If you have read my blog for any amount of time, then you are familiar with Project Hope. If you aren't, and would like to know more about it, I would love for you to! You can start by clicking the Project Hope button on the side of my blog over there ---> and scroll to the first post to catch up.
Or simply click here to read this post in particular for the heart behind this project.
The dream for Project Hope was born on the very night, we lost our sweet girl
Faith Marie at nearly 23 weeks. In a dark hospital room I held onto a box handed to me by one of the nurses. I picked up a little pink bear with angel wings out of the box, and right then I knew that one day, I would give that bear to my next daughter. It was hope. In my hands.
Mia was born and months later, I would hold her and rock her in my arms with that little angel bear and each time I did, the Lord whispered into my heart about all of the other moms out there, who needed to know this same kind of hope. Who needed to know that there was a God who loved them and had a plan and a future for them and that saying goodbye to their sweet babies was not the end. There is hope.
I wanted to be able to minister to these women in some way, so I searched out the organization that donates these boxes to the hospital and found out about
Threads of Love. This is a nation wide ministry that reaches out to many families in numerous ways including those who have lost a baby. These memory boxes are based completely off donations and hand decorated by volunteers as well.
I knew right away that I wanted to partner with them and collect boxes and items to be donated. Including little lovie bears like the one I was given. This in particular was special to me because it represented a future. Something that would be a memory of our sweet Faith Marie, that could also be given to our future baby.
I had no idea how to start or where to even begin to try, but I did. I wrote
this post one night just after rocking Mia and feeling that familiar tug in my heart to start something. To do something. To take the step.
I was amazed and am still amazed at how God worked through this project. So many of you, and so many people I will never meet, or even get to thank, reached out and wanted to help. We had businesses and vendors, friends and family come together from all over to donate to the project. Our goal was to have enough items and monetary donations to create 50 boxes for an organization called Threads of Love. We worked with the Sarah chapter here in San Antonio, and were able to purchase, decorate and fill 50 boxes including 50 lovie bears, that were then distributed through Threads of Love to hospitals around San Antonio, and then given to moms and families who had lost a baby.
Now months after our first project, I am feeling that same tugging in my heart. I want to do even more and even greater. My heart aches for moms who sit in a dark hospital room, searching for something to look to, or a hope to hold on to. I would love nothing more than to walk into each room, wrap my arms around them and tell them it it's going to be ok. That there is hope and there is a future and a God that loves them.
Thats where Project Hope comes in. I have such a heavy burden for this and I pray that Project Hope and everything it represents always points to Jesus and Him alone. I believe He's given us all a platform and an influence. I am always amazed and blessed by how God has connected me to so many amazing, amazing people through this blog.
Once again, I find myself at a place of having no idea where to start. But I know I can take the first step. And that is what this is. I don't have all the details worked out. I don't have a team of people to bounce ideas off of {although that would be awesome!} I just have a heart that really really wants to love on other moms who have lost a baby.
So, my goal is to create 100 memory boxes for Project Hope.
That means:
100 craft boxes purchased.
-Craft Supplies to decorate 100 boxes
-Items from vendors and businesses for 100 boxes {a list of these items will come soon}
-100 lovies/bears
Like last time, we will have an event here in San Antonio where whoever would like to, can come together and decorate the boxes. This was one of the biggest ministries that came out of Project Hope. Not only for the women who received the boxes, but also those who decorated them. The date and details for this will be determined very soon.
On top of the 100 boxes, I would love to be able to raise funds for
caskets for babies of families who can't afford one. When I visited Threads of Love and got a tour of the facility, something that struck me hard were these tiny, but gorgeous wooden caskets. Just a few of them though. And when I asked about them, I found out they were for babies of families who can not afford a casket. There have been some desperate situations of a family wanting so badly to bury there baby and honor their life, but couldn't afford a casket and had to use a styrofoam ice chest.
That broke my heart. And I knew that when we began this next Project Hope I wanted to add this to our goal. A sweet man, here in San Antonio makes these caskets. He doesn't ask to be paid, but just 20$ for supplies. I can't tell you how beautifully detailed these caskets are. So the option to donate toward a casket will also be given. I will have a paypal linked from my blog where you can donate and specifically state where you would like the funds to go. Wedding gowns can also be donated for these caskets, as that is what they use to line them.
I'm trying really hard to lay out some the details without being overwhelming so this is just the beginning. I just wanted to "introduce" the project to you and then hear from you. Any questions that you might have, or suggestions to offer, please contact me.
I also need help with the graphics side of it all, because I'm clueless. Sweet
Casey was so generous to help me last time, and I couldn't thank her enough.
I have a few new ideas and would love to work with someone to come up with a logo that we will use on all letterheads etc. including a blog button for those who want to help spread the word.
My heart is to give hope to as many moms and families as we can. And I need your help. Bloggers, business owners, handmade shop owners, anyone and everyone with a heart to do the same. Let's put our hearts and minds together and see where God takes this :)
"Now's the time for us to rise, and carry hope and let love shine...
show this world that mercy is alive"
Now's the time for us to rise, and carry hope to hopeless eyes...
-The Church, Elevation Church
Here is what I am looking for specifically.
-A committee to help with planning the craft event {local would be great because I would love to get together for planning meetings}
-Etsy shop, business owners, or handmade shops that would like to donate an item for the memory boxes.
-Etsy Shop, Business owners or handmade shops who like to donate items for door prizes at the craft event.
-Monetary Donations toward the purchase of the boxes, craft supplies, or the caskets.
-100 Lovies/Bears
-Bloggers who would like to place a button on your blog for the duration of the project and possibly posting about it to help spread the word.
-Someone with graphics design skills who can help with the buttons and logo.
-Anyone and everyone with a heart to help spread hope.
***all business and shop owners will be included with links in a blog post as well shout outs on twitter***
Project Hope will officially begin June 19th and run through August 19th.
If you would like to help or have any questions, you can email me at projecthope619@gmail.com, or leave your info in the comments below and I will be contacting you shortly.
A list for the items needed and other details such as dates will be coming soon!
Every single bit of help and support is treasured beyond words!
Much Love.
