When disaster strikes, we often think “there’s nothing I can do about that,” other than perhaps to make a donation to some existing charity group.

However, creative thinking makes it possible for one person to really make a difference:

The Seattle Times: Nation & World: Richard Berger of West Seattle felt that he had to do something for the people of Pakistan, struggling to survive after a massive earthquake, with winter coming on and no shelter:

Berger, a former gallery owner, drove to the flagship REI store and bought several blankets. He took them home, tore at them, set them on fire, stood out in wind and rain with them wrapped over a T-shirt.

Then he called the manufacturer of the most durable blanket, and they found a way to bring the $5.50 blankets down to $1 each. Berger asked Mercy Corps, a relief agency, if it would distribute the blankets in Pakistan. And he e-mailed 250 friends, asking for donations. DHL heard about it, and shipped some for free. As of Tuesday, he had raised more than $100,000 to send about 110,000 blankets to Pakistan.

“I had no idea this would work. There’s a tremendous number of caring people that, given the opportunity to respond, will step in.