New Changes and New Thanks

NEW IDEAS FOR THE MAIN EVENT

One hour Dance-A-Thon:
Donors will sponser a child or teacher in a dancing marathon. They'll pledge a certain amount of money per minute of dance endurance from dancing contestant.

Heart For Haiti Smoothies:
Red berry smoothie (slushy) with a blue swirly straw.
(RED and BLUE are Haits's flag colors)

I also have plans to figure out how to sell food (hotdogs, chips, soda), gather donations from local businesses for a raffle, and get a set of high-price items for a silent auction.

IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE TO HELP WITH DONATING MATERIALS....

Email me at RoseInFall@aol.com and put IN GREAT NUMBERS in the subject line. I'm not asking for money. I'm asking for supplies or volunteers for the event. I could use all the help I can get.

Thank you!

Progress is coming along, but many things are changing. We are NOT hosting the fundraiser at the school anymore because we can't sell food there. My friend Sara Ward is now helping me find a new location (most probable, a local church called "Trinity"). Thank you, Sara!!!!!

My dear friend Jenn Olson has offered to go with me to JoAnne Fabrics tomorrow to help me ask the manager if they'd like to donate some materials for our cause. I am extremely blessed to have someone as outgoing and fearless as Jenn to go with me...I'm not very good at asking for things, especially from strangers, so I owe her many thanks! Jenn is also a professional photographer who is donating her time and talent for this very worthy cause. You will soon be seeing her work here on this blog.

I also want to give a special thanks to Amy Spindler (a very dear friend and co-teacher) for finding very worthy art supply treasures in her teacher cupboards for us to use. She has a gift in always finding exactly what I need! I love you, Amy!

A Heart For Haiti

Fundraisers have more than just the purpose of raising money for worthy causes. They bring communities together in a force that is seemingly untamable and extremely overwhelming, exhilarating, and gives one the illusion that it can move mountains. What began as a simple, after-work-hours open-house crafts sale for a worthy cause, has now grown into something I was not expecting.

As a community we are gathering, responding to the voices that beckon our conscience to do the right thing. Kids Country is now hosting a Save the Children fundraiser (for Haiti) Arts and Craft Sale at the local St. Francis Middle School, on a Saturday. The school will be rallying their art teachers and students to make more projects for us to sell, and there is talk that the school jazz band will play for the cause. One of my co-workers, Sara Ward, has given me valuable information on which small businesses in the area are good donators. Sara also works for the school system and has offered to do an art project (in bulk numbers) with students in their study halls. Other co-workers, former and current, have offered their extra talents (as well as their friends!) to participate also. On top of arts and crafts, there will now be baked goods, treats, live music, and a silent auction.

My job this weekend is to shop for art supplies, make flyers, talk to local businesses about donations (money, materials, or raffle items), and organize a definitive plan. I’m not very good at talking to people; asking for favors is not easy for me… But I have been so overwhelmed by the people’s response that it has given me a newfound courage, an heart moving incentive, a true purpose.

Next Step...

The proposal has been made! I’ve asked the company I work for (Kids Country Childcare) to support a fundraiser for Save the Children, all proceeds going to help the people of Haiti. To start with, we will be collecting simple coin and cash donations in decoratively displayed collecting cans. We will be taking these donations for several weeks as we prepare for the main fundraising event.

The main fundraiser will take place some time in early spring (March or April). The definite date is yet to be determined, but will be posted ASAP. The event itself will be a collaboration of talents in an Arts and Crafts Sale. All of the children and teachers at Kids Country will be participating, working hard to make enough merchandise to sell. We’ll be making items such as piñatas, printed T-shirts and onesies, framed paintings, clay pots and so much more. Kids Country is extremely blessed with a variety of talents, and I cannot wait to give credit to each and every one of them as this endeavor matures. There will be more than just arts and crafts, and I’m extremely excited to see everything fit into a definitive plan. Things are still in their “brainstorming” phase, but everyone is so enthusiastic about this…which has sent my heart to the heavens.

I will be trying to get donations from super stores like Target to donate certain supplies, but if you are interested in helping, please contact me via email (roseinfall@aol.com) and write “IN GREAT NUMBERS” in the subject box.

Thank you to all who are interested! I will keep the updates coming.

The Beginning

This blog is baby fresh, but I have some things up my sleeve to unfold. I'm working on useing Save the Children to start a fundraiser for the victims of Haiti. I have the plan, but I need to propose it to my boss... I will keep everyone updated and let them know how they can help if they wish. I have already started a First Giving account for Save the Children, but they are having technical difficulties at the moment... I will have that LINK/Gidget posted here ASAP. It's posted on my other blog, The Penlot (as well as on FB under my "Fundraising" tab),but as I said before it's malfunctioning at the moment...

I'm hoping this will be my first, long overdue step into useing my creative gifts to help at least a little corner of the world.