Etsy Sellers Join to Raise Money to Help the Gulf During Oil Spill Crisis

Every morning I look at the TV in horror while sipping my coffee, with tears welling up in my eyes. In the car I hear more about it but try to tune it out, because it's never good news. In the evening it's piped back in through the tube and I remember feeling the same sickness when 9/11 happened - the feeling in the pit of your stomach that this was real, and not a movie. This is happening, there is nothing you could do to prevent it from occurring because it's already occurred and a sad realization still as we speak. Even once it's stopped, the damage will go on, and on, and on ...... of course I'm talking about the oil spill.

I'm talking about the man made BP disaster that is impacting our oceans, our wildlife, and our airspace. The very oil that gives us heat, and life and energy, is now polluting our world. Every night my husband looks at me and I at him and we know we should be doing something---anything to help. To help the birds. The shoreline. The environment. The future. Our kids' future.

Then along came Kate. I'm talking about Kate Gabrielle, a 23 year old from Princeton, New Jersey. Some of you may know as "Kate from Flapperdoodle" shop on Etsy.

To me she's like a modern day wonder woman. the Kate with a passion, a mission, a goal and who is doing something about it while fighting back the tears. Much like her own pendant shown here, Kate is on the horn promoting her "Help The Gulf Coast" movement.

So far Kate has opened a collective shop on Etsy called "Help the Gulf Coast" and raised over $500 in donations to Oxfam in a collective shop that has been open only days.....amazing.....the cool and thoughtful participating sellers on Etsy are donating everything from vintage to supplies. You will find donated art prints by FirstLightPhoto well worth the $25, handmade "One Effect Earth Bracelets" for a bargain at only $8 donated by EyeSpider, and cool vintage shoes donated by BeLovedLight for $40. RetroChalet has donated a retro glove mold for only $32, and the list goes on and on.

Shoppers will find items in all price ranges here, and all profits (less paypal and selling fees) get donated equally 50% to Oxfam International and the other 50% the National Audubon Society! Kate reports that Oxfam has given permission to use their name, and she has already donated her first $500 to them. A real feat in just a few days. You can read updates on the official blog!

To see who is on the bandwagon or to read more about this venture visit the Etsy shop called HelpTheGulfCoast. If you are an Etsy seller, you can help this cause by reading the donation requirements on their profile page. Kate has set up a Facebook, Blog and Twitter to raise awareness.

So now I say, Don't cry about it, wipe those tears away and know together we can make a difference. As for Kate, she is my hero.