Red Wine & Blue, an organization founded by Katie Paris, raised over $107,000 in less than an hour to support Haitian families in Springfield, Ohio.
An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 Haitians live in Springfield, with a mixture of temporary protected status, citizenship, and other legal status. (Photo by Megan Henry, Ohio Capital Journal).
This story was originally reported by Amanda Becker of The 19th.
Katie Paris opened a “Unite for Springfield” Zoom gathering of more than 4,000 people earlier this month by asking participants to share one thing in the chat that was giving them hope.
“Times are heavy. The subject we are discussing tonight is heavy. We’re in a heavy moment. It is so important in these times to tap into a sense of hope,” the mother of two said, sitting in front of a colorful wall displaying her children’s artwork.
“One thing that’s giving you hope right now, okay, let’s turn on the chat. Let’s see them,” Paris prompted.