Small Business Funding

Simple acts of kindness from strangers in a time of need impacted two Slidell women. Now, they are paying it forward.”Some people don’t necessarily have the means to help, but anybody can grab a sheet of paper and markers or pens and write a letter of support or create a card,” Kim Bergeron said. Bergeron remembers what the city of Slidell was like during the 2005 hurricane season. She says the community had just begun to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina before they got wind that Hurricane Rita was on the way.”Spirits were already low, people started to kind of lose it,” Bergeron said. “And then we got this box of hope in the mail. It was cards that schoolchildren in Massachusetts had made, and they just said, you know, be happy. We are praying for you and all these positive messages.”Bergeron says the smallest act of kindness made a big impact.She’s now created the Cards of Compassion organization, spreading hope to victims of natural disasters all across the country.”It totally changed everybody’s spirits,” Bergeron said. “And sometimes it’s just that little spark that can make a difference.”Robin Marquez is carrying the torch for the organization.Her family also received a small token of hope in the mail after Hurricane Katrina hit almost 20 years ago.She remembers what that card meant to her and her family. “If you can imagine receiving just the smallest act of kindness from your significant other,” Marquez said. “Imagine what that feeling feels like when it comes from a complete stranger.”The organization has already begun to receive cards from civic organizations, schools and churches. “Just having five minutes is all it takes to put a card together,” Marquez said. “And it can be a rainbow. It could be a sun. It could be a short message behind it. It doesn’t have to be huge or extravagant just the effort behind it means a lot.”They’re expecting to send off hundreds of cards from compassionate people to those who need them the most.Cards of Compassion can be dropped off at one of several drop-off locations:1). E.C.O. Builders, Inc. at 2990 Gause Blvd. Slidell, La 70461.2). Peggy Fuller Newcomb Latter & Blum1400 at Gause Blvd. Slidell, La 70458.Please reach out to Cards of Compassion directly to arrange pick up, if needed.