Give A Little Bit
I am on a giving kick these days ever since I saw Robert F. Smith pay off the student loans for the Morehouse class of 2019. I bet that his actions will start an amazing chain reaction of giving back. What an inspiration!
I hope that by now you all heard that I have given away 150 machines to people suffering through tragedy and hardship in their lives. Let me just say that this journey has been so incredibly rewarding for me, my family and my business. At the least, when I am old and grey (I am already grey), I will be able to feel good about having given back to the world. Hopefully, I will have made a difference when it is all said and done.
But today, this blog really isn’t about me or my sewing machine giveaway. It’s about you! Yes, you! It’s about all the people that reach out to me so often and tell me that they want to help me on my mission. They want to send me money or send fabric to one of the recipients among other things. This is very kind of you all and I am honored. The thing is that this is my thing and I have it fully under control.
In fact, we just raised so much money through the auction of samples and donations from our licensed designers that my coffers are full for a very long time. This is also an amazing thing! By the way, I want to sneak in a thank you to everyone that bid on our auction items and all our designer friends that donated items to our cause. The quilt that Kaffe Fassett donated went for over $5000 which is just remarkable and provides a huge boost to my sewing machine purchasing power. Special thanks to Kaffe!
So back to my point. I want to inspire you to explore other avenues for you to give back. If you like my idea of giving away sewing machines, try to figure out your own version of that. Get a group of friends, customers, church members, family members, guild members, etc. together and identify an organization, a person or group of people that you want to help. You will be surprised how many people are looking for ways to give back and just need to be asked. Then come up with a plan of action and do what it takes to execute your plan. Whether it requires a fund raiser, an auction, donations, what have you, make it happen. And just keep in mind that not all giving back requires spending lots of money.
Your giving back doesn’t have to be grandiose, as sometimes it is the small things that make all the difference. Do what works for you. Do something practical. Do something realistic. Set reasonable goals so you can exceed them. Most importantly, have fun and enjoy those moments where you see the sparkle in the eyes of the person on the receiving end. Enjoy the brief smile of someone who probably hasn’t smiled in awhile. Or just enjoy the fact, recognized or not, that you made a positive contribution to another person’s life and the world at large.
All in all, if you could give something back, you should make that happen. Stop putting it off. You will feel great about it and perhaps you will start a chain reaction of goodness, kindness and giving back that resonates well into the future.
I would love for you to comment here or on my @jaftexpresident Facebook page and tell me about what you have done to give back or what you plan to do to give back. Perhaps your idea will spark another good idea for someone else looking to give back. Good luck!
25 Comments
Ning rowley
I luv JAFTEX of Course. Thanks for the live video of today Scott
Scott Fortunoff
Jaftex loves you back ning!
Debbie McConnell
Our group makes “Trunk Quilts” – they are child sized quilts that we place in the trunks of police and sheriff cars. When a child is involved in a call, the officer gives the quilt to them in effort to give a bright spot to an otherwise bad day.
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Debbie,
That’s great! You and your group should keep up the good work.
Scott
Diane
After the Camp Fire I donated a bunch of fabric. I then was told about someone who Christmas is very important to who thought they lost their storage unit with their Christmas decorations. I got a family picture of this and another family I knew who lost everything and printed them on fabric to make ornaments. My art quilt group had planned on learning to make fabric ornaments. I convinced them to help me make enough for every member of the person who lost their house’s church as it also burned down
Scott Fortunoff
Good Morning Diane,
That was super thoughtful and kind of you. Way to go!
Scott
Carolyn Solomon
I am part of a group of quilters who stitched and donated quilts, fabric and long arm quilting services to the Teal Quilt Project (TQP). The goal is to make a quilt for each of the 350 survivors of sexual assault committed by a local physician over many years. TQP was announced in September 2018 with the hope of getting enough quilts by December 2019. The goal has been met six months ahead of time!! Our hope is the quilts will bring comfort and healing to the incredibly strong survivors.
Scott Fortunoff
Good Morning Carolyn,
That is so sad to hear. 350! What a loser that physician is. I hope that guy is in jail rotting. Go you and your crew. I would be glad to donate fabric to your cause if you guys need any. Email me at scott@jaftex.com and remind me about this post.
Scott
Chris Baier
We make story books for children in need in our area. They receive a quilt, book and a stuff animal. Our core group of 10 or so ladies made 92 quilts last year! We all donate the supplies, it is amazing what you can make out of a little bag of scraps! Quilts can be any size as kids are all sizes, any theme, any pattern! “In need” is a house fire, illness, a family relocated, pregnancy crisis center…… We have been meeting once a month what fun!!! One of the ladies from one site was inspired to learn to quilt when she saw the quilts.
Scott Fortunoff
Hey Chris,
Hope you are doing well. That sounds like a great group. Scraps are definitely useful. Keep up the good work.
Scott
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Ann,
Again, you are another one who is contributing to a cause that is near and dear to your heart. There are so many great causes to choose from. Glad to see you are making a difference. You go!
Scott
Robin levenberg
I am in a group of seven ladies who make pillowcases for Ryan’s case for smile’s. We have been doing this several years, and contribute about 3500 pillowcases a year. Each case requires 1 yard of fabric. We fund raise to buy our fabric, asking out friends to help support this cause. With this money, we bargain shop for fabric on sale All the fabric we buy must be for children. It is getting harder and harder to do this each year as the cost of fabric just keeps increasing. It is so rewarding to get notes from parents who tell us what a difference these pillowcases make during their hospitalization. It’s what keeps us going!
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Robin,
That’s amazing! I am sure your group makes a big difference in a lot of people’s lives. Keep it up.
Scott
Kathy Boyd
thanks Scott, for showing others how to give. I know Renee Bednarczyk. She and I have done many things for others, but quietly, no one really knows when we give that it is us. We both like that.
We do or have done prayer shawls, quilts, memory pillows, stockings,etc .
I now we have many more years to give to others in need.
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Kathy,
Silence works for me if it works for you. Either way, great work.
Scott
Leslie Fitzgerald
I have made quilts for the folks who survived the fires here in No.California, and make about a dozen quilts for Quilts for Kids and St. Jude’s each year. St. Jude’s saved my life 40+ years ago, so they have a special place in my life and are the #1 charity I support.
As a former Boy Scout Leader (19 years!), I also like to make special quilts for the outgoing Scout Master and Asst. Scout Masters of our troop. I taught many of the boys how to use a sewing machine, and have had about 2 dozen of them help me to make these “thank you” quilts (it was fun to watch the boys “fight” over who would get to sew next…we had to use timers so that everyone got a chance.)
Many people who are not involved in scouting have no idea how much time and energy goes into running a troop of well over 100 boys. Our troop is run by an amazing team of men and women who sacrifice quite a bit to teach our future leaders the skills they need to be great leaders. A quilt is a simple way to show them they are appreciated.
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Leslie,
Those are some good causes and you have some great reasons. Keep it up!
Regards,
Scott
Nancy Runnels
Just this past week completed a couple of quilts from UFO materials from a guild member that passed away. One quilt was for Linus project and the other for a nursing home patient. This is my retirement therapy. And it keeps me shopping for more fabric…girl can never have enough! And today I begin another quilt for someone I don’t know.
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Nancy,
I love this! Way to go on your part. Keep it up as I am sure it will keep you going for many years to come.
Good work!
scott
Marianna Teague
I did alterations for years because I needed extra income. Now I do some alterations and don’t charge people. I don’t do them ml like I did years ago but when I do I won’t take any money. I know this isn”t alot but sometimes it really helps out.
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Marianna,
Every bit counts! Good for you!
Thanks for sharing.
Scott
Sue Bartlett
Thank you Scott. Your words have encouraged me to do more to fundraise for the charity which supports families of children born with the same condition as my granddaughter. She had major life saving surgery at 36 hours old, with a 50% chance of survival. I am one if 7 volunteers on the CDH UK committee and our aim is to help parents and children financially as well as support research projects. My sewing skills will be my way to put something back. Thank you for prompting me to do something which will be financially rewarding.
Scott Fortunoff
Hi Sue,
This is great. You hit the nail on the head with a cause that is near and dear to your heart. Good luck!
Scott
Renee Bednarczyk
Matthew 6 : 1 -4. I help wherever I am needed. “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Scott Fortunoff
Amen to that Renee!