Seeking your help for an amazing cause

I know that this time of the year finds our giving abilities running thin, but I’m hoping that you might be able to help a cause in desperate need.

I’ve found myself involved in the beginning stages of a community outreach program that will provide opportunities for youth (and adults) to have a safe place to come, hang out, learn some crafting/sewing skills, fellowship, and more or less have a sanctuary where they can go to be involved in activities that will help keep them from drugs, gangs, and every other horrible thing kids have to face in a town that is on the decline. It pains me to go back to my hometown…yes it’s where I grew up…and find it in such ruins.

One of the program heads is a mother who has been inspired by her daughter’s still birth, and then the miscarriage of a second child. She named her baby “Grace” and feels that by God’s grace the loss of her daughter was meant to pour out her love of children into a community of abused, abandoned, and in-need children.  She is working as a children’s advocate.  You can read a little of her own story at A Touch of Grace.  I warn you, though, I cry no matter how many times I’ve read it.

They’ve been donated an old store space.  The start up costs, just to get the space repaired, cleaned, furnished, and freshly painted is just one of the difficulties we are facing at this point. They have managed enough donations for a Thanksgiving Dinner but have no prospects beyond that at this time. I’m hoping to help them organize a handmade gift crafting event before Christmas.

I want to reach out to the amazing people in this online crafting community for your help so that I might organize and create a raffle in support of this amazing cause. I would give everything I could to help this amazing group, but I am just one person, and I know that God can do great things in the hands of many.

If you would consider donating any fabric, patterns, publications, sewing supplies, or gift certificates, end products, no matter how big or small that I might pull them together to create raffle prizes, I would be so very and sincerely appreciative. The raffle will be held online via The Fabric Shopper .  All contributors will recognized on the blog for their help.

Anyone who participates will be offered an ad space for $10 in the month of January. I will run any donators of end products ads down the left column of the blog.  So if you are a current sponsor, I will prorate or refund your January ad invoice. If you are not currently a sponsor and would like a really low ad rate for a month, this is your chance!

Please contact me if you feel you are able to contribute in any way. I would like to arrange for the raffle to begin the weekend after Thanksgiving, so if you can let me know before Wednesday of next week (23rd) I’d be so very grateful.

If you aren’t able to contribute with an item, PLEASE come back next weekend and earn raffle chances with monetary donations (more info to come)!

Thank you so very much!  Just knowing that I have the support of this amazing crafting and handmade community is such a blessing to me!

Contact me at christie.fabricshopper [at!] gmail [dot] com if you’d like to help!

Related posts:

1. Raffle Winners Announced!
2. Community Outreach ~ Raffle & Fundraiser