Helping Hookers have it.

I don't know how many of you are aware of the Mommy-blogosphere. It is becoming a major driving force in marketing and otherwise communicating to moms, and I, personally, love them. They are very often journal-type writings of moms - often humorous, sometimes touching, and very rarely political.

Everyone likes to feel understood, and reading them makes me feel like I am not alone in this crazy parenting climate we live in. Some of my favorites are Free Range Kids, I Should Be Folding Laundry, and Rants From Mommyland.

Rants From Mommyland recently did an experiment that warms my heart and gives me hope for the children raised by these parents.

It was called Helping Hookers.

They asked people to send an email if they needed financial help this gift giving season. They asked people to send an email if they wanted to help someone who needed it. Then they matched those people up, and asked the givers to send the receivers a gift certificate of their choice. That was it. No income guidelines, no having to justify your need.

According to their website, thousands of emails poured in, and gift cards are being distributed to families who otherwise would have trouble putting something under the tree. They got so much of a response they had to close down the project in order to make sure they could help those that had already asked.

They took a risk. I can hear you now, wondering how they could not be scammed, how they could trust people to help each other, etc. But according to the emails they have discussed from people who received help in the mail, it worked.

Thank you Helping Hookers for restoring some hope this season, and for reminding readers of your blog that there are those mommies out there just willing to help. All they needed was to be asked.