Houses for Haiti Update

    I want to thank all of you who contributed to Houses for Haiti; we've reached and even surpassed our goal of $1600. Our grand total was $2,110! Shelley asked if instead of building one home we'd be willing to help rebuild two homes. One is for a woman and her baby who are living in rubble. They don't have enough space to put up one of the wood houses, so instead "we" will build them a smaller, concrete house. The rest of the money will repair the wall and put a new roof on the home of a family of six. Two more Haitian families will have a home thanks to you! Shelley said that construction on these projects will be starting any time, and she will share before and after pics which I'm so excited to see.
    Please continue to keep the people of Haiti, Shelley and Corrigan, and the ministry of Apparent Project in your prayers. Also, as you think of Christmas giving, would you consider some "alternate" gifts to help the people of Haiti? You could sponsor a child, purchase much needed supplies from AP's Amazon wish list, sponsor an artisan, or host a jewelry party. (For those of you who are local, I'm going to be having a jewelry party mid-November. This beautiful, handmade jewelry makes a great gift while helping those in need.) There are other ways to help on their website.
    Again, thanks to all who contributed money, posted about it on your blogs or facebook, helped with the yard sales, donated items, prayed, and told your friends about it. May God bless you for blessing others! Stay tuned for pictures of "our" houses going up!

Houses for Haiti- Update and Giveaways!

First, I want to thank those of you who have contributed to our Houses for Haiti campaign! We've raised over $750 and are  almost half of the way to our goal of $1600. We're that much closer to being able to build a house for a homeless Haitian family. Please consider joining this great project.
This week I have a couple of items that were donated to help raise money... I feel a tel-a-thon coming on! Any of these would make a great gift for someone or a nice treat for you! 

This is a super cute vintage style apron in a whimsical butterfly print with coordinating aqua trim.  It's made of soft cotton and ties around the back and at the neck.
(Apron sewing courtesy of my super sister Alyssa; photo courtesy of Peregrine!)
This is available for a donation of $25 or more.

Bracelets made by Apparent Project Artisans in Haiti. These are made with hand-rolled paper beads and are on elasticized cord. Fun and funky!
Each bracelet is available for your donation of $10 or more.

This is a great cotton tote bag that is perfect for groceries, library books, clothing, diapers,  or just about anything. It's made of sturdy cotton and is fully lined and reversible. There are several pockets as well! I have one of these bags and get compliments on it often. (This was also donated and made by my sister Alyssa.)
Bag available for a donation of $20 or more.

If you would like to receive one of these items in return for your donation, please click on the Chipin Widgit above. You will be taken directly to The Apparent Project's secure paypal page. Then come back and leave me a comment letting me know what you would like and I will get it to you. Again, thanks for your help and please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers! 

Houses for Haiti

 

It's been seven months since the earthquake that devastated Haiti and the media spotlight has long since left this little island nation. Yet, in spite of all the foreign aid that has poured in, well over a million people are still homeless. The live in tents that are tattered and worn by the fierce sun, hurricane winds, and torrential rains that mark summertime in Haiti. They live, if you can call it that, under whatever pieces of shade and shelter they can find, under old tarps held up by sticks, trying to stay dry, trying to protect and feed their children. They live in overcrowded makeshift camps, thousands upon thousands of precious souls, with nothing to protect them from disease, flooding, theft, and rape.

A Haitian woman and her children.

I've written before about the work of my dear friends Shelley and Corrigan Clay and their non-profit organization, The Apparent Project. They are working to provide employment for Haitians, as well as providing education, food, and housing as they're able. Many of Haiti's orphans still have parents, but their parents are unable to provide for them; they are poverty orphans. Shelley and Corrigan's heart is to provide families with the tools they need to stay together. At last count they were employing around 70 people making jewelry and other products which are sold here in the United States.

A beautiful necklace crafted by Apparent Artisans; even the paper beads are handmade!

One of the latest endeavors of The Apparent Project is to help build permanent homes for families who are still homeless. With a matching grant from the Netherlands, they are able to build a small but sturdy house for a donation of only $1600. That's about what many of us pay a every month or two for our rent or mortgage, and this will build a whole house!  They're able to purchase these homes from a company who also employs Haitians in the pre-construction phase. The $1600 includes everything- the labor (more Haitians given work!), all the supplies, paint, floor, etc. The Apparent Project doesn't take any overhead on house donations.

One of the four houses already built by The Apparent Project.

Now I realize that $1600 is more than most of us have jingling around in our pockets; that's where my friends and family come in. I felt challenged to see if I could raise the money to put up one house in Haiti, so here I am asking for you to join me in making this a reality. When I break it down it doesn't really seem like such a big deal. If all of my Facebook friends gave $10, we could put up a house! Or if 40 families could each give $40, we could raise enough money to get one family in a safe home! I'm going to ask my homeschool groups, friends, and family to join in this project, and my husband will ask his co-workers.

<a href="http://carriedonthewind.blogspot.com/2010/08/houses-for-haiti.html"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijL3v_pEpjqbvlv1GMIXL8SXuCiVSk2iqibYEAQ0NeOmWCSJg7e5A2m9_8qDRqtvCFqy9G-Rv7GIDUQxWplP9iUCf2_lQnhNm0EeaVnr4CqXg2GE19d6XUc9yKBCAirMD3oTUC/s800/housesforhaiti.jpg" /></a>

     This is my challenge to you, my plea on behalf of someone who is desperately in need of our help. Here's what I'm asking you to do:

1. Click on Chipin at the top of this post. You will be taken directly to The Apparent Project's paypal page where you can make a donation.  
2. Come back here and leave a comment letting me know that you donated. You'll be able to see how much progress we're making in the Chipin widget at the top. I have a couple of lovely necklaces from The Apparent Project, and everyone who donates and leaves a comment will be entered to win one of them. 
3. Grab a "Houses for Haiti" button above or from the upper left corner and put it on your blog. (Just copy and paste the code and it will link back to this post. Also, please share this on Facebook, Twitter, through email, etc. Spread the word, share the love... let's build a house! 
4. If you blog it, Facebook it, Twitter it, or otherwise communicate it, then leave an additional comment and you'll receive more entries to win a necklace. 
5. Pray for the people of Haiti, the work of The Apparent Project and all the others who are working there. 

In the event that we're unable to raise a full $1600, then our money can join in with other donations to help build a house. In the event we raise more... awesome!  

Special thanks to Shelley Clay for the use of her photos, and to my friend Ali Telfer who designed the button. Ali does blog design and all proceeds go to help fund her family's adoption journey.