I met Jen this summer at Healthy Living Summit. I remember her inspiring smile, great attitude, passion for her children, and passion for fitness. The way she talks about her kids and family makes anyone want to meet them. Two weeks ago we were enjoying yoga together during my Yoga for Runners event.
Just a week ago I spent an hour with her during at the Lululemon event for marathon runners. She was so humble and thankful for Lululemon’s hospitality. During our run that day, we spent time talking about the New York City Marathon and how excited she was to run a race that started from her home of Staten Island.
Fast forward a week and she and her family are now homeless. As if they are in a nightmare, they lost everything during Hurricane Sandy, almost including her husband. Their story is incredible. Here is a video of them from the news this week.
Immediately, a number of us wanted to do things to help Jen, a fellow health and wellness blogger in the New York area who has inspired so many of us. While we’ve donated to the site her friends created to raise money for the family, Bo and I thought that creating a rebuilding registry could be a great way to help them start over! Unfortunately the only way I knew to create a registry on Target was through a wedding registry. Let’s help them celebrate Christmas this year in a home filled with love and all the necessities so Jen and her husband can provide their children a season filled with toys and delicious, healthy food. Click on the below link to shop their registry!
http://www.target.com/wedd/registry/2S7XRLLipmh0hBRbkdG2Ww
Jen and her family need all the basics to fill the new rental home they are searching for on Staten Island in addition to things for her children, an adorable 2 year old girl and an active 7 year old boy. If you’d like to support them, feel free to shop the registry here. Anything purchased will go directly to Jen and is greatly appreciated. We’ll be updating the registry on a daily basis, including items that can protect she and her family from the cold weather quickly blanketing our area and Christmas presents for the children.
We’d love for you to share this post and link on any form of social media or with your friends and family so we can help them out as much as possible! Every bit counts!
This is a really amazing idea. I love how everyone in our little blogging community really rallies behind each other.
Thanks for finding such a fun, easy way for us to help out! I loved getting to pick out something specific for them 🙂
Thank you for sharing. I shared this on my facebook page and I tweeted it. God Bless them and everyone who was hit by this storm.
Thank you so much Ashley and Bo. You guys are amazing. The blogger community has been so supportive over the last few days. It’s the hardest week of my life, but I am grateful to be part of this community. Thank you to each and every one of you for all your love, thoughts and generosity. xoxox
Ashley, this is such a wonderful idea and I love that it gives us a way to help out and get them the exact things they are needing. Thank you for putting it together!! Jen, hang in there, and know that we are all praying for you and your family.
Ashley – this was a great and creative idea.
Ashley thank you so much for putting these together. Jen is an amazing mama along with a blogger. I can’t wait to share this with my own network. Yes every bit counts!
I saw this on the news. I literally cried. So heartbreaking, but such a great thing to set up and help! I tweeted this out to my followers 🙂
Praying for Jen and her family. Ashley & Bo you are wonderful people for doing this for a friend in need! I have shared on many social media sites as well as telling friends and family!
What a great idea!!
Thank you for creating this registry. I will be adding it to my blog and facebook page — and picking out something from myself. Jen, you are an inspiration to many of us and the way you continue to stay strong is so incredible.
Brilliant idea!
Ashley this is great! Jen is a great person and I’m happy to see everyone jumping in to her her and her family! It’s heartwarming! Does anyone know where I can send things to her? My family has put together a box of clothing, toys, food and soaps etc. Ashley are you in contact enough with her that I could send them to you? Let me know! Thanks and I’m checking out the registry now, what a great idea!
Love this! Jen – you’re definitely in our thoughts & prayers!
I haven’t looked at it closely yet, but is there a mailing/shipping address for them on the registry?
This is great Ashley! I shared it on my blog as well you truly are a wonderful person! Now that things are getting back together over here in the city let’s get together soon! I am so happy you are doing Philly!
Jen, my heart goes out to you. I am glad you are all ok. The rest will be replaced. and yes, this is a wonderful idea!
This is wonderful! I am happy I could help. My heart goes out to them and they are in my prayers.
love it! As a staten islander who was supposed to run NYC yesterday i think this is a great way for me to contribute. Thanks for sharing her story…off to the “wedding” registry now=)
ok just bought them pillows! looking forward to hearing how things go. i hope you’ll continue to use your blog to update us
Can you email me a mailing address for Jen and her family to lifeasarunningmom (gmail) as I have a load of good-quality clothes, etc. in my trunk that I was to donate….seems more appropriate to go to her little girl as they are dresses my darling daughter has outgrown. And I would really like to make this a giving lesson for my daughter. And we will check out the registry later. Thanks!
This is so touching, such an awesome idea! I will check out the registry right now and check one more thing off their list!
Purchased! Sending well wishes to Jen and her family…
Just bought the towels! Thank you for setting this up – such a great idea!
Wow – I am utterly saddened by this story but love that the Fit Influential Family pulled through to help Jen and her family out. I am going to check out the registry now and share on my networks.
What a great idea. Such an amazing community of people 🙂
This is such a great thing to do. Praying for Jen and her family!
Bookmarking this for when I get paid on Thursday – I hope Target accepts Canadian credit cards
What a great idea. I can’t imagine how you rebuild from what they lost. I’ll pass along with word.
What an awesome idea… This is why I love the running community! Everyone is SO supportive and amazing.
awesome! sharing this right now!! I am reaching out to verizon as I know she needed a phone battery
My heart and prayers go out to Jen and her family. What a great idea this registry is! I’m so happy to help however i can.
This is such a nice idea! I was just telling my husband that we need to do something help the victims of Sandy, and this would be the perfect way to do it!
Beautiful beautiful beautiful. Been sharing the ISH out of this stuff on the bloggy. Hoping to travel to Long Island on Thursday to volunteer. All of this breaks my heart, but truthfully, this community is INCREDIBLE and I am so happy that her family is getting so much love and support and DONATIONS.
Be still my heart. This world is a beautiful place.
Much love to everyone <3 xo
What a fantastic idea. My thoughts and prayers go out to Jen and her family during this VERY difficult time.
this is a wonderful idea!!
This story is truly inspiring. I am definitely going to support them. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for your support Danielle! They need all the help they can get!
I love this. You know that you are directly helping.
Thanks! That’s what I love about the registry too!
Thank you so much for putting this together. I’m planning to look over the registry later this week… I’m so sorry for her whole family. I got goose bumps just watching that video!
The movie clip gave me chills too! Thank you so much for your support!
Amazing idea Ashley and Bo! I just bought a lady bug lunch box (Need to be it stylish at lunch) and some coffee mugs. Thank you for sharing. My thoughts go out to Jen and her family during this difficult time.
Thanks for your support! The lunchbox is a perfect choice!
Great initiative, really thoughtful. Will check it out now.