Not Goodbye, Just So Long.

I don't think I've ever procrastinated doing anything so much as I have writing this entry.  For many months now, I've been trying to find a way for Right as Rain to become a self-sustaining entity.  I've had the help of fabulous lawyers, accountants, designers, websites - and spoken to countless others to find the support it needs to keep going. But I have not succeeded.

RaR is a great idea! It's been supported by over 300 artists and crafters - and well over 500 donors and we've helped 3 families when they really needed a boost. But, making that happen is really and truly a full-time job (think "start-up" full-time job). And, what became clear to me rather quickly, is that RaR can't be "squeezed"in between my real full-time job and my very real family - although I really did try.

So, I once had a neighbor that always said to say "so long, not goodbye," as it would just be "so long till I see you again" - but never goodbye. And that is what I must say to Right as Rain for now. There will be day - when children are grown and the career is done - and I will use everything I've learned this past year and make a go of this again.

In the meantime, thank you Baby Harvey, Chelsea and Nate for letting us help  - and thank you to all the wonderful Rainmakers that generously gave their gifts to help strangers - through a stranger! If nothing else, we've proved that there's some good in this world and if given the chance, we all just want to be good to each other.

Thank you for all of the support. On a practical note: if you have donated a craft that is still in the store and would like it back, please email me at sarah@rightasrain.org before June 15th. All items after that will be donated to a local charity.

So long, for now!

Sarah

The Vision for Right as Rain

This May, it will be a year since I first had the idea of “Right as Rain” and in that time, we’ve raised over $15,000 for people who’ve really needed a hand.  Over 100 crafters and artists have generously donated their work, more than 300 people have bought or donated  - and 2136 people are following us on Facebook.  Not bad for 9 months and a one-woman show!

The challenge now is where we go from here. I’ve learned an awful lot in those 9 months and the most important is, this can’t stay a one-woman show to really work.  (Especially when said “one-woman” has demanding full-time job and family with an almost 3-year-old.) So, I began thinking of ways we could lessen the manual workload – while increasing the volume of crafts coming in and going out – so we can help more people.  Easy, right?

Well, if you imagine our site functioning like Etsy.com  - where crafters can upload their own work and ship directly to the customers and sold-out inventory is automatically deleted from the site. Imagine our home page featuring the story of the person we’re helping (much like Tippingbucket.org does!) and when someone buys or donates, they are automatically listed with comments as to why they decided to help…Well, then it would be pretty easy to manage and we sure could keep this going.

And why keep this going? Here are a couple of my reasons – (you can tell me if you think of more!):

1.     People need help! There is no other organization that we know of that helps individual people directly in these kinds of unexpected crises.

2.     The crafters who donate get SO much out of giving of their gift, we can’t stop now!

3.     RaR gives friends a way to help their friends  - and who doesn’t know how important that can be when you watch a friend suffer? – You just want to do anything to help.

4.     It works! People are getting help in times they really need it.

So, RaR is going into a bit of “hibernation” mode until I can find a web developer who can build out the site.  My understanding is, it’s a pretty big development job and we’re searching for a person or company that will take it on pro-bono. It’s a big ask. But 9 months ago, I thought it’d be hard to get crafters to donate their work – and they came through with flying colors!

So, if you know anyone with these skills who really wants to make a difference in the world (or maybe just build their resume by helping a start-up non-profit!) – let me know! Thank you for all of your support!

It’s Right as Rain.

P.S. I really would love your feedback on this – if you care to leave it!



New Recipient! Nate Delagrange and Family

10 years ago, Nate Delagrange suffered serious spine and neck injuries in a ATV accident which left him with little to no use of his arms or legs. Although he faced life as a quadriplegic after that day, he found a wonderful gift while in the hospital: his wife, Jamie. Nate & Jamie live in Fort Wayne, IN where they raise three children together.

Thanks to Nate's tenacity and today's technology, he's able to live a full life and provide for his family despite the physical challenges. A specialized van has enabled him to drive, to work and with 3 children - to manage their hectic lives. Just a few weeks ago though, Nate was in an accident with the van, and although he was able to recover quickly - the van was totaled.

In today's economy, almost any family of five would find it a hardship to be down to one car and need to replace the second. But when one family member is also in a wheelchair, this makes it almost impossible to get through a day. Between the cost of a new van and adapting it for Nate, the costs are exorbitant.

Right as Rain will be raising money until January 31, 2011 to get this family the down payment they need to replace this extraordinary van.

It's Right as Rain.

When We Could Change the World

Remember when changing the world wasn't just some distant hope, or worse: impossible? Remember when it was simply what you were going to do? It was a given. Was it 15? 18? 20 years old? 

I remember that time - and perhaps that's the most wonderful thing about rebellious teenagers;  they think that anything is possible.  It's certainly one of the most fun things about running Right as Rain. I get to call on my inner teenager a few times a day who still thinks that anything is possible. Anything can happen. I can make a difference. We CAN change the world.

Yet, I'm old enough now, that I need some proof. And here is it is: Karla Gibbs, Misty Cox Henderson, Kathy Coshow, & Lisa Koski.. These women have all given to Right as Rain with their talents at least 3 times. I've never met them. They have never met Chelsea, who their crafts are helping.  Yet, they spend hours of their time crafting, sewing, beading, crocheting and donating to Right as Rain. Their packages come unexpected, full of all sorts of hand-made goodies!

I know that we can change the world because of these women, and the 100 more artisans that give of their gift to help people they've never met. I know that we can change the world, because it's Right as Rain.

And, because we all have an inner teenager that knows we can. ;)

The Big Understatement

In April 2009, Chelsea Meythaler met a “really good guy.” That’s what she told her parents when just a few months later she moved to Frankfort, Kentucky to be with David W. McDonald (aka “D-dub Mac”) full time.  According to Pam, Chelsea’s step-mom, “a really good guy” turned out to be a Very Big Understatement.

To the people around them, Chelsea and David seemed destined for each other. They were incredibly happy and David planned to propose at their one-year anniversary.  Just one month before that could happen, tragedy struck when Chelsea was in the car accident that left her paralyzed. 

In the hours and days that followed, with Chelsea in critical condition and the doctors unsure of what would happen, David simply said , ”Whatever it takes.” No questions, no reservations, no conditions.  It was the second day in Chelsea’s hospital stay when she woke, and David proposed.

 With no intention of leaving Chelsea’s side through her recovery, David first went through all of his vacation time from the US Wildlife Dept quickly. His family and friends who work with him then volunteered to donate their vacation time so that David could stay with Chelsea.  At the last minute, they discovered he couldn’t accept the donated time because he and Chelsea weren’t married. Whatever it takes…

With neck and back braces secured, they wheeled Chelsea into the chapel at the Shepherd Rehabilitation Center and David and Chelsea were married.  Alison, Chelsea’s mom, said this about her now son-in-law,  “Since the first day, he's stayed true to his word, and there are no words to express how grateful we are that he is in our lives.”

No doubt, David’s been through a lot, as has Chelsea. You can show your support of this “really good guy” with a new “I Back D-Dub Mac” t-shirt. On the back, is David’s philosophy: “Whatever it takes.” My husband's wearing his today :) Buy it here.

 It’s Right as Rain.