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Give Thanks, Give Hope

I love how just moments after Halloween has ended everybody kicks into high gear for preparation for the upcoming Holiday season. I personally love these next couple of months because it's a season of giving. I love seeing the hearts of others who give freely. I am a giver myself, or like to think I am. I love shopping for my friends and loved ones throughout the year but even more so, I love giving to those in need or watching others do the same.
There is something about making a tangible difference in the lives of others. Being able to bless those who are hurting goes much further than that gift card stuffed in an envelope.

November is when we usually start hearing the bells ringing out in front of Target from the local Salvation Army requesting donations. 
It's also the month when we are most encouraged to drop off canned goods for a local food drive to help out those in need. 
Those are both amazing ways to give, I mean giving anything to others is always awesome. I'm an advocate for even just doing small things that will ultimately make a big difference. 
Take that can of food you donated, it will be paired with other cooked food to create a great meal for hungry families during the Holidays and throughout the year. Same with that scrounged up change you threw in the salvation army bucket. That combined with all the other pocket change and dollars given will ultimately be a blessing to many in need all over.

Similar to many causes or charitable drives this season Sole Hope has started an amazing one as well. 
I am excited to announce this new project for Sole Hope! For the month of November we are hoping to collect as much of the supplies listed below as we can! We are also hoping to have many of you peeps out there "host" a medical supply drive! Now, don't go running because of the word medical or supplies. The list of needs below consist of basic items you can pick up at your local Target or Wal-mart. They may seem like ordinary things but are actually important medical supplies that will be used in the jigger removal process in Africa.  
If you are new to my blog and have no idea what Sole Hope is, you can read previous posts about it here, here and here or just check out their website here.

Here are the items that Sole Hope needs in order to do perform the removal of parasites from feet of children in Uganda:
  • Large Safety Pins
  • Medical Gloves
  • Gauze Wrap
  • Emla Cream (or any other topical numbing cream)
  • Stickers for Children
  • Monetary Donations to purchase wash basins and soap in country
These items are so inexpensive and easy to come by, but are in great demand for Sole Hope and their ministry of foot washing and jigger removal process overseas. 
You see this sweet family pictured above? Yeah well that's Asher the founder of Sole Hope and her partner in saving lives (husband) Dru Collie with the rest of their beautiful family (minus their newborn Silas not pictured) They recently announced that they are moving to Uganda to be in the thick of it all and represent Sole Hope in the flesh. They realized even with all their hard work and efforts they were not going to make a sustainable impact without being on the ground and in community with those we are trying to help. 
There are many reasons, thoughts, and emotions that I could list of why they ultimately took the leap of faith and decided to uproot their family and move to Africa, but two things Dru said come to mind.  Actions. Speak. Louder. and LOVE DOES.  They believe they are attempting to live out what everyone is called to do.

Wouldn't it be amazing to load them up with all the medical supplies they need to last them months until the next shipment or group travels out to visit them!
I say, Lets Do This!
Again, this is much like a canned food drive, but collecting medical supplies for Sole Hope instead. I hope that this is something everyone will get involved with in some way!  Maybe with your MOPS group, Bible Studies, churches, pre-schools, schools, offices or local businesses that may offer to let you use their facility as a drop off location. 
If you can't commit to an actual "drive" or even having a drop off location of your own, no worries, you can still donate anything off the list and mail it directly to Sole Hope at the address listed below. Please understand these "donation drives" don't have to be huge or extreme and can just be something you tell your friends and family about to help raise awareness and supplies for Sole Hope.

Keep in mind Thanksgiving is quickly approaching and with the gatherings of friends and family this is an easy way to have them bring items off the list to your lunch or dinner you already have planned!

If you want to just donate monetarily please do, those proceeds this month will go towards the water basins used for foot washing as well as furthering their mission of offering Hope. Click HERE to donate monetarily.

So, quick recap about Give Thanks, Give Hope:

1.  If planning a drive: Pick your Drop Off Location
2.  Fill out your flyer to hand out (only if hosting a drive, please see below)
3.  Spread the word via social media and word of mouth
4.  Gather donations for the entire month of November
5.  Mail your items to 
Sole Hope 
PO Box 1492 
Asheville, NC 28802 

To use this form just click on the image and you will be directed to the original pdf where you can print it or fill it out electronically for your personal use.
If you're still on the fence let me help give you a little nudge by reminding you that if you help donate you are not only helping change lives but save them! 

Not enough, okay what if I tell you that your name will be entered into a random drawing for one of the following hoops from my shop if you donate anything off the list.

Or FIVE entries if you host a drive of your own.
Easy entry. Just Give. Seriously,that's it! Please donate anything off the list or host your own simple drive and snap a pic of either your drive's drop off box (like mine pictured above)or a picture of the item(s) you're donating. 
Take this snapshot and either email me at natalie.ensor@gmail.com or instagram, tweet or Facebook it tagging me @takethecannoli1 with the #hashtag of #givethanksgivehope

"It's about having things matter to us enough that we stop just thinking about those things and actually do something about them." 

-Bob Goff

8 comments:

Brooke said...

Great post! This is a great sounding, necessary charity! I think it is a wonderful idea to have family member's bring items to Thanksgiving!

Thank you for bring awareness!



Brooke

gilly said...

This is a great cause - I hope you get lots of response and support. Having grown up in Africa, I have witnessed first-hand just how much a little love & care can go a long way. Bless you for organizing this. Hugs xx

Ashley said...

Yay Nat! I'm so excited!! Great things are going to happen this month, I just know it! :0)

Anonymous said...

Natalie~ Yay! for Sole Hope! We're having a shoe cutting party tomorrow night at a local coffee shop up at Purdue University. What a fantastic organization {and I'm almost positive that you are one pretty incredible lady too!} Wish we would've connected at Influence, but so thankful to have stumbled upon your blog because of it. ;) Hugs today!

~Kirsten

~Damita's Pretty Wrap~ said...

What a great donation for those poor little feet. Your so kind Nat! Wish I lived closer to do this. Have a great day! xo Holly

Unknown said...

Hi! I fancy your blog. I have been following you for awhile now but I have finally recently decided to create a blog for my family. Anywho, I awarded you with a blogger award on blog! You can click 'here' to see it. I hope you like it! Have a good one!

Unknown said...

Sounds like a fantastic cause! Thanks so much for posting about it! I have one question - is this a ministry project as well as a medical one?

Lotus Blossom Design said...

How spoiled are we? Those feet made me tear up! We can all do something...it's so easy to help.