Three small ways to give this Christmas season

A few years ago, I wrote about our warm fuzzy jar and the real meaning of Christmas. In the last week I’ve come across a few small ways to make a big difference for other people. And as a result you can receive your own dose of the “warm fuzzies.” With a small contribution from many warm hearts I think the cumulative effect will make a profound difference. I firmly believe that through “small and simple things” great things will happen.

My awesome neighbor Cheryl is a recently retired Elementary school teacher and is volunteering as a missionary for our church, along with her husband, in Tulcan, Ecuador. While there they have identified some real needs and are trying to make a difference one life at a time. These sweet ladies with Cheryl have a small business selling aprons made from locally produced textiles.

Many of their husbands work 7 days a week to provide for their families, earning only $300-400 a month. These women have found a way to supplement their families’ income by selling aprons and other handmade goods in local markets where there is a demand. The trouble is most of the work is done by hand because they only have one machine between them and it is an old, treadle (non-electric) Singer.

I want to help these women so they can help their families, by getting them at least two new sewing machines (if not more). The machines will be purchased locally, minimizing the cost. Want to help me? I’ve set up a GoFundMe account. I think if enough of us contribute about $3.00 (the cost of a Fat Quarter) we can do this easily! Wouldn’t that be awesome?

CLICK HERE TO CONTRIBUTE via Go Fund Me
(requires Credit Card and a $5 minimum)

OR to contribute via PayPal click the Donate button

(no minimum – I will add the funds to the Go Fund Me campaign)

Lauren is a young mom in Pennsylvania who has committed to make personalized quilts for children fighting chronic illness. I love Lauren’s generosity.

Lauren is looking for donations to help offset the cost to her young family. You can read more about it at the blog FundaQuilt. She has a goal to have 100 $1.00 donations before Christmas.  Want to help? You can donate directly via Payal here or via credit card here.

One more: I recently received an email from Sarah, a social work student a Fordham University who is doing an internship at a senior citizen residence in Brooklyn, New York. She has formed a Quilting group for the residents, teaching them how to quilt, and giving them something to enjoy. They just acquired a sewing machine but are in need of fabric donations for the residents to work with. Most of the textiles they’ve been given are too heavy for quilting. If you have some excess fabric to share, this would be a great way to contribute to a cause that could really use it. Go here for more information, or you can email Sarah directly at slee(@)bsdcorp.org. (Remove the parentheses around the @ before you try to email.)

Obviously, there are dozens more similar causes where we can work together to make a meaningful difference for someone. If you’re aware of other similar causes, please feel free to leave the information in the comments section for others to see.

UPDATE: Here are a few other links to great quilting/sewing ways to give:

QUILT ANGELS

By far, my favorite part of the Christmas season is finding ways to love others more than we love ourselves = that reminder that “perhaps Christmas means a little bit more.” Wishing a happy Christmas (or Hanukkah or whatever holiday is most near and dear to you and your loved ones) to all of you! I feel blessed to know of so many good WiseMen (and Women).