Category Archives: Non-profits

BeCause ~ Beautiful Jewelry for a Cause

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I received the most wonderful Mother’s Day gifts from my family. Beautiful jewelry from BeCause that provided 66 school meals for children. Sixty-six meals! That’s incredible!

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(She even included a note from my boys…so perfect!)

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(Let’s just focus on the earrings, and how these provided 33 school meals through WFP,  and not my eye wrinkles…)

Sarah Manthey started BeCause with a heart for giving and a talent for jewelry design. A grant writer for World Food Program USA (WFP USA) and an avid jewelry maker, she combined interests by giving school meals with every purchase. In her own words:
 ”After I had been with WFP USA for a few months, I thought that there might be a way to merge two of my passions–handmade jewelry and giving back.  I started brainstorming and came up with the idea of BeCause.  With lots of help and support from my friends and family, I launched my Etsy page (www.etsy.com/shop/smanthey) in November 2012 and then officially launched BeCause in December with a Trunk Show.
With each sale, I donate 15% of the proceeds to fund WFP USA.  I translate each purchase into the amount of school meals that it would provide to give my customers a lasting understanding of the real difference they are helping to make.  As of April 23, 2013, BeCause has provided 1,691 school meals!  This number gives me hope that every piece sold makes a difference because it means another few meals that we can provide–another future we can brighten.”
In just a few months, she has donated around 1700 school meals! That is amazing. And her jewelry is gorgeous and beautifully made. Here are a few beauties, but be sure to check out her entire collection on Etsy!

Reece’s Rainbow (Host a Lemonade Stand)

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I’m excited to have Rachel, a fellow Influence Network-er, here sharing her story and giving project. This is a great way to get your kids involved in giving: host a lemonade stand and donate the proceeds to Reece’s Rainbow.

The mission of Reece’s Rainbow is to rescue orphans with Down syndrome through the gift of adoption, to raise awareness for all of the children who are waiting in 25 countries around the world, and to raise funds as adoption grants that help adoptive families afford the high cost of adopting these beautiful children.

About Reece’s Rainbow

Please visit Rachel’s blog for a list of great tips for hosting a Lemonade Stand for Reece’s Rainbow  and let her know that you will be joining her Lemonade Stand Campaign!

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I am thankful and honored to have this opportunity to guest post today.  So that you know a little bit of who you are hearing from here are the basics, I am 34 year old wife to a soon to be pastor, (he is finishing up seminary this summer.) I am a mother to five wonderful(most of time) children(one of which is due to be born any day now.) Our life is often messy but in the mess we get to see God make something beautiful in our lives.  I would love for you to come by my blog, www.make-something-beautiful.com and get to know my family and I better.

 My heart grew significantly for orphans with Down Syndrome and special needs after the birth and Down Syndrome diagnosis of my first Son Sam in 2009. 

After Sam was born while doing research on the Internet on his condition, Down Syndrome I discovered an amazing organization called Reece’s Rainbow. They are in the business of redeeming orphans with special needs. Special needs orphans are the bottom of the barrel as far as orphans go, they are often living is horrible conditions with out adequate housing, clothing, food, medical care and worst of all human interaction. Often children with mild and moderate disabilities are left in crib rooms for there whole life, never escaping the bars and white walls.

JOIN US and “MAKE A STAND FOR ORPHANS!!” Host a lemonade stand in the month of May or collect change to give toward the redemption of beautiful special needs children around the world.  You can give  directly to Reece’s Rainbow and receive a tax deduction. FOR MORE TIPS PLEASE VISIT MY BLOG AND LET LEMONADE BE USED TO REDEEM!!

Kids Can Give: Project Night Night

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KidscangiveThe boys and I recently had the opportunity to fill bags for Project Night Night, through our local parent group. We purchased items, then filled three bags, for boys age 4-4 1/2, which will be delivered to a local homeless shelter. I struggle with how to teach them about giving because a 5 year old can only do so much in terms of service. But this was the perfect giving activity for kids. While we stuffed the bags, we talked how they would be given to children in a homeless shelter, and what that meant. By the end of it, they were asking to give away their toys to the children, toys that were much bigger than the bags could handle. These are the moments you want to put in your pocket and carry with you.

Project Night Night

What is Project Night Night?

Every child who receives one of our Night Night Packages leaves the shelter owning a book which encourages reading and family bonding, a security blanket which can be cuddled, and a stuffed animal which can become a cherished friend.  We have one objective – to deliver our Night Night Packages to every homeless child in the country who needs one.

Project Night Night

In addition to the new book, blanket and stuffed animals, we included: washcloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste, colored pencils, and spiderman activity books.

Project Night Night

(Apparently my boys inherited my need to make a silly faces in photos…)

And then we prayed for each child that would receive a bag. We prayed that God would bless, protect them and keep them healthy. We prayed that the little boys would come to know and love Jesus and know how much they are loved.

Project Night Night

You can help!

Want to fill a bag for Project Night Night? Order tote bags here.

Drink coffee, Give clean water {Three Avocados Coffee}

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Three Avocados, letsgivetoday.com

Three Avocados

With almost 1 Billion people worldwide lacking access to clean, safe, drinking water, our primary goal at Three Avocados is to provide funding for clean water projects. 100% of the net proceeds from Three Avocados coffee provide clean water in Uganda, Africa. In addition to saving thousands of lives, clean water has the power to provide hope.

from ThreeAvocados.org

Net proceeds from Three Avocados that goes towards clean water? 100%

Total lives impacted so far? 16,318

Amazing!

Why clean water wells?

  • 1 Billion people lack access to clean water.
  • 63 children die in Uganda each day from lack of clean water.
  • A four mile walk to water.
  • Water is hope.

Read more about it: Three Avocados Why Water?

That statistic about 63 children dying every single day in Uganda breaks my heart. These are the same children we are trying to protect from jiggers through Sole Hope. Heartbreaking. But we can help!

How do they provide clean water? Each month, Three Avocados sponsors and builds a new well. (Here is a full list for 2012.) The December 2012 water project was for Aradyang:

Three Avocados Apolika

Aradyang is located in the Apac District of Uganda. This well now provides clean water to approximately 1,164 adults and children. The previous water source was a borehole (well), almost 2 miles away. This new water source now provides clean drinking water in their village, allowing more time for children to attend school!

Three Avocados Water Projects 2012

How you can help?  Shop Three Avocados Coffee!

Three Avocados Give Today

Make because She’s Worth It Campaign

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Shes Worth It Campaign
Remember my friend Andrea, who’s girls were raising money for a safe home and care for orphans? (As an aside, I wrote that post back in June and the girls have already reached their goal! You can learn more about Andrea at her sites:  The Train to Crazy and Go To Patterns.)

She is now raising awareness and money to end human trafficking in partnership with the She’s Worth it Campaign. >>> Read her full post here.

Per LAUGH brand clothing, a huge supporter to end human trafficking,  an estimated two children are trafficked every minute worldwide. This is frightening and horrific. I may not be able to rescue those enslaved, but I can help encourage those that have been set free and let them know how much they are loved. But how?

In addition to raising money for two projects (see below), she and a team of folks are making bracelets and zippered pouches for women and girls who have been rescued from the sex trade. And best of all, they want you to join in!

So we’re asking YOU to join us. Will you make a bracelet or a zippered pouch for a girl in Thailand, India, Cambodia, Costa Rica, Amsterdam or even the United States? We’ll be distributing them through many organizations that work directly with women and girls fresh out of the sex trade in desperate need of love and healing.

The Train to Crazy, Make because She’s Worth It!

Give Time

How can you help? Make!

Host a She’s Worth It Party to make bracelets or pouches with your friends, church family, girl scouts, etc. Or work on one while you watch The Bachelor. Don’t know where to begin? Tutorials will be posted on The Train to Crazy next week in case you need project ideas. The whole point is to make something for someone else, so they know they are loved. What a beautiful gift!

Email thetraintocrazy (at) gmail (dot) com for more information. She will send you details, including the address to mail you completed projects. Andrea will collect the bracelets and pouches and will mail them to She’s Worth It. Some will be hand-delivered in Cambodia in May, and the rest will be distributed by other organizations in partnership by She’s Worth It.

Are you a blogger? Write a tutorial for your bracelet or pouch and link up with The Train to Crazy.

Join Andrea, Bev, Jess, Jess, and Vanessa!

Bev from Flamingo Toes
Jess from If Only They Would Nap
Jess from Me Sew Crazy
Vanessa from Designs by Sessa

Give Money

From The Train to Crazy…

Along with the bracelets and zipper pouches, we’re also asking that you donate $10. Just $10. Your $10 will be helping fund two projects we fully believe in. (If you can’t donate, we’d still love for you to make something!)

  1. Father’s House: a safe house for children in Cambodia who are at risk for being trafficked. This home is run by In His Steps International. You can read more about it here.
  2. The Sewing Project: we’ll be raising money for a group of mothers in an Indian village who have been freed from the sex industry and are learning sewing as a trade! The funds will also help hire a social worker to help them with them with rehabilitation. This project is run by Indian Rescue Mission.

Click the Donate button below to support this great cause.

Online fundraising for Team MAKE raising money for She's Worth It!

(Your online donations are secure and safe. They are also tax-deductible.)

Give Love
Pray for the women and girls who are trapped as slaves in the sex trade.

Pray for the women and girls who are rescued from human trafficking, as they heal and rebuild their lives.

Pray for those who are actively working to rescue slaves, such as International Justice Mission.

Pray that those who are enslaving others are convicted by their actions and repent.

Ways to Become a Great Giver

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I was completely inspired by Pastor Bryan Wilkerson at Grace Chapel (watch it here). You know you love giving when a sermon on the topic makes you giddy…

Ready to give? Check out these great organizations…

Nonprofits

A “Sole-ful” Brunch…a Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party

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As a Sole Hope Ambassador, I was fortunate to help with a Shoe Cutting Party my friend, Wendy, and a few others were hosting at their church, Westgate Church. A “Sole-ful” Brunch, designed for the women of the congregation, to come together, fill our bellies and hearts, and use our hands for God’s glory. It was a time of rest and a time of service.

After watching the Sole Hope video, Wendy offered words of encouragement to not only listen to what God is telling us He wants us to do, but to also go. And do it! For Asher and Dru Collie, the Sole Hope founders, this meant being profoundly touched by the damage jiggers do to children and the community, and starting Sole Hope to end this plight. This doesn’t mean God wants each of us to start a non-profit, but we need to listen. And go. And do. For His glory.

Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party - Westgate Church Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party - Westgate Church

Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party - Westgate Church Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party - Westgate Church

I am so grateful for the women of Westgate Church. Thanks to their compassion, time and effort, over 60 shoes were cut! 

Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party - Westgate Church

60 children will be protected from jiggers!

sole hope

Women will have jobs and will be able to support their families, thanks to the women of Westgate Church!

Sole Hope

Psst, I have more posts about Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Parties…have a look! And see how you can host your own Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party…

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