{Rebecca Sower with some of the women of Despina that you can help}Turn your unused craft supplies
(I know you have them)
into
empowerment
support
strength
encouragement
sustainability
independence
start a (local) donation drive today
the women of Haiti need you
into
empowerment
support
strength
encouragement
sustainability
independence
start a (local) donation drive today
the women of Haiti need you
More than 30 words today, to share a way to make a difference.
Rebecca Sower is an artist who was in Haiti just a few days before the earthquake hit. She witnessed firsthand the poverty in that nation. She spent time with the women there. She was moved to action by her experience. She created Haiti by Hand to not only showcase the handmade talents of a group of Haitian women, but also as a way for them to find financial independence and sustainability through their crafts. To make a difference…woman to woman.
And then, the earthquake hit.
Now these women that Rebecca aimed to help need even more.
But they are much like you and I. They want a better life for their children. They want to feel productive in their community. They want to feel safe and loved. And they want to rebuild their lives and move forward.
For another way to help, Rebecca is starting a drive to gather needed supplies for the women of Haiti so that they may support themselves and their families through the simple act of creating handmade goods for sale. Rebecca will also provide them with a means to sell their work through the Etsy site. But they need our help. Read the list below of art/craft supply needs that you can send directly to Rebecca. Or consider starting a donation drive in your area.
The need will be ongoing. What you donate today might be the difference for a woman living in poverty who is not very much different from you or me.
You can read more about the inspiration at the Haiti By Hand blog, and buy (or donate) handmade items at Haity By Hand Etsy Site.
Think of this as a hand up, not a hand out.
Amazing what one ball of yarn can do.
Read the list of requested donation items.
Raid your stash.
Give what you can.
Encourage your friends to do the same.
Enjoy the day!
9 comments:
Erin, thank you for helping me spread the word about ways we can help these amazing Haiti women. There is much we can still do!
I am amazed at Rebecca Sower, and just recently read an article about her in one of the Somerset publications. And ironically, I was just looking at some beads in my stash and thinking that since I do not use them, I should give them away....her Etsy shop is such a incredible way to help others.
How wonderful. I'm always amazed at what things people are doing in the world. I'm not a big crafter but I should see what is left from my grandmothers craft stash ... there was tons of yarn in there but I don't know what happened to it.
isn't this a wonderful thing? i am going thru my supplies as well... terrific post!
I will have to examine my stash and see what I can find!
Thanks for playing in my Inspiration Theme Contest earlier! Your guess was super close. I hope you'll stop by again and have another guess!
Oh, Erin, this is a beautiful project. I've been through some of Rebecca's posts and am completely on board with 'sustainable' help. I love the idea of women being empowered to live their lives and nurture the lives of their children. I have a ton of things on the list in my stash to contribute. But I'm going to bring this to the crafters group at my church and see if we can't get a box or two ready. Maybe we can even put together a longer time project. Thanks so much for posting this.
What an inspiring story! What a wonderful, practical way to help these women. You have inspired me to do more! Thank you so much for telling this story!
Erin thanks for posting this, I have so many things on that list to help out, I just hope I can come up with the postage to send it all to her! What a wonderful story, thanks again for sharing!
This is great and so simple. I worked with a businessman that grew up in the country of Haiti. I knew the tough poverty almost all of the faced. Along with a corrupt government. Truly devastating. I am glad to see so many people reaching out to them. Thank you for these ideas!
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