Waiting for Generosity

Quick update:
JoAnne Fabrics only donates to big corporate charities, as so do other large corporate companies. So...we're out of luck there... And the one place of destination that I was counting on bit us in the butt with one very rude person who (shame on them!) puts a very bad rap on church going citizens... My friend Sara is now consulting a different church who seems far friendlier...Fingers crossed....

This all disheartened me, I'll admit, and now I'm trying to scrounge up faith in the common people's generosity...

Kids Country Childcare will be putting together a wall advertising our need for craft supply donations. Red and blue hearts will be posted on the wall with an 8-10$ amount of supplies that we need on each heart. Parents can choose what they would like to purchase, take a heart off the wall and make a contribution. It's like one big shopping list broken up into parts, and if enough people are willing to take one of those little parts in helping us get everything we need on that shopping list, it would be our standing salvation. (Thank you Heidi for this idea!)

This has been a unique journey for me. Some moments have been so uplifting it feels like a gospel hymn has come to life in my heart, and the heavens are signaling that I'm on the right track. And then some moments have been so discouraging it makes me second guess my judgement in starting this whole thing in the first place.

This has all become more than just raising money for a charity, for Haiti. I'm well enough aware that we're not going to rake in thousands, and I'm well enough aware that this very little bit that we will be able to do isn't going to make a huge difference in comparison to what the rest of the world is doing for Haiti. But this isn't only about the money. It's about community, and about generosity, and about giving people the chance to do something selfless. It's about bringing people together with all their talents and good heart and making a very small corner of the world a little brighter. It's about learning about another part of the world, about educating ourselves on the needs of a people who live such different lives than us rich, spoiled Americans. It's about love. Faith. And realizing that giving of ourselves to others is the only true purppose of our existence.

I have to remind myself of these things as I get so easily discouraged through all the road bumps and dissapointments. My good friend Jake said to me, "...if you find this sort of work rewarding at all, if you enjoy the way you feel at the end of the day just one little bit, and if kids are learning, then the gamble is certainly worth your time..." And he's right. The gamble is definately worth our time in this.

So please, if you would like to help in any way, whether it be for your own need to give, your own need to feel a part of something, or your own need to use your talents, we need you.

You can send your queries of how to help at RoseInFall@aol.com and please put "IN GREAT NUMBERS" in the subject box. I can send you a "shopping list" of what we need, or if you're an artist/craftsperson that would like to donate one of your own works to either be sold or auctioned off, we could use you. If you have any other talents that might be contributed to the cause, please don't be shy.

We all need each other to make a difference.

Next on the List....

I have (what seemed to be) successfully addressed the St. Francis Women of Today group in hopes that they would help out for the fundraiser. I was a little nervous... and even though I can't remember anything I said, I'm pretty sure I said enough, and I'm pretty sure the response was positive... I've asked them to do the consessional part of the fundraiser, and am anxiously waiting to hear back with an answer.

The date and time of the event is anticipated to be April 17th, 11am - 5pm, but is definately subject to change. Destination pending....

Soon, I will have a sign-up list of volunteer jobs and "shifts" for not just Kids Country staff, but for anyone else who would like to volunteer for the event. I will hopefully have something typed up in the next two weeks.

Next on the list to get done is as follows:

Request donations from JOAnne ETC. and Cosco.
Send a donations request form home with Kids Country parents.
Request raffle-worthy donations from local businesses.
Attain an indefinate destination.