It is more blessed to give than to receive. - Acts 20:35
Since I was a little girl, as far back as I can remember, my family has taught me that helping others is a must. My earliest memories are of my grandma helping others, mind you, we were not rich or even well off, but my grandma taught all her children and grandchildren the beauty of giving. Giving takes many forms: a kind word, a hug, a friendly wave, a little assistance for those who need it... In fact, I used to get in trouble with my mom for giving away my toys and clothes to other children because I saw grandma giving away to others what little she had.
When I got older and went away to college I loved the independence that college life brought me. I had little money but I made the most of life: work, relationships, family, church... I I decided to give my free time to worthy causes. I began to volunteer my time and ended up volunteering with at-risk-youth, sick children at the local's children hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, you name it, I did it...
Then, my career dreams gave me the opportunity to move to another part of the country and not only did I begin anew with work, friends, church, relationships, but my new job, the job I loved, became very demanding of my time and the free time I had went away. I lived like that for over 10 years.
So... in 2011 I realized that I was so busy working that I had little time to do more of the things I cared about. Thus, with a conflicted heart, I quit my job and moved back home. I loved being with my family again and the new career choices I made created a busy cyclone of activity for the first 2 years I was back home. It's taken me a few years to find a bit of stability; however, that time allowed me to realize that even though I cannot continue to volunteer my time I can find creative ways to give a bit of help.
I am continually busy designing, making and selling my handmade jewelry at local events and on line and I just love what I do. I like creating little pieces of wearable art that make the wearer happy and allow them to feel beautiful. I just wanted that extra oomp! to have the ability to help others. Thus, in 2017 I decided to start Giving Campaign through my jewelry business MariRu Design Studio to individuals and/or organizations in need of assistance.
My first giving campaign is dedicated to my neighbors from across the street. Carmen Poventud and her husband have their younger son battling leukemia. Jonathan Rodriguez Poventud is 19 years old and needs a bone marrow transplant. The family has been working non-stop since last year to gather the $60,000 plus that they need to cover the cost of this procedure. They have health insurance, but it's not enough. I see this family, Carmen in particular, working so hard and doing everything they can to gather that money: raffles, lunches, cake sales... Given that the average salary in PR is about $19,000 per year, gathering an amount 3 times the annual salary of most people on the island is a huge endeavor.
Starting March 15, 2017 and ending on April 30, 2017 I will be selling handmade beaded bracelets for which 50% o the total sales of the bracelets will go to this deserving family. The bracelets are made of crystal beads and sterling silver and heavy gold plated components and charms that represent all good things in out lives: love, hope, faith, protection, peace...
If you read this and say... but I don't want to buy jewelry, I want to help out, you can contact the family directly at 787-310-4157 or donate to the bank account in Banco Popular #436-380373 opened by the family Rodriguez Poventud. If you are in Puerto Rico, you can donate to the ATH Movil account #787-310-4157.
I need y'all to spread the word, buy , donate, give to this family any way you can. All of us, at some time or another, are in need of a helping hand. Together we can make miracles happen.
At the end of this, my first ever, Giving Campaign I'll do another post to update y'all about our giving efforts. I just want to close with a quote from Oprah Winfrey:
"I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life."
UPDATE: I want to share the results of my giving campaign... I ended up collecting $6.00 for the family and to help them out, I decided to donate the unsold bracelets to the family so they could continue to sell them at the different events they continue to do to collect money for this important cause. I still urge you all to help out this family in need. God bless you all!
Maribel
Since I was a little girl, as far back as I can remember, my family has taught me that helping others is a must. My earliest memories are of my grandma helping others, mind you, we were not rich or even well off, but my grandma taught all her children and grandchildren the beauty of giving. Giving takes many forms: a kind word, a hug, a friendly wave, a little assistance for those who need it... In fact, I used to get in trouble with my mom for giving away my toys and clothes to other children because I saw grandma giving away to others what little she had.
When I got older and went away to college I loved the independence that college life brought me. I had little money but I made the most of life: work, relationships, family, church... I I decided to give my free time to worthy causes. I began to volunteer my time and ended up volunteering with at-risk-youth, sick children at the local's children hospital, Habitat for Humanity, Catholic Charities, you name it, I did it...
Then, my career dreams gave me the opportunity to move to another part of the country and not only did I begin anew with work, friends, church, relationships, but my new job, the job I loved, became very demanding of my time and the free time I had went away. I lived like that for over 10 years.
So... in 2011 I realized that I was so busy working that I had little time to do more of the things I cared about. Thus, with a conflicted heart, I quit my job and moved back home. I loved being with my family again and the new career choices I made created a busy cyclone of activity for the first 2 years I was back home. It's taken me a few years to find a bit of stability; however, that time allowed me to realize that even though I cannot continue to volunteer my time I can find creative ways to give a bit of help.
I am continually busy designing, making and selling my handmade jewelry at local events and on line and I just love what I do. I like creating little pieces of wearable art that make the wearer happy and allow them to feel beautiful. I just wanted that extra oomp! to have the ability to help others. Thus, in 2017 I decided to start Giving Campaign through my jewelry business MariRu Design Studio to individuals and/or organizations in need of assistance.
My first giving campaign is dedicated to my neighbors from across the street. Carmen Poventud and her husband have their younger son battling leukemia. Jonathan Rodriguez Poventud is 19 years old and needs a bone marrow transplant. The family has been working non-stop since last year to gather the $60,000 plus that they need to cover the cost of this procedure. They have health insurance, but it's not enough. I see this family, Carmen in particular, working so hard and doing everything they can to gather that money: raffles, lunches, cake sales... Given that the average salary in PR is about $19,000 per year, gathering an amount 3 times the annual salary of most people on the island is a huge endeavor.
Starting March 15, 2017 and ending on April 30, 2017 I will be selling handmade beaded bracelets for which 50% o the total sales of the bracelets will go to this deserving family. The bracelets are made of crystal beads and sterling silver and heavy gold plated components and charms that represent all good things in out lives: love, hope, faith, protection, peace...
If you read this and say... but I don't want to buy jewelry, I want to help out, you can contact the family directly at 787-310-4157 or donate to the bank account in Banco Popular #436-380373 opened by the family Rodriguez Poventud. If you are in Puerto Rico, you can donate to the ATH Movil account #787-310-4157.
I need y'all to spread the word, buy , donate, give to this family any way you can. All of us, at some time or another, are in need of a helping hand. Together we can make miracles happen.
At the end of this, my first ever, Giving Campaign I'll do another post to update y'all about our giving efforts. I just want to close with a quote from Oprah Winfrey:
"I don't think you ever stop giving. I really don't. I think it's an on-going process. And it's not just about being able to write a check. It's being able to touch somebody's life."
UPDATE: I want to share the results of my giving campaign... I ended up collecting $6.00 for the family and to help them out, I decided to donate the unsold bracelets to the family so they could continue to sell them at the different events they continue to do to collect money for this important cause. I still urge you all to help out this family in need. God bless you all!
Maribel
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