11.14.2013

Share The Joy Plans

I've wanted to write this post for weeks now (it's gonna be a long one)! I've been working and planning my tush off (and not sleeping much) and am so excited to be sharing my most important blogging project to date. Thanks to World Market's Share the Joy campaign, I have organized a small group of Central Florida bloggers to makeover a space at a local children's foster home, sponsored by World Market. I'm just thrilled blogging has provided me with an opportunity to do such a great thing in my community. Squeal!

So what is Share the Joy? From November 8th - December 6th, Cost Plus World Market is giving away a $5,000 American Express Gift Card + $5,000 for a charity of your choice each week for 4 weeks. Can you imagine?! You win $5,000 and get to give $5,000 to charity. So cool and they are doing it 4 times! For a chance to win, become a fan of World Market on Facebook and click here. Who would you help?

When I got the email from World Market challenging me to come up with a way to help my community, I immediately thought of local foster homes. I tutored at a foster home in high school and I still clearly remember it. While that home is no longer open, a google search and a few phone calls lead me to a similar home close by... Central Florida Children's Home. They've been around for 40 years, are currently home to 15 children, and run 100% on volunteers and donations.

Because this is such a big project in a short amount of time, I knew just me and a glue gun weren't going to cut it. I went to my fantastically-willing-to-help-at-a-moment's-notice Central Florida blogging buddies for help. And because they are amazingly awesome, Katie and Jon from Sew Woodsy, Christine from First Home Love Life, and Lauren from The Thinking Closet all enthusiastically agreed to join in and get sweaty.

Now, side note, while everyone was really willing to help this was tough to pull off! Trying the get each blogger's, the children's home's, and World Market's schedules to jive was really hard. There were a couple mornings I just thought there was no way we'd be able to make this happen. But, (you're going to laugh) there is this billboard I pass everyday on my way to work. It says "If not now, when?". Honestly, I think it has something to do with getting your GED but whatevs. That billboard kept giving me a kick in the pants. It's time NOW for me to give back! (Are you imagining me flying down the highway singing Katy Perry's Roar right now?) Totally.


So after tons of phone calls and emails, it was decided that the offices at the children's home needed the most TLC. This is the place potential foster parents come to meet the staff and  be interviewed, where the have meetings with local businesses for fundraisers and to ask for donations, and where the day-to-day office tasks get done. Their major needs were a conference table and two separate desk areas since both staffers are sharing the same desk right now. There's also very little lighting (it's so dark!) and a lack of storage.

After my visit, Christine and I hit up our local World Market and shopped like mad. We purchased mostly furniture to fit the children's home's needs. We loved everything, choosing was hard! The employees were super helpful and made our crazy checkout process easy. Good thing we have large vehicles! #Juststrapittotheroof

So,want a sneak peek of what we got? Here are some of the goods we snagged at our local World Market. Swoon!



Are you excited!? I am! Our 2 days of work begins early next week. When I realized how amazing this project was going to be, and how many kids it was going to potentially help, I decided to see if other DIY brands I work with and love wanted to support our project too. And you know what, they all said YES (because they are amazing)! A huge thanks to RYOBI for supplying us with tools to assemble our bounty of furniture and get our DIY on. Another huge thanks to 3M for donating ScotchBlue Painter's Tape, Command Hooks and strips, and a bounty of office supplies. And, thanks to Homes.com and ForRent.com for donating moola to purchase the new lighting, fans, and decor! You guys rock!

So I'm challenging you now. What can you do to "Share the Joy"? Provide stocking stuffers to a local children's home in your area? Make up a gift basket for the local fire station? You never know what tiny act could turn into something more. Follow me on twitter, facebook, and instagram this week to see all the progress in real time #ShareTheJoy. Then come back next week for the big reveal! Tag your photos too so we can see what projects you came up with. Now I need to go shop again!

15 comments :

  1. Sarah, Thank you for your hard work! We have been praying for your arrival for almost two years. Now that you are here what a blessing you have been. First coordinating all the project and now getting the job done. We eagerly await your arrival at the Central Florida Children's Home with all the goodies. Thank you and may God bless you as you bless others in our community.

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    1. You'e welcome! We're so happy to be able to provide this for the Central Florida Children's Home. Can't wait to get started.

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  2. The vision of you rocking out to "Roar" after seeing that billboard on your way to work gives me a huge ole grin. I'm so honored and excited to be a part of this worthwhile endeavor. I can't thank you enough for all the hard work you have done in coordinating this. Clearly, it wasn't easy! But I can already tell it is going to be a huge blessing, and not just for the Children's Home, but for us all. Looking forward to diving in head first next week!

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    2. Thanks Lauren! Yeah, it's more of a scream/sing to my steering wheel ;) haha Thank you so much for hopping right on board without hesitation on such short notice. I know holiday schedules are packed, so I'm very grateful you're so supportive and willing to Share the Joy with us!

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  3. Whoop! Lets get this party started! I've got my paint brush ready to go!

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    1. I have totally been thinking of a playlist I can get together for us for the work days. haha! Thanks so much for jumping on board with this on such short notice. You're a rockstar shopper and I can't wait to get going Sunday. Thanks Christine!

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  4. This post brought tears to my eyes! What an amazing undertaking for an amazing and deserving organization!!

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    1. Thanks Keri! I was soooo excited when I got the email from World Market. Sometimes I see people, organizations, causes, etc I think need help but have no idea where to begin. World Market made it so easy to finally make a substantial difference to such a wonderful organization. I can't wait to get started. :)

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  5. What an inspirational post! Incredible cause. Will be sharing the joy here!

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    1. Thanks! It's been keeping me really busy the past couple weeks but I'm thrilled to use blogging as a way to really help my community. Who would have thought?! Can't wait to get my hands on the space and start!

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  6. GOD bless you and I love this post and you have inspired me for sure

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    1. Thanks Sherry! It was a CRAZY week but SO WORTH IT! (My whole body hurts lol) I can't wait to get the reveal post up! You're going to love it!

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  7. I'm thrilled to be a part of this giving event! My sleeves are rolled up, paintbrush is in hand...just point me in the right direction tomorrow:) I know this was a tremendous feat to coordinate everyone, sponsors and the Central Florida Children's Home, bless you for having the spirit to pull it all off. Looking forward to meeting you!

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    1. Wendi! I cannot say thank you enough for giving up your entire Sunday to come clean, paint, and sweat. We would not have finished without you. Thank you!!!!

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