First up … Brooke’s Angel Wings.

I first heard about this family & their necklaces via Michele Anderson of Pinkletoes Photography & her blog post at The Creative Mama back in October …

Just over two years ago, Brooke (age three at the time), went to get a toy off the top of her dresser … and her dresser came down on top of her. Thinking back to my mischevious childhood (as well as my brother’s) after reading her story, I realized just how lucky we were that nothing like this happened to us as kids … however, in 2009, 15,000 children were injured when furniture fell on them. That’s 15,00o too many … and the Rahn’s are hoping to bring awareness to taking precautions in securing furniture in order to prevent other families from this happening to them.

While I’m not a parent yet, a great many of my friends are parents to young children … and imagining their families going through a similar situation to the Rahn’s breaks my heart. As Michele posted at The Creative Mama, “The sale of these necklaces (like the one pictured above and the very first image in this post) is not only helping them move forward toward that financial recovery, but the creative process is a huge part of their emotional recovery.” Earlier this week, Laurie posted on their site that they are facing possible foreclosure on their home … so any and all orders are, as Laurie put it, “a blessing.”

I know the necklace I ordered as a gift is even better in person than pictured … I was quite tempted to keep it for myself, in fact! Additionally, the necklace I ordered came wrapped in a beautiful print fabric that coordinated perfectly with the stone colors in the necklace & in the box Laurie included a gift sack (decorated by Brooke) and tissue paper to finish wrapping the necklace up with.

A quick peek at some of the necklaces available for sale earlier this week (all product images by Michele Anderson):

To shop, go to http://www.etsy.com/shop/BrookesAngelWIngs!

(original images copyright Michele Anderson – designs copyright Laurie Rahn)

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This is just the first part of the hour long 20-20 special … each of the children featured have stories that will tug at your heartstrings. While my Native American heritage isn’t Lakota Sioux, I have very strong feelings about how all Native Americans have been wronged by my Anglo-Saxon ancestors. And we’re still holding them back today. Something can and should be done about this … we have too much poverty here at home in America right now, on our indian reservations, in the Appalachians Mountains, the inner cities, and, because of the economy, even in our middle class neighborhoods across America. So this fall & holiday season, when you’re out and about buying gifts for loved ones, take the time to do something, whether a donation or giving your time, for those here in America that need our help just as much as the third world countries around the rest of the world.

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Introducing Blessing Bags …

Have you ever come across a homeless individual and felt totally uncomfortable?

You see them and you know they are in need, but you are not sure what to do. You know that handing them money is not the best thing. But, you also see that they clearly have some needs. Their lips are chapped. They are hungry. They are thirsty. They are asking for help.

How can you help?

Here is a simple idea – blessing bags.

For more behind the story of what Blessing Bags are, visit KWAV’s blog.

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Questions? Know someone eligible? Visit http://www.inspirationthroughart.org for more details and to apply!

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There are two parts to it.

Fundraising:
For Japan With Love has a direct link on the website to our fundraising page for ShelterBox. ShelterBox was one of THE first organizations asked by Japan to help and were on hand on the Saturday after the quake. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Please check it out and whatever you can contribute will be so appreciated.

Bloggers Day of Silence:
Anyone that has a blog can help out with this one.

The aim is just raise awareness and respect and acknowledge the devastation going on in Japan.

The guidelines are simple.
1. This coming Friday, March 18th, no posts at all on your blog.
2. Please post a blog post about what you will be doing this Friday whenever possible in hopes to spread the word and whoever else would like to join in. You all can check out what Lydia of Ever-Ours did for her’s here or how Utterly Engaged did their’s here and do it your way if you’d like.
3. Tweet and Re-Tweet the shiznit out of the link to http://www.forjapanwithlove.com please.
4. Encourage your readers to contribute to donate shelter to Japan. Whatever anyone can contribute will be appreciated.Every little helps.

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Many of you may recognize Susan — she’s one of the several awesome stylists at Classy Cuts in Athens.

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These are just a few of the many images I captured – I will be uploading all of them to the CMP Facebook page over the next week as well. Please stop by and view them, and if you recognize yourself or someone, tag them please!

If you would like to become a CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate), click here to learn more. East Texans — visit the websites for CASA of Trinity Valley or CASA for Kids of East Texas for the local offices.

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Here’s a few images from that afternoon …

If you would like to contribute to the Kevin Till Memorial Rodeo Scholarship fund, contact the TVCC Foundation at 903.670.2664.

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On the 22nd, I joined in with 70+ other photographers worldwide to help spur the relief effort donations for Haiti as a participant in Helping Hearts. The deadline to forward documentation for a chance to win a complementary session and a disc of 15 high resolution digital files was Saturday night. Only a few entries were received … and the random generator chose … Dave & Amanda as the winners. Congrats guys — check your inbox and confirm that the 13th will work so I can notify Tara Winery as well.

Thanks again to the few who donated to the relief efforts in Haiti and to Tara Winery for access to the session location.

To book a portraiture session with Christina, contact us via email at christina@christinamccall.com or call 903.477.9069 today.

With Michele’s & Lyndsay’s basic plan in mind but some location and date differences — here’s how all of you can help the people of Haiti and get a sweet Valentine’s treat from CMP for yourselves …

Here’s the deal:

You and your sweetheart could win a romantic photo session to take place on Saturday, February 13th at Tara Winery!

• This session will be photographed by CMP (aka me) & will be held on Saturday, February 13th at Tara Winery — located just outside of Athens (thanks so much to Patrick & Susan Pierce for their generosity!).
• Session is for up to 2 adults and will last between 60 and 90 minutes.
  Updated to add: by popular request, yes, this can be a senior/adult individual session too.
• Winner will also receive 15 fully processed, high resolution images on CD. Print to your heart’s content!
• Value of session and digital files (if purchased a la carte): $1,650.

How to win:

• Make a MINIMUM donation of $10 to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund, Doctors Without Borders, Compassion International, the Humane Society of the United States’ Haiti Relief Fund for Animals, or Hope for Haiti Now.
• All donations MUST be made between Friday, January 22nd and Saturday, January 30th to qualify.
• Forward a copy of your receipt(s) to christina@christinamccall.com. Screenshots of receipts w/ confidential info blacked out is okay — I won’t be keeping these emails other than to record your name and email address — as soon as I copy and paste those two pieces of info into my contest entry file, the emails are deleted permanently.
• All entries must be RECEIVED by midnight (Central time) on Saturday, January 30th.
• Winner will be drawn at random and announced on the blog on February 1st.
• This will give you nearly two weeks to shop and find a babysitter, if need be.
• You can enter as many times as you’d like, but each entry must be the minimum $10 donation.

Other details:

• Session participants must sign a model release.
• Session must be held at Tara Winery on Saturday, February 13th.
• If the winner does not claim his/her prize by Thursday, February 4th or cannot claim the prize, then another winner will be randomly drawn.

But wait! There’s more!

If you are a photographer and would like to hold your own Helping Hearts event to help Haiti, please contact Michele ASAP so she can send you everything you need to get started!

The fine print: This giveaway is not sponsored or promoted by the American Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, Compassion International, the Humane Society of the United States, or Hope for Haiti Now.

All images found via Yahoo News — Associated Press & Reuters, copyrighted their respective creators/agencies

In lieu of what would have been this week’s post, instead of creating a promotion and donation proceeds to the relief effort, I decided instead to share links to organizations assisting with relief efforts in Haiti after the earthquake that devastated the country this week. Please give what you can afford to spare to help the people of Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere … a country where people live on $2.00 or less per day, have an 80% illiteracy rate, and lack so many of the things we take for granted. Many of these links came directly from either WFAA Channel 8, abcnews.com or from charitable organizations I am on the mailing lists of. And whether or not you’re able to give right now, pray and send positive thoughts to all those trapped or injuried, the families who’ve lost loved ones, and for the rescue and relief workers. They can use every single prayer and positive thought possible right now.

American Red Cross

Feed the Children

UNICEF

Operation USA

Oxfam

Mercy Corps

Salvation Army

Doctors Without Borders

Interaction.org also has a list of charities as well, including many faith-based organizations.

I recieved word from the chamber that you were offering a photo package to someone that could never afford such a blessing, so here is my nomination..

A wonderful young lady named Susan works at Classy Cuts (on south Hwy 19) is very deserving. On December 1st my wife needed her hair cut since she had just had her very first chemo treatment for breast cancer and was told she should have it cut short immediately in order to reduce the trauma of watching long her fall out. We had never step foot into Classy Cut before or ever met Susan before, but when it came time to pay she refused payment and offered her best wishes for my wife’s cancer cure.

During our time there we learned that she is 25 years old and has two precious children. It was also obvious that she had very little money and while I am sure she could see we had plenty of financial means to pay, she wanted to bless someone with cancer with the only gift she could give.

Please return the blessing to this very wonderful young lady. She certainly touched our hearts at a time needed most in our lives.

Thank you for your consideration,

Richard R

Congratulations Susan! And thank you Richard for helping us pay it forward this holiday season — we hope and pray your wife’s battle with breast cancer is successful as well.