You are my sunshine announcement.
Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 10:47AM It's easy to get bogged down in the sheer number of people, the sheer number of catastrophes, of causes, that truly need help in this world. It's easy to be paralyzed by indecision about where to send your money or volunteer your time. How do you choose one natural disaster and not another? How do you help the family next door and not the one down the street?
I don't have answers to why the world works the way it does. All I have are questions.
But I've decided -- and so have many of you -- that my inability to fix everything is not going to preclude me from helping with something.
When you start getting bogged down in the indecision, try casting a narrower net. Try looking for someone to help in your immediate family or circle of friends. Look for something close to home, something that speaks to you in an inexplicable way.
Many people wiser than myself have suggested that one of the best ways to improve your own happiness, self worth, and sense of purpose, is to help others. Don't let the fact that you can't fix everything stop you from helping with something.
One of the things I know how to do is make pretty yarn. In honor of one of my friends who lost her baby Charlie, I made this colorway last year, called Glimpse:
We took orders for it for a set period of time, and when the sale was over, donated a portion of the proceeds to SHARE, a nonprofit that helps families who have lost babies.
This year, we made You Are My Sunshine, and hoped to be able to beat last year's donation of $2,500.
It took a lot of work to create the 1,144 skeins of this colorway and its coordinates that were ordered. But it was worth it. Not only were we able to send something tangible to all of you who ordered some -- either for yourself or a loved one, but we were able to raise money for SHARE to extend help to more families who need it.
This morning I sent in our donation.
I'm really proud to say that, thanks to you, we were able to send $5,100.
I sent it with this message:
Thanks for caring. Thanks for doing something even though you can't fix everything.
Reader Comments (24)
This was just amazing and wonderful. Not only is the yarn gorgeous, and the cause so worthwhile,but your devotion and talent make it all possible. Kudos to you!
You could not have said this better or with more love. To know that your creativity and talent could do so much good is an inspiring thing.
This post made me feel SO PROUD. I know my contribution to the cause was so minor - but it is awesome whenever like minded people band together to make a difference. It is especially awesome when there is a great person organizing us. Thanks Sharon for your beautiful idea and your commitment to follow through!!!
Wonderful! Thanks for organizing this.