Free Hugs Project

"Fear and hatred cease to exist when love is in abundance" - Ken E. Nwadike Jr. (Free Hugs Project)

This months post is different. This month isn't going to a charity but going to support a good cause. This is about inspiring change, something that every single person is capable of doing. 

Over the past few weeks, and maybe even months, I find myself struggling with the world we live in. 

Being 23, I am so sad to say that acts of terrorism no longer surprise me as much as they should, because they are now happening so regularly. But I am devastated to say that shootings are now a regular part of the news and don't surprise me anymore. 

It feels like everyday I turn on the tv, or look at social media I am hearing about some sort of shooting, whether its a police officer being shot, a police officer shooting someone, a completely accidental shooting, or a gunman opening fire in a public place. Never would I have thought that I would be growing up in a world where gun violence, gun abuse, and shootings would become such a  normalized part of society. 

I stumbled upon The Free Hugs Project, and immediately fell in love with the work that they are doing. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzyzbnsYEE

The Free Hugs Project was established by Ken E. Nwadike Jr. to spread love, inspire change, and most importantly, bring awareness to social issues. The Free Hugs Project was born in 2014 at the Boston Marathon (one year after the bombing), with a free hugs sign, a camera, and a tripod.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvn-rgk1bPo

Nwadike said "While viewing the devastation of the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon, I was determined to be a participant in the next race. I failed to qualify by just 23 seconds, so I decided to attend the event in a different way. I provided free hugs to runners as encouragement along the route. This simple act made national news headlines and lifted runners spirits. Hugs produced smiles and gave runners an extra boost as they ran." Now over 30 videos have been created raising awareness on social issues, but inspiring change to happen and spreading love through something as simple as a hug.

A hug between my mother and I. 

I have decided to donate to the Free Hugs Project. Donating to the Free Hugs Project makes the videos possible. It covers the travel expenses for the crisis response team of huggers, film crew, security, and to promote the videos. 

You can help the Free Hugs Project by visiting http://freehugsproject.com/donate/

Sources: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvn-rgk1bPo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOzyzbnsYEE

http://freehugsproject.com