January ~ Poverty in America Awareness Month - Let’s Get Started
- posted by: Cheryl
- posted in: Uncategorized, Challenges
- on: January 5, 2009
Hello Fiskateers! What a caring community you are and it shows. I have seen in so many instances your caring heart . . . when you reach out to a fellow fiskateer in need, when you don’t allow distance to be in the way of lending a helping hand, when you do all you can to help someone in need, when you are so generous and thoughtful in your giving. I have seen even recently where so many of you have come to the aid of a mother who wants her children to know her despite her battle with cancer. You have provided layouts that will allow this mother to record her history and memories and special facts about herself so that her children can know her for years to come. Crystal’s Cause . . . http://www.fiskateers.com/blog/2008/12/13/christmas-a-time-for-giving-help-meet-an-urgent-need/
You as a community not only share in the passion for crafting, for a company that cares, for friendship but also share in the passion of giving and helping. I see you reaching out to meet others needs . . . those within the community and beyond. I want to share that it has been lovely to watch this take place and thus I think others saw the need to channel those efforts and provide a place where we can focus on such matters . . . the Charity Fiskamittee.
January is ‘Poverty in America Awareness Month’ and with that the Fiskateer Charity Fiskamittee is starting 2009 off by focusing on this special cause. Anyone can share in this new endeavor, vision and help with the efforts . . . in fact we want to encourage all Fiskateers that have a heart for charity to feel free to share their resources, talents and time. Maybe there is a certain charity or cause that touches your heart in a deeper way that you’d like to help . . . go for it. So here’s the plan . . . once a month we will feature a cause or charity. We will provide avenues that you can assist both on line and off line. As well, as needs arise within the community or outside of it . . . we will intercede as a loving Fiskateer community and play a role as time and resources allow.
I will help to oversee the Charity Fiskamittee and Melita, Elena, Sudie and Jennifer N. will serve in a leadership role to help coordinate events and efforts. This committee is yours as a community so hop aboard if this is something that is on your heart!
So we are going to ‘Sock It To Poverty’ and do a Sock Drive for January. As mentioned, January is “Poverty in America Awareness Month’. Sudie was kind enough to provide some great facts about socks and how they can help ’sock it to poverty.’
- Socks are vital to overall health of those living on the streets. Socks are often not donated enough and are greatly appreciated by the recipient.
- Most homeless and impovershed people do not own shoes that fit properly or are not in good condition. This increases the importance of socks.
- Many people suffer from diabetes and other ailments and they could benefit from socks with extra support.
- Not all shelters accept clean used socks so it’s important when collecting that we collect new socks.
- Socks are relatively inexpensive to donate.
- There are men, women and children that live on the streests and all could benefit with a new pair of socks.
- More people are becoming homeless due to the downward spiral of the economy as well as natural disasters.
So with those important factors . . . as a community we would love to do a ’sock drive’ in January. You can send socks to Sudie, Elena or myself and we will forward them on to a shelter or organization that will get them to the hands (feet) that need them.
Possibly you might consider spreading the word and collecting socks yourself for the cause and donating them to a place near you. Be mindful of your safety but there are often many places you can donate to in your area that would take them to the places in need . . . you must might need to do a little research.
So here are some thoughts in spreading the word and helping the cause.
- Maybe craft a ’sock box’ . . . Sudie had a great idea . . . a laundry basket would be cute to collect them in and create a sign to share where the donations are going and why.
- Spread the word at your local scrapbook store and set a date to collect them at a crop. How about a “Sock Hop Crop”. Maybe your local scrapbook store would go for a crop in honor of collecting socks for those in need.
- How about spreading the word at ladies groups, church, your local rotary club.
There’s lots of ways to spread the word. We’d love to keep track of how many pairs of socks are donated by the loving Fiskateer community.
We’d love to provide a little tag (attached with a safety pin) on each pair of socks maybe with a brief message and from what Fiskateer they are from . . .
i.e. With warmest regards. Happy New Year . . . Fiskateer #002. Sudie plans on “Warmest Wishes, Fiskateer #97″. This will provide a special personal touch but not providing too much information.
So two ways you can gather socks . . .
- If you feel passionate about this cause . . . you can collect socks yourself and donate them to the organization yourself. Please just keep track of the number and let one of us know how many.
- If you’d like to purchase and donate a pair of socks yourself . . . you can send them to Sudie, Elena or myself. You can send them to Sudie by emailing her (through our internal Fiskateer system) . . . here is her profile . . . http://www.fiskateers.com/community/author/97 or you can send them to Elena at the address listed here . . . http://www.scrapbookroyalty.com/contact.html or to myself by emailing me at cheryl@fiskateers.com and I’ll send you my mailing address.
Watch for more details on the message board and updates.
We as a Fiskateer community can make a huge impact and continue to share the Fiskars love and warmth!
Maxine Hodges says:
January 5th, 2009 at 3:33 pmA laundry basket will be coming to my lss tomorrow. My greatest acco plishment of 2008 was a charity crop that we raised 642.00 in one evening for the National Lupus Foundation!!! Count me in! Love the idea of sock hop crop! Nothing fills as good as giving with your heart (and pocketbook, if you can) to a cause you believe in.
Jenn says:
January 5th, 2009 at 4:16 pmThis is a wonderful opprotunity for everyone to listen to their heart and give what they can!! Thank you for starting this group and making it easy for ANYONE to give. I think you have some fantastic ideas on how to get the word out for this months charity. Keep up the good work and we will continue the Fiskars way of listening to a need and fulfilling it!! Wonderful
carlee #2225 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 5:29 pmHi Cheryl…I am sooooo on this!!! I have a soft spot for socks anyway (just look in my gallery and you will see my Fiskateer socks…one green stripe and one orange stripe
) I am very active in my local community, and will definitely be heading this up locally. I will let you know of my progress. I started making blankets with quilting scraps and extra fabric I found around my house…and I am still sewing…constantly sewing! Thanks for notifying us about this worthy cause! Together we can make great accomplishments!
Maya says:
January 5th, 2009 at 5:39 pmAs Jenn said, great opportunity for everyone to contirbute to such important cause. Great job Charity Fiskamittee!
Betsy #2572 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 6:39 pmThis kind of challenge can “knock your socks off”….LOL
I used to work with/for a street ministry. Many homeless people spend many hours a day on their feet walking because they can’t loiter at businesses so they keep moving. Socks wear out quickly because of the rubbing on improperly fitted shoes, not to mention extra warmth!
For those fiskateers looking for something local check to see if they have a P.A.D.S. (Public Action to Deliver) shelter. Our church helps with our community homeless shelter and socks are one of the things that are needed there!
Sara R. says:
January 5th, 2009 at 7:27 pmFabulous idea and cause! I will see about getting some socks collected and sent to Sudie or Elena.
Debby 2852 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 7:34 pmWheels are turning…I have several area shelters that would love to be the receiptant of socks and several places that would help gathering them. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Merlene #1166 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 7:44 pmAn opportunity for all of us to do something for those less fortunate. I never thought about how fortunate I am when my feet are cold I can just put on a nice pair of warm socks. Good job Charity Fisk-A-Mittee. Thanks!!
Krafty Wahine#395 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 8:23 pmI just sent a message to my boy scout leadership meeting asking them if they would like to participate. i have also contacted my girl scout leader friend to ask her if they would like to particiapte, too.
thank you for sharing the opportunity!
Melissa #2756 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 8:55 pmI’ll look into sending some knitted homemade socks. already contacted Sudie
joybear 4434 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:01 pmI love this idea!!
Sudie #97 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:19 pmWe know what beautiful hearts our Fiskateers have and are very excited about our first Fiskateers Doing Good project. You all are so awesome!
Sudie
sudiea@gmail.com
Tona says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:45 pmSounds like a great idea. I will be mailing off some socks.
Patty 2832 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 9:57 pmFiskafantastic idea! I will definitely do something here in my area and also try to mail some socks out !
Thanks for the idea!
Michelle 3624 says:
January 5th, 2009 at 11:10 pmIt never ceases to amaze me what this community can do. . what a great thing to do I too never thought how simple it is for me to go put on a pair of socks to keep my feet warm.
Sondra says:
January 5th, 2009 at 11:39 pmI love the Sock it to Poverty theme. I am sending a pair to Sudie. She’s local.
Stephanie says:
January 6th, 2009 at 12:06 amI’ll be contacting my LLS’s to see about collection points and calling around to see about donation points!! This is very exciting!!!!
Love and Hugs,
Stephanie
Mary #5420 says:
January 6th, 2009 at 12:06 amI’m new to the Fiskateer community and am in awe of what a giving, caring, special group of people you are. I thought we would just share ideas, projects etc. but I’m thrilled to see this will be so much more. You can count on me to donate this simple gift that will improve the lives of those we see and don’t know how to help. Thank You!
Stephanie #3584 says:
January 6th, 2009 at 1:45 pmThis is a great idea. I work at a local transitional homeless shelter and among the many needs, socks are one of them.
Our shelter is not the typical kind people think of like a mass shelter with a gazillion beds. Ours is very small and is set up for families with children in our county. Each family gets a bedroom, then they all share kitchen, bath room, washer/dryer, etc. I guess it’s like a group home, but not. Some come to us with nothing, some have too much and would rather stay with their stuff.
KateB says:
January 6th, 2009 at 1:53 pmCheryl-I’ll add some socks to the box with Crystals Layouts if you don’t mind it all together.
KateB
Groovy Deborah says:
January 6th, 2009 at 4:36 pmThis is a great cause~! I thought I would add something. It is of great importance for anyone who is Diabetic to take special care of their feet. Diabetics are asked to wear white socks only. It is always of major concern when we visit a doctor that our feet are checked because cuts and abrasions of any sort on the feet (or elsewhere) is an opening to lead to other illnesses/concerns.
Thanks for allowing Fiskateers to take part in a wonderful cause.
Deborah♥
Thought some others might like to know this when donating.
Debra #5116 says:
January 6th, 2009 at 8:27 pmThis is just awesome will do this and may get some other people I know in on this too. Thanks to all for caring so much.
Krafty Wahine#395 says:
January 7th, 2009 at 7:40 amGreat news! At the leadership meeting for the boy scout troop that we volunteer at approved the ‘Sock It To Poverty’ as one of their charitable causes. So Boy Scout Troop 1602 is on board. I will keep you posted on our progress!
Patty says:
January 7th, 2009 at 4:38 pmThis is great! I am going to start collecting and give them to our local county facility for children removed from their homes due to abuse and neglect. I am going camping with a group this weekend and will sent out an email asking them to bring a pair of socks. I’ll let you know how many I get.
Jeannie says:
January 8th, 2009 at 12:00 pmA wonderful Idea. I will get started right away. We are having two big crops at our lss. Our weather here is very cold right now and so hard to imagine folks out in this. I wish I could do more for them, but this is a nice start.
Sandy #1781 says:
January 9th, 2009 at 11:46 amThis is a great idea! I can’t wait to get started, and I bet my LSS will happily let me take over a Friday night crop!
Patty says:
January 12th, 2009 at 10:29 pmI am so happy! I collected 90 pairs of socks this weekend. The camping group I belong to is full of such wonderful giving people. I can’t wait to get them to the kids who need them.
Genevieve says:
January 13th, 2009 at 2:54 pmGreat idea!