Generosity, and the Power of Asking

Fundraising is...interesting. And new for me.

I mean, sure, I did the elementary school candy bar and wrapping paper sales but this is totally different. A whole new world, really. This isn't door-to-door salesman kind of fundraising, this is intense, kinda-in-your-face fundraising. Because the goal is bold...$2,300 (at least), it requires me to be bold too. That's the only way I will raise the money and it puts me so far out of my comfort zone it's not even funny.

I was planning on joining some friends for an all-day scrapbooking event at The Scrapbook Barn yesterday, so Kendra and I decided to try to make it into a fundraising event. You have to really put yourself out there to plan something like this, even though it was going to be a super small fundraiser. It's kind of nerve wracking. I was so sure the door was going to be slammed in my face (more on my negative thinking tomorrow, hopefully). But something amazing happened. I emailed the owner's daughter (per instruction) and she said we could do the event in their store! And then I got the local donut place to donate two dozen donuts...and Kendra got a bakery to give us 3 dozen cookies.

I stayed up late making a sign and typing up a little blurb about what we were doing. I was exhausted. Seriously. And then it was time for the event...and I found out that only one other person was signed up to scrapbook. I was upset and super pessimistic. But then a couple of people showed up and then a few more...and we ended up with around 15 women. And those women donated $50...not too shabby for such a small gathering!

It was a great way to get our feet wet. And I'm excited about our upcoming events...more on that to come!