Treasures, Treasuries, and Thoughts

I swore I would never do a blog! So much for swearing. I didn't think that I would have much to say or share. I was wrong! I have been so blessed with a wonderful family, loyal friends, sharing colleagues, and the support from so many that I will never run out of topics to write about.

I have opened an on-line store at a place called Etsy (rhymes with Betsy). The items on the left are available for purchase there. These will change from week to week to show you my latest creations. The link to the store is in the upper left corner of this page.

I also have items for sale listed on Art Fire. The link to my Art Fire Studio is http://www.jstinson.artfire.com/

I hope you will visit this blog, my Flickr page (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jstinson/2500402289/) and my Etsy and/or Art Fire stores often. (http://www.jstinson.etsy.com/ http://www.jstinson.artfire.com


So come along on my Trail of Treasures! It will be a Spirit Journey for me and I invite you to join me on the trip.

Monday, November 8, 2010

A Little Thanksgiving Request




As many of you know, I have the distinct honor and priviledge of  beading bracelets from the logo of Eve's Fund.   Eve’s Fund is a Native American Health Initiatives Inc. that promotes programs to help Native Americans. It was established in 2005 by Dr. Robert M. Crowell, a retired neurosurgeon and named in memory of his daughter, Eve Erin Crowell, who died tragically in February of that year. Eve’s Fund is a
non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization incorporated in New Mexico.


While I support this organization year round, I actively solicit donations for the children’s literacy program during November. It is a part of my personal celebration of National Native American Heritage Month and a way of expressing my thankfulness for the blessings of literacy. Literacy is taken for granted by most of us.

Last year, Eve’s Fund’s website posted an article that got my full and undivided attention. It reminded me of all that I have to be thankful for.  I was shocked by the fact that there are so many Native children who do not own a single book of their own!

Can you imagine your growing up without owning a single book? Can you imagine your Grandchildren not owning a single book? But it is true that there are many Native children who don't have the luxury of book ownership. I find this fact to be very sad and I am so thankful that Eve's Fund is playing an active role in promoting literacy by providing children with books of their very own.

This year, Eve’s Fund has partnered with Betty Metz. Betty Metz is a remarkable person and the founder of Books-a-Go Go. Betty’s organization is a not-for-profit group that gives away books to needy kids. Fortunately, for Eve’s Fund, Betty has pledged to donate books to Navajo children. In May of 2009, the first shipment of 2,000 books arrived at Red Mesa Arizona. Now, a year later, Books-a-Go Go has donated another 3,200 books (2,600 pounds worth) to Navajo schools in New Mexico and Arizona. As Betty says, “it’s all for the kids,” and she has certainly touched a great many of them. Betty’s mission is to give books to children from low-income families and thus pave the way to education and more fulfilling lives.

For a mere $5.00 donation, Eve's Fund will ship a book to each of five Native children.

Remembering the pleasures of reading books to my three grandchildren and in purchasing books for them, this morning I decided to have 15 books shipped to 15 Native children in the names of my three grandchildren.

We take so much for granted!  We forget how blessed we are that someone taught us to read!  We had our very own books!  And even in these troubled economic times, we can a difference with even a modest donation. 

If you would like to make a similar Thanksgiving gift in the names of your children or grandchildren, it is very simple. Go to this site.
http://evecrowellsfund.org/how-you-can-help/

There are several options as to how you can help.  Click on "Donate".
You can designate the way you want your donation to be applied.  In the purpose, I wrote "Ship 15 books in the names of Sydney, Mason, and Olivia Stinson."  You can pay with Paypal.

Or if you prefer, you can send a check to:
Eve’s Fund/ThinkFirst Navajo
c/o Robert M. Crowell, MD, President
180 Elm Street, Suite 1, PMB 168
Pittsfield, MA 01201

What a simple way to give "Thanks" for all the pleasure books have given you over the years and to provide that experience for another child. Won’t you join me in giving at least five children the pleasure of book ownership this Thanksgiving?






11 comments:

Eve's Fund for Native American Health Initiatives, Inc. said...

Joni,
Warm thanks to you and all of your wonderful followers. We are so lucky to have you as one of our partners.

We sincerely appreciate your Thanksgiving appeal. It is hard to believe that there are still thousands of children in the country who don't have a single book of their own. We are trying to change that. It is easy to forget as well, that without Native Americans, there probably wouldn't have been a Thanksgiving in our country. To quote President John F. Kennedy, "As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest act is not to utter words, but to live by them." Here is a link to all of our youth literacy programs:http://evecrowellsfund.org/programs/youth-literacy/ and our new YouTube channel at:
http://www.youtube.com/EvesFund?feature=mhum

With gratitude and thanks from Eve's mom on behalf of the children we serve each year.
Barbara Crowell Roy

Zuda Gay Pease said...

I can't imagine not having books! We are such a reading family...all of us in our family, except for one son-in-law who has a reading disability, read a lot for pleasure as well as learning. This is a wonderful cause!!!

jstinson said...

Barbara, I appreciate your comment and all of the hard work you and your group do for Eve's Fund. You know it is a cause that is near and dear to my heart. Bless you!

jstinson said...

Zuda, thank you so much for your support and comment. Reading is so important and I am glad you and your family find pleasure in it.

Judi said...

What a wonderful, wonderful way to give. Books open up the world! I pray for lots of support for Eve's Fund and I am tweeting this blog post!

jstinson said...

Judi, thank you so much for the tweet! Every little bit helps.
I appreciate your support. Wado

Selena said...

this is a beautiful and well-written post. not to mention the work you do with and for our youth. love and respect.

Tournesol said...

NIce blog and etsy store, and what a great project supplying kids with books, I can't imagine growing up without books.

PussDaddy said...

I can't imagine not having books. Thanks Joni

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