It started with an idea. That idea turned into a tweet. That tweet provoked action and that action attracted an outpour of support.
When Hurricane Sandy devastated our neighbors, New York native Jacqueline Carly enlisted her boyfriend, Chris Brogan, to help pack her truck with supplies so she could drive it south. Chris tweeted the idea to his network looking for a location in Cambridge, MA that could host such a collection. It was humbling and flattering to hear (through the grapevine) that numerous people in Chris’ network suggested Microsoft NERD as a location.
Within minutes Chris’s weekend tweet was forwarded to NERD enthusiasts and employees, including myself. Different people in different roles in different departments somehow got alerted about Chris’s and Jacqueline’s idea. Chris’s reach is so big in fact that a Microsoft employee in California is the one who shared it with me. When I responded, I was far behind. Another NERD chain already had the gears in motion and this was a confirmed event.
Chris gave his network more details about the drive and it wasn’t long before his message was shared more than two thousand times. 791 likes on Facebook, 1,287 shares on Twitter and 75 shares on LinkedIn to be exact. The word was out.
We could not have predicted the amount of people that came to support this impromptu Sandy relief effort Monday afternoon. After we stuffed the cars of Jacqueline and Jen we still had supplies to fill dozens more cars. Big Foot Moving Company saw the social media activity and volunteered time, people and resources to deliver the remaining supplies. We can’t thank YOU enough for this support. The people, the items, the time, the passion…it is all so overwhelming. We couldn’t have done this without your participation and enthusiasm in spreading the word. Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU!
There are still ways to donate. This local barber shop owner in Jamaica Plain is collecting donations and fuel to bring to NYC and NJ. This website also lists needed items and drop-off locations around Boston.
