In today’s post: I’m sharing how our family is working to raise money for refugees with your help this holiday season.
Like most moms I know, I spend a good amount of my time worrying about my kids: whether they’re happy, whether they have friends, whether I’m teaching them to make the right choices, etc. I even worry about whether I’m getting them the right Christmas presents – ones they’ll love and that will make them feel loved. But you know what I don’t have to worry about? I don’t have to worry about where we will sleep tonight. What we will eat tomorrow. And whether my kids will be victims of the horrific violence so common in war-torn countries across the world today.
Last year I was introduced to the International Rescue Committee. The IRC is a charitable organization that delivers life saving care to people fleeing conflict and natural disaster. Their website is full of stories of families in unimaginable situations: women fleeing rape and violence, children with no access to even basic medical care, and whole communities facing starvation.
Honestly, when I read about how many people live in horrific situations it’s sometimes so overwhelming that I’d rather just ignore it and go one with my life. But these stories stay in your heart, and I’ve been feeling for a few months that I needed to find a way for our family to do something to help.
How we can help
As I looked more closely into the IRC, I’ve been SO IMPRESSED with the organization and all of the good they are accomplishing in the world. The IRC works to promote health in areas where people die from preventable causes, promotes education for children and families, helps people find safety in areas of crisis, and much much more. They work in the most vulnerable areas of the world, such as Yemen, where right now two thirds of the population is at risk for starvation amid war and cholera. And they work in the United States, helping refugees who have been resettled to thrive in their new situations.
The very best way to help an organization like the IRC is to donate money so they can continue and expand their relief efforts. IRC is consistently given the highest ratings from charity watchdog sites, so I feel comfortable donating to them.
As a way to help, my family and I have started a fundraiser for the International Rescue Committee. We want to spread the word about the IRC and encourage people to make a donation as part of their holiday gift giving this year. Our family will be making Christmas ornaments to send to those who donate as a thank you:
If you donate through our fundraiser, we would love to send you an ornament as a thank you for your generosity. We have a goal to raise $5000 for the IRC, and we will be making and mailing ornaments to the first 500 people who donate (due to postal costs, we will only mail ornaments in the United States). Any donation amount is welcome, please give what you feel you can! PLEASE NOTE: Our fundraiser is now over and we will not be mailing more ornaments. Please visit the IRC website to donate if you would like to.
What you can do
PLEASE NOTE: Our fundraiser is now over and we will not be mailing more ornaments. Please visit the IRC website to donate if you would like to.
Thank you so much for considering a donation! If you’d like to participate, please follow these three steps:
- First, visit the IRC website to learn about conditions affecting people in the world and how your donation can help.
Next, please visit our fundraiser site on CrowdRise and make a donation. Hosting the fundraiser on CrowdRise makes it easy for us to track total donations and see if we meet our goal.Finally, email us at [email protected] to tell us you donated. Be sure to include your name and US mailing address so we can mail you an ornament!
CrowdRise is the platform preferred by the IRC for fundraising. Please know that none of the money raised will go to our family – all of money donated goes directly to the non-profit organization. The cost of supplies and mailing the ornaments will be our family’s way to donate this year.
Also, please share the fundraiser with your family and friends! We are hoping to raise $5000 but it would be amazing if with your help to get the word out we could raise even more money that the IRC can use to provide life saving care for those in need.
When everything will happen
We’re making ornaments now and would love to send one to you! Please be sure to email us at [email protected] and we will try to get your ornament in the mail within a week.
How to do even more
I first heard about the IRC when I was looking for a Mother’s Day gift for my mom and I heard about “rescue gifts”. Rescue gifts allow you to give a humanitarian gift in the name of someone special. Because my mom always taught us that girls can do anything, I gave her the gift of a year of school for a girl in a country where girls are often denied schooling. You can also give the gift of clean water to those in crisis situations, newborn kits so mothers can care for their new babies, English classes for refugees, and more. Rescue gifts are a great way to honor the people you care about while also providing relief to people who need it most.
Thank you so much!
Thank you for reading through this post. Thank you for considering a donation. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving me comments that make my day! I absolutely love that I have the opportunity to write this blog and share the creative things I enjoy with all of you. I wish you all the very best this holiday season.
with love,
Autumn
Janine says
What a compassionate thing you’ve done. Gives me chills. One person CAN make a difference.
Kathy says
Wonderful project I hope you reach your goal.
Brittany Perkins says
Amazing autumn, making me cry!!!