Aspire to everything Inspired

Have you heard? OPERATION SANTA

Read the full article here. 

No wonder we have these cool 'Santa delivering presents' stamps this year!

Flood Damaged Libraries?! {gasp!}

Have you heard about the devastation to several small town Public Libraries caused by the flooding from Hurricane Irene?  In communities already devasted by destruction of personal homes and property, the Library becomes a refuge and an escape.  Except when the Library is devastated too. Seeing these photos of the Wells Memorial Library in Upper Jay, NY is just...  yeah.

 
 
 

The biggest lost for this library in Upper Jay, NY?  Children's books. 

Children's books!

Only five (5!) picture books survived the flood...  they were waiting to be re-shelved.  All the rest were on lower shelves -- to be accessible to little hands -- and were a total loss.

Oh my.

My first reaction was to go through my personal Library and pick out duplicates and other favorite tomes to donate.  A stack quickly built.  But...

Then I read this.  And guess, what?  Flooded libraries don't have anywhere to store new books while they clean up!  Well.  That makes sense now, doesn't it.

 

So here’s how we can help:

1. Send a donation directly. Checks may be made payable to the library.

OR

2. Donate via local bookstores in the affected communities.  In many cases, they are providing discounts to the Library and are willing to hold/store books until the Library is able to receive new deliveries.  Now that's pretty awesome service! 

The mailing addresses for donations:

Wells Memorial Library
P.O. Box 57
Upper Jay, NY 12987 

OR
Contact local independent bookseller The Bookstore Plus at 518-523-2950 to purchase books and/or contribute to a library gift card

The West Hartford Public Library
P.O. Box 26
West Hartford, VT 05084
(802) 295-7992

OR
Contact local independent bookseller The Norwich Bookstore at 802-649-1114. to purchase books and/or contribute to a library gift card.

Let's spread the word and make a difference, friends.

[Heard about it first at Sarah Jane Studios, and she heard about it via Kate Messner.  Pictures of the Wells Memorial Library and addresses for both Libraries borrowed via Kate - with thanks!]

Books for Charity

That’s what I saw one morning as I was driving to work last week:  Books for Charity

Painted in big letters on the side of a small blue ‘dumpster’.

"Hmmm... Books for charity", I thought. "Books FOR CHARITY?"

I thought about it again when I was home that evening. Sitting in my Library.

And the next day when I saw another of those blue receptacles somewhere else about town.

"Hmmm..."

Well, there is that recipe book that has just never worked for me.  And that other book that was alright, but I didn’t really care for the author’s writing style or plot.  And the other one that I’ve got at least two of, but only need one of.  And that...

Hmmmm... once I started thinking of it, Books for Charity seemed like a good idea.  

It may not have made much of a dent in the overall collection, but it’s nice to do a little clearing out and to know it’s for a good cause.  

Though of course, I’m deliberately not showing you titles, because I know you (some of you, that is) and you’ll be thinking “but she could have given that one to me!”.  And we’ll be having none of that, mind you.  Books for Charity, after all.

A good cause, don’t you think?

[Want to get on board? My drop-off was for http://www.readingtree.org/ – A registered nonprofit organization providing books to youth in need.]

When devastation happens...

 
Good people do good things.  We rise above the common and strive to do more.  Because our hearts are aching and our minds are boggled.  And perhaps we're even thinking "what if that were me?".  (And you hope that you wouldn't be the woman wailing and running around in circles, but you secretly suspect that might be exactly what you'd do...)

In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is immediately shipping humanitarian relief, including personal hygiene kits and supplies for newborns. Efforts are underway to determine further humanitarian response in coordination with government and disaster relief organizations. Donations for relief efforts can be made here.

The American Red Cross is also organizing significant relief efforts, including sending money, supplies, and staff.  Learn more and/or donate here.

IBOL: Tick, Tock!

What is IBOL?
It's an opportunity to serve that takes just a few minutes of your time and leaves you feeling great!  It's also a great opportunity to clean out some of that pile (aka. "the stash") of fabric and sewing notions that you've been saving for a rainy day.  (Oh c'mon, do you really think you're ever going to use all of that??)

And what does "IBOL" stand for?
Because you know it's more than just a funny word, right?  It stands for "Iraqi Bundles of Love", and it's a short-term service project thought up by Major Art La Flamme, U.S. Army, currently serving in Iraq.  During his tour of duty, he's seen the incredible need for raw materials to make clothes and household goods.  In his own words...

"Iraqi Bundles of Love is a short-duration project, set to last about six weeks, originally intended to surge fabric and sewing (and knitting!) materials into the area around which I live in Iraq.  It is timed to coincide with both Ramadan, and the departure of my units from Iraq. 

I made my first trip to this country in 1994.  I know, I know — “Hey, Mr. IBOL Guy, Americans weren’t really welcome in Iraq in 1994 — WTH?”  I went into the Kurdush region back then, doing homework for a school assignment (really!).  I saw that nothing was every thrown away.  Everything was re-used — bottles, packing material, tires, anything and everything.  Iraq was, at that time, under international sanctions, the economy was hurting, and little was being produced in Iraq and little seemed to be coming into Iraq.

People made due.  It’s not like they had a choice.

The general premise [of IBOL] is this.  I am in Iraq, and I can get mail through the US Postal System.  Willing contributors can send to me a flat-rate box of sewing / quilting supplies, all bundled up.  I’d open the box, pull out the fully-contained bundle, and hand it off (with others) to our counterparts in the Iraqi Security Forces (Army and others) or the local police, for them to distribute.  Some of the bundles will also be delivered by US Soldiers. The stated intent of this operation is to put sewing and quilting and knitting supplies into the hands of two types of recipients:  locals who desperately need such things, and local sewing co-ops and other small businesses who have received grants or loans (typically to purchase sewing machines, rent space, etc)."

In short, it's a great cause and a great opportunity for you and I to make a difference in someone's life.  Someone we can relate to who's just trying to make do with what they have.

[Photo borrowed from the IBOL website] 

So How Can You Participate?
It’s easy.  It’s simple.  It’ll cost you just $13.95 to mail – and the box is free, just stop by your local US Post Office and pick up a Large Flat Rate box.  Then head home and start cleaning out those sewing supplies that you’ve been hoarding. 

But hurry!  The Deadline to mail boxes is Tuesday, September 8th (2009).

For instructions on what to send, click here
For instructions on how to box it up, click here

For the address of where to send a box, just leave a comment below.  I've got it and will be delighted to share!

To read the IBOL blog, click here. 
As of this morning... 73,000 blog hits and counting.  WOW. 
Bundles received so far?  245... and lots more probably en route.  Will yours be among them?

So Hurry!  The deadline to mail packages is coming up fast.
Sewers of the world unite! 

Adventures in Blogland: The Sugar City Journal

Two talented sisters-in-law, living on opposite coasts, sharing one blog.  And - wow! - are they talented!    Sewing, painting, story-writing... there's just all sorts of creativity happening in their homes and it's always a delight to see what they'll come up with next. 

Here's one of their latest ideas...   The Sugar City Quarterly:

Simply Fabulous!  My copy came last week.  I wanted to savor reading it over a couple of days, or even weeks...  but I couldn't resist the lure to keep turning the pages.  It's filled with creative stories, and projects, and charming sketches, and even a few well-placed color photos.  So delightful!    I wish I'd come up with this idea (though I don't have anywhere near the blog readership that Lynne & Melissa do, so it definitely wouldn't have had such a wide distribution if it had been from me.  LOL!).   However...  Lynne and Melissa are taking submissions for the next issue, so I'm definitely thinking of a few ideas... hmmmm.... ideas percolating...

To see more about their Quarterly idea, go here.  This issue is currently sold out, but if you ask nicely -- super nicely -- I just might share!  :-)

Did you Bid?

A Silent Aucton to benefit Carol Decker ends tonight.  An INCREDIBLY worthy cause and so worth five minutes of your time.

To visit the Silent Auction, click here.  Hurry - there's still time!

To just donate, click here.

To read more about Carol's story, click here or read below...

Words from Scott  [Carol's husband]

Carol Decker, my wife, had an emergency cesarean section on June 10, 2008. After the surgery she developed life-threatening hypotension from a septic pneumonia infection. After fighting for several weeks, the medicine she was on to save her life had the unfortunate side effect of blocking blood flow to her legs, left arm and eyes.

Since then, Carol has had both legs below the knee amputated, her left arm amputated and she is blind. Carol was transferred to Harborview after an extended stay in ICU at Swedish Hospital, which insurance has covered to an extent and the rest we have had to pay for out of pocket. Carol will now begin inpatient rehab, which her insurance will not cover, and is estimated to cost somewhere around $80,000.

Carol, Chloe, Safiya and I just want to say "thank you" to everyone who is helping. Your thoughts, prayers and contributions are not only hard to believe but really have shown us the humanity and compassion that people really have. I hope we have the opportunity to personally thank each and every one of you. Until then, please accept our deepest gratitude and thanks.

Warm Regards,
Scott & Carol Decker