Why You Guys Rock and Nestle Doesn’t

YES!!

The last of the most recent Paypal Transactions have cleared. Are you guys ready for this? Today, after much time on the phone with the Mother’s Milk Bank of OH (Thank you, Georgia for your patience), I made a paypal transfer directly to their bank account.

Here’s the screen shot.

Did you catch that total? Yeah- let me show you guys again.

No you did not blink. You did not misread that comma. In addition to the over three-thousand dollars we sent in last week, we have together sent in another SIXTEEN THOUSAND to the milk bank this week as well. 🙂 You guys are amazing.

Here’s the final CYA screen shot of the email confirmation from Paypal of the transfer and then I have something else to talk about – Nestle. But first…Georgia (the milk bank director) said she would be posting to the Facebook Cause Group when the transfers were complete and would try to pop in and post updates as additional, directly-sent donations come in as well so keep an eye on that in the next day or two.

Now then – Nestle. You’ll notice several of the subject lines of the other emails received. From Nestle. A full dozen of you forwarded their *lovely* response to me in addition to the canned replies I got from them myself. Someone IM’d me and said, “WHAT!? Did they even keep track of the updates with this situation?”

My reply is – not according to my Google Analytics. Their three visits to my website from Nestle Corp came within the first week that we started this campaign with no new recorded activity from them in the past two+ weeks. So I’m not sure they WERE keeping up with it.

It doesn’t matter. The official Nestle response, for anyone who didn’t get a copy, is “I have been following the information about Jaeli and her sensitive condition. We hear from many parents about special situations and we treat each request with great concern and attention. I understand your request for our support in providing what Jaeli’s parent(s) believe to be best for their baby. We empathize with the situation but need to respect the professional recommendation of Jaeli’s doctors who are closest to the situation and must have her best interest at heart. Our thoughts are with Jaeli and her family.”

There’s a lot I could say – but won’t. Not here. Not in this post of victory. Just this – I’ve had a lot of people asking about boycotts. Now, I can’t tell you want to do with your money. But I can certainly tell you this much – As one of the 590+ citizens of the world who contributed to Jaeli’s need I find their response insulting. And as a mother I find it degrading. They won’t be getting another dime from me. I’d rather send that money to Jaeli anyway. 🙂

So here’s my final thoughts on the subject. YOU GUYS ROCK! Here’s what I’ve been seeing from some of YOU – please note the stark contrasts:

• “Please let me know how else I can help. I don’t have much to give right now, but my heart goes out to this family. I wish I could do more.”
• “Donation for Jaeli I wish I could send more. Thank you for helping Brandy and this precious baby.”
• “Found this via Twitter.  We’ll skip the lattes this week!”
• “Brandy & Jaeli are always in my thoughts and prayers!”
• “GOOD LUCK JAELI, I HOPE YOU GET BETTER SOON …..AND MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WITH ALL GOOD THINGS.”
• “Good luck…I read your story this morning and I know how frustrated you must be with your insurance co.  I will include you in all my prayers……”
• “God bless you all, and this precious baby. I pray for God to bring her good health, and for peace and rest for her parents. God bless you for raising money for them, and I am sure I will be able to donate more soon. I will have you all in my prayers”
• “I hope my donation will help. Please keep me posted as to how Jaeli improves. As a mother of grown children and a nurse I would love to contribute again to your precious one. Many prayers are with you all.”
• “My son is allergic to cow’s milk, so I have some idea of feeding costs.  We’d do more but are unemployed.  Blessings to Jaeli!”
• “Good luck and god bless”
• “I hope she does  good. I know how hard it is with an infant illness. God bless you all.”
• “God Bless little Jaeli and her family”

My personal favorite, and one of the first donations to come in, read “I can only afford to give one ounce of milk for Jaeli. But I will pray and in faith believe that God will take this widow’s mite and multiply greatly“. And He has.

The truth is, by the time Nestle crafted their semi-insulting and seemingly-misinformed reply WE DIDN’T NEED THEM. The truth is, more than 600 people around the world banded together to accomplish a miracle for this baby faster than this large corporation could even formulate their reply. Thanks to you – Nestle’s automated response is nothing more than something to be shrugged away. Their message, inconsequential compared to the numerous messages from hundreds of you of which the previous was only a small sample. And I think the messages speak for themselves.

Blessings,

Angela <><