Uganda and Back Again…

11864991_10205074510038400_3173914615367075047_oTuesday spent about 8 weeks over the summer, in Kampala, Uganda volunteering with Days for Girls. She had an incredible experience and I am so proud of her.  I am happy I was able to (in some small way) share this journey with her.  She transported and handed out the 75 kits that I was able to make (with the help of some incredible people).  I believe this was a truly life changing experience for her and I am glad she had the opportunity to go on this adventure.

dfgu kabale groupOf course, I missed her incredibly during this time, but enabling your children to explore the world is what it is all about…..learning to let them grow and learning to let go.

 

Days for Girls International….

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About three months ago, I started working with an organization called Days for Girls International. It is a wonderful organization that brings washable “feminine hygiene kits” (basically pads and shields) to women and girls throughout the world who otherwise would have nothing.

I have started a Team, Days for Girls Cherry Hill NJ Team, in my town and I am busy sewing sewing and sewing. My first goal is to have 75 kits ready by June. It is a daunting task, but I am hacking away at it, with the help of some volunteers.

These first 75 kits will be hand delivered to Uganda by my daughter who will be volunteering for the organization this summer! I am very excited to be part of this program that has such a grass roots feeling to it. All of the women who are part of this group are truly amazing and the founder, Celeste Mergens, is an incredible woman who has dedicated her life to this project.

Each day I am at my sewing machine, trying to get a little bit more done. I love the feeling knowing that each component of the kit will be well loved and taken care of by a woman/girl in another part of the world. She will look at it and appreciate it and know that someone cares about her well being. For some of the women, this is their first pair of underwear! How crazy is that!

Right now, Days for Girls has been selected by the Huffington Post as one of their “Next Ten-Helping Incredible Causes that will Shape the Next Decade.”  Through the month of May, this fund raiser will be going on and thanks to doTERRA Essential Oils, Days for Girls is offering 2:1 matching on contributions between now until the end of May, up to $100,000.

If you’d like to donate to this incredible organization click here:

Huffington Post Days For Girls International Cherry Hill NJ Team Fundraiser

Bean Bags for Craft Hope…

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I finally finished my bean bags for Craft Hope!  Their current project is making bean bags for schools in Liberia.

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I decided to make the bean bags using felt and my embroidery machine. First, I had to sew a stabilizer to the back of the material and cut out all the letters.

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Then I measured out all the squares..I did 5 inches x 5 inches…it seemed like just the right size.  I used spray adhesive to get stick them first to the felt while the embroidery machine did its work.

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So that I wouldn’t have to use extra felt….I embroidered all the letters first, then cut them out into squares.

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Then I sewed the back onto them, leaving the top open.  I used a different color felt for the backings, just to add some more color.  Then they all got stuffed with plastic pellets.

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The only thing left was the bag! I did the lettering on the embroidery machine and then sewed a drawstring!  It was a very fun project.  I love Craft Hope and I can’t wait to see what their next project is…if you love to sew or are a bit crafty, please join their latest project.  You have until May 15th to get the bean bags done!

First Gift….

Firstgift

today is the day where bloggers everywhere are joining together in a campaign to
buy water for christmas.

4500 mothers bury their children EVERY DAY due to contaminated water.
the lack of access to clean water is the leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations.
and it doesn’t have to be.


as we get ready to rush through department stores and browse through catalogs searching
for the perfect presents….lets pause for a moment.
let’s PAUSE.
today…November 13…lets buy clean water.
clean life saving water.

$10 will provide one person in africa clean water for $10 years.
your money can change and possibly save someone’s life.
a real life.

Ethio03

let’s do this together.
one day.
$10
let water be the first gift you buy this christmas.

just think….if all the “whatever readers” gave $10 (you are free to give more if you’d like…)
we could raise enough to build a well TODAY.
i know how many of you there are…and we could do it!
a village could be changed because you read a blog that encouraged you to give…and you did.
that’s awesome!

$10
that is 2 starbucks coffees
it’s on CD on itunes
it’s a pizza
one movie ticket
less than one container of detergent!
$10 can change someone’s life.


click the photo below to be directed to the secure donation site of the highly recognized, non-profit
charity: water.

click on the yellow donate button.
All donations are tax deductible.
100% of the profit goes directly to clean water solutions in west africa.

Firstgift

share this on your blog.
link it…copy it…tell everyone.