After a brief pause, I asked for information on the project and agreed to take on an angel after reading the information on the Angel Tree.
This event is a way to help raise money for children with Down syndrome residing in foreign countries who are waiting to be found by their forever families. The Christmas Warrior rallies the troops to pray and fund raise for the child they are assigned. I thought it would be great if we as a Traveling Afghan Community, took on the task of helping one of the many kids needing a home and a family to call their own.
Meet Melissa.
She was born in 2006 and, as you can see, wasn't real happy about having her picture taken. This also makes it difficult to find her a family. It is often a challenge for people to see past a "bad day" and choose to bring a child into their family with so little to "go on". Having a bad picture is the number one reason children are passed over for others with a great profile pic. Please consider Miss Melissa, and give her a REASON to smile!
Melissa has Down syndrome, but also some mild Cerebral Palsy (CP) from slow prenatal development.
Melissa is the T21 Traveling Afghan Angel and it's our job to help her get adopted. Yes, that means you.
One of my very favorite places in the Fox Valley is Harmony Cafe. I contacted the program director there and on December 16, we will be having a fund raiser to help raise money for Reece's Rainbow and Melissa.
This is a chance to educate the community about Down syndrome. This is a chance to let people know about Reece's Rainbow. This is a chance to find Melissa a family, or at least raise some money to help a family bring her home...home is where every child belongs.
This is what I need.
- Sponsors: they will get their company name/logo on the posters that Harmony will print and display around the community
- Silent auction items
- Knit or Crochet Afghans: we would like to have as many as possible on display to sell, all proceeds from the sale of which will go directly to Reece's Rainbow
- Posting in Down syndrome related newsletters, websites, etc.
- Networking: who do you know who would be willing to donate to the event, be it time, money, or auction donations?
- Attendees: if you're in the area, please SHOW UP. There will be a suggested five dollar donation at the door. (Note: suggested, not mandatory.)
- SPREAD THE WORD: education makes the biggest impression with as much involvement as possible
Here are the basics:
Who: The T21 Traveling Afghan Angel, Melissa; and Reece's Rainbow
What: A fund raiser to help Reece's Rainbow and Melissa, a way to bring the community together, pool our resources and help a child find a home. There will be a presentation, question and answer session, food, live entertainment and a silent auction, as well as other items available for sale.
When: December 16, 2009 6pm to 8pm
Where: Harmony Cafe:
233 E. College Avenue
Appleton, Wisconsin 54911
How: Any way we can, with as many voices as we can...
Throughout the next two months, I will come up with some ways to help raise money for Melissa (in addition to the fundraiser in December). Money donated to her will go towards the cost of her adoption expenses and get her one step closer to finding her forever family.
In all honesty, the ultimate joy would be to someone in our community who is ready, willing and able to commit to Melissa and become her mom and dad. I want people to know about Reece's Rainbow. I want people to be aware of these kids and what they face if they are not adopted. I want to raise money to help Reece's Rainbow continue to facilitate helping these children find their forever families.
PLEASE email me with any assistance you can give regarding the fundraiser at Harmony Cafe or any suggestions you may have for helping us raise as much money as we can for this little one and all the little ones who need a mom and dad to call their own.
The greatest gift you can give a child is love.....
