Fighting Poverty- Drew Meyers

Blog Action Day

Today marks the second annual Blog Action Day in which the goal is for all bloggers to be focusing for one day on a single cause, this year it’s fighting poverty in an effort to raise awareness and encourage a global discussion.

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is not only the Community Specialist at Zillow, in his personal life, he is an extremely passionate advocate for microfinancing and travels to the Dominican Republic to get involved in microfinancing and to help local families. His next trip will even involve helping turn a few dirt floors into concrete floors (care to help buy some concrete?!?). Reading his personal site, one can’t help but want to reach out a hand, give a few dollars or support whatever cause Drew is talking about- his compassion is evident in everything philanthropic that he writes.

Last year, Drew shared his friend’s story who was working for a year in the Dominican Republic with Esperanza International, whose mission is “to free children and their families from poverty through initiatives that generate income, education and health, restoring self-worth and dignity to those who have lost hope.” I remember the story a year later with extreme clarity:

“It was REALLY hot, and there was a line of about 70 people waiting to get seen—I noticed a girl about ten years old just sitting by herself away from everyone under a tree; you looked at her face and saw hardship, sadness, exhaustion, hunger, desperation…and she was only 10. I went over and asked her if she wanted to be seen and she wouldn’t talk to me. I spent the next 15 minutes or so asking her different questions, and what was wrong—she looked and acted like she had been abused.

As I was about to leave I gave her hug and asked her one last time what was wrong—it was almost at the same time that I hugged her that I felt her little shoulders start to shake under my arms, and she barely managed to whisper “Porque yo soy asi”…meaning, because I am like this. That little girl in my arms, and every hardship and struggle she lives with every day absolutely shook me, and recounting that memory right now brings tears to my eyes again. It really makes you wonder why you were born into your life…how I can have such a healthy family, unlimited opportunity really—and how that little girl can have literally nothing.“

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Drew doesn’t have to help others, no one does. But he sees the tangibility of helping others and is vocal in encouraging others to do the same. Consider fighting poverty today by getting involved in microfinancing or even going to the Dominican Republic to help out! Drew, the AG family, all the readers and writers are grateful for your leading the charge with your passion for helping others, thank you!