Vosges Haut-Chocolat offers sophisticated spooky treats. And a couple of places to provide help to Hurricane Sandy victims—including pets and farm animals.
First, the sweet stuff. Halloween and Mexico’s Day of the Dead celebrations offer a perfect convergence of excuses for enjoying Vosges Haut-Chocolat’s trio of Skull Lollipops. The Barcelona Skull Lollipop features hickory smoked almonds, grey sea salt and 44% cacao deep milk chocolate. The Red Fire Skull Lollipop heats things up with Mexican ancho and chipotle chillies, Ceylon cinnamon and 55% cacao dark chocolate. The Leche Skull Lollipop combines pink Himalayan salt and 44% cacao deep milk chocolate. All are much too good to waste on kids. Find them at the Vosges Haut-Chocolat website.
Hurricane Sandy: Two ways to help
Often, the worst in nature brings out the best in human nature. Hurricane Sandy left a path of devastation up the Eastern Seaboard this week. Government officials and aid agencies are only beginning to assess the level of damage. The first reaction of many of us is to do something. Jump in our cars, drive to the disaster area, roll up our sleeves and pitch in. As Haiti and Hurricane Katrina have shown us, that’s not the best response, at least a first. Often, there’s no way to get to where you’re needed. And once you’re there, you can’t help but use resources that are already stretched way too thin.
What you can do is break out your checkbook. There are plenty of organizations with established infrastructure and boots on the ground, ready to help. And they can use your support. Here are two we’ve found.
The Center for Disaster Philanthropy has established the CDP Hurricane Sandy Disaster Fund to help maximize the impact of philanthropic support. Your gift will be pooled with the donations of others, substantially expanding its reach and impact. Their program board and staff skilled in disaster philanthropy allocate funds to a wide range of organizations for both immediate and longer-term recovery efforts that may arise from Hurricane Sandy. The CDP website also contains updated information on what many relief organizations are currently doing. You’ll find more information here.
The Humane Society of the United States is involved in many aspects of disaster relief, from directing storm victims to pet-friendly shelters to caring for injured wildlife and rescuing farm animals. The HSUS’s state directors from Maine to North Carolina have been offering animal assistance to shelters and government officials in the hardest-hit areas. And their Animal Rescue Team is ready to deploy when local agencies or animal welfare groups call them in. You’ll find more information here.
…too good to waste on kids. hahaha! I agree, they would appreciate it.
The humane society really does do good work.
Those are some interesting lollipop flavors, never had anything like them yet. I have had a spicy hot chocolate which I enjoyed very much. They are probably not contributing as much as those national organizations, but I have seen on the local food blogs in Dallas that many restaurants and bars are donating some of their Halloween Specials profits to those affected by Sandy. http://gloriasrestaurantblog.blogspot.com/
Thanks, Randi! And I agree about the Humane Society.
Justin, all relief efforts are welcome, I’m sure. Thanks for telling us about the Dallas restaurant donations. I’m sure they’re being mirrored around the country.