Contribute to Haiti Joy Hope in memory of Paul

In memory of

Joseph "Paul" Swartz

Laingsburg, MI

March 21, 1952 - May 2, 2024

Mar 21, 1952 - May 2, 2024

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Please consider a contribution to Haiti Joy Hope.

$100.00

contributed by 1 person

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Paul was a sensitive and kind person, and he continued to evolve as he gained wisdom throughout his lifetime. He cared deeply about the planet and everything that lived on it. He knew life was precious, and abhorred the damage human activity caused. He was heartbroken over the way humans treated other humans, what a waste of resources war was, and the unnecessary suffering it caused to the innocent. He often contemplated how beautiful the world could be if those same resources could be used for healing, feeding, housing, teaching, and repairing the broken human world. Instead, he feared greed, apathy, carelessness, selfishness, egotism, shortsightedness would be our undoing. This is the Paul I knew.

In his own way, in his own little corner of the universe, he had made peace with the world he inhabited. He allowed most of our 24 acres to return to nature with the exception of a few paths he mowed through it. He had a truce with the deer and bunnies who enjoyed more than their share of our garden. He fed the birds and provided birdhouses. He evicted bats from our home without causing them any harm. He spilled whole corn for the deer that delighted him by their presence. He fed “my crows” by putting dry dog food on the driveway. He even supported and aided my 19 year relationship with a rescue raccoon who visited our yard over many years (sometime with her babies). And he planted trees -- many trees!

He shared his wisdom and insight. He stopped using herbicides and pesticides (that probably caused his demise). He made time to walk the paths through our meadows and woods to find peace, and joy, and reflection. He recycled. And he contributed to many worthy causes over his lifetime. He helped people. He always strove to find ways to be a good person. In his small corner of the world, his life mattered. He made people happy, and by doing this, he made himself happy.

This is the Paul I knew and loved, and now miss. This is the Paul that loved and took care of his family. This is the Paul that treasured his friends. This was my Paul.

In honor of this singular person who made a difference, please consider making a memorial donation in his name of time, effort and service, or resources and support so his good works can continue on one more time. Here is a list of causes and organizations that represent what he was passionate about. Any type of support would honor his memory.

Thank you,
Mindy

https://www.HaitiJoyHope.org/donate -- An orphanage and school in Haiti
https://www.ReLeafMichigan.org/tribute-donation.html -- Non-Profit planting trees, education, stormwater projects, big tree hunt in Michigan
https://BeARescuer.org -- City Rescue Mission of Lansing
https://Lymphoma.org -- For Paul
https://CoralGardeners.org -- Rebuilding dead or damaged coral reefs

Or please consider donating to any of the topics below that Paul felt were important in no particular order:

Children’s Hospitals
Wildlife/Nature Protection
Reforestation
Refugees
Land Conservancy
Environmental
Homelessness
Foodbanks
Animal Welfare and Anti-Cruelty
Protecting Water
Protecting Old-Growth Forests
Ocean, Lake, River, and Groundwater Protection and Clean-Up Contribute to Haiti Joy Hope