back • moms making a difference
Many heard about what Hurricane Sandy did to the Jersey Shore from the news, radio or social media. The superstorm left many families homeless and towns devastated. As a Northern Jersey resident, we saw how strong the winds were in our neighborhood.
All I could do was read my Twitter and Facebook feed, watching for news from friends who live down the Shore. Then I read it ... the post that hit me hardest. One of my fellow New Jersey Digital Moms had lost her home to Superstorm Sandy. I felt helpless, even ashamed, because I was not affected by the storm. We had not lost our home, had not flooded, had not even lost power. I did not know what to say or do; I could only send her my love and thoughts.
My opportunity to make a difference came when Elizabeth Norton, our New Jersey Digital Moms Founder, told us she was helping organize a Social Moms Retreat for early June to help tourism for the Jersey Shore with the Social Media Moms. I immediately put in my interest to participate. I was excited and anxious to be part of the event.
Then came the weekend where 40 of us came together down the Shore for four days June 6 for #JerseyLove. We came together as a group to promote through our social media avenues that the Jersey Shore is open for business .
Despite the crazy weather that weekend from Tropical Storm Andrea, we went to Belmar and surfed with D6 Sports and their D6 Surfboards and Surf Skimmers
Rode the rides on the Steel Pier (photo by ShutterBugGeek of Princeton Found)
Ate amazing food from Taste of AC through our host Caesars Entertainment
Climbed the 228 steps of the Absecon Lighthouse
And by the generosity of D6 Sports, we were even able to hand over a $5,000 check to Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty to help families still displaced by Hurricane Sandy (photo from Party BluPrints)
This wonderful #JerseyLove effort and our group are proof that our online lives can come together in real life to work together in a positive way. Social media is about building and helping community, on- and offline.
The Social Media Moms and New Jersey Digital Moms are examples that we can come together to make an impact on the lives of others not only in our local communities, but everywhere. As women and moms in social media we can make a difference when we work together.
Over 3,000 Instagram images, 6,000 tweets and 80 million impressions later, the Social Media Moms and New Jersey Digital Moms reached over 5 million people around the world telling everyone that the Jersey Shore is open for business through our #JerseyLove Social Media for Social Good retreat. Together, we can make a bigger and positive difference.
You too can still help displaced families of Belmar – yes there are many who still need our assistance – by visiting the Belmar Relief website and making a donation.
To read more about my trip, visit my blog at Yippy Momma. Unless otherwise noted, photos were taken by Rita under her photography brand Pui Pui Photography.
Proud momma of two. Photographer. Crafter. Entreprenuer. Rita loves cuddling up with her kids, watching movies and drinking hot cocoa. She's the author of several blogs including Yippy Momma (www.YippyMomma.com) where you'll read about her life, parenting, kids, products and a splash of creative writing; crafts at Yippy BeBe (www.YippyBeBe.com/journal); her photography work at Pui Pui Photography (www.PuiPuiPhotography.com) and geek related things at www.RitaPCheng.com.What ways are you making a difference in your community?
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- Moms Can Make a Difference Through Social Media #JerseyLove - July 6, 2013
