By ALI CUDBY
Imagine losing every single possession in a fire.
How would you begin to rebuild? Where would you start?
This devastating scenario became Emily R*’s reality in early December. She woke up in the middle of the night to find her rented home on fire. She ran outside – barefoot – with barely enough time to grab sweatpants.
Even her car was partially melted from the heat of the blaze.
Even Emily’s car keys were lost in the fire
Now, imagine this picture with no renter’s insurance to cover your losses.
While Emily doesn’t have much in the way of financial resources, she does have one amazing asset – a network of people who care about her.
The day after the fire, her colleagues at the Dog House Inn, the pet care facility where she works, began putting out the word to customers, friends and family. The network was activated. I heard about Emily’s ordeal from Sherry Boyer, the owner of the Dog House Inn and a woman in my professional network.
Having to replace every single item in your life is overwhelming – the enormity of the task as well as the cost. Like others who heard Emily’s story, I wanted to help this woman.
I reached out to colleagues at Natori, and heard back from Ken Natori, Vice President of The Natori Company, as soon as he opened the email – “We would love to put together a care package for her.”
Natori’s response exemplifies the power of a network – but not just any network. It’s the response of a network of people who care about relationships. Business is always built with people, and relationships are the foundation. The folks at Natori understood that, and jumped in with immediate action.
Ken Natori, shares, “When Ali explained the situation, we knew we had to mobilize our team to provide support. Especially during the holidays, we were thrilled to be able to put a smile on someone’s face during a difficult time.”
The team at Natori has never met Emily. Yet when someone in your direct web shares an opportunity to do good, the request is heard differently. That is the power of networking to boost women.
Emily received an incredible array of Natori lingerie and sleepwear to help rebuild the foundations of her life. Upon opening the boxes, she immediately burst into tears of gratitude.
In this season of giving, we all have a lot to be grateful for. I am especially grateful to The Natori Company, my own incredible network, and also to Emily, who allowed me to share her story. If you want to help this young woman rebuild, here’s a link to take action: https://www.gofundme.com/huddrens
*Full name withheld
