Posts Tagged ‘volunteer’
Putting our words into action; join us!
Tuesday, August 17th, 2010
Now’s your chance to make a big difference, with just a little time!
Saturday, October 16th from 9am-12pm (that’s only 3 hours!) we’re going to head to the Harvest Food Pantry in Cambridge, MA. Basically we’ll help hand out food, man (or woman) the tables, and help watch some of the kids of the families that come to “shop” there.
I don’t know about you, but I often talk about how important it is to help others, many times forgetting the actual “helping” part of it.
We’d love to meet some of you, help side by side with you, and maybe grab a bite to eat after if you’re up for it (I like to think we’re somewhat interesting).
Shoot us an email at hello@faithfortune.com to be part of this or any other initiatives.
Hope to see you there!
Tags: boston, cambridge, give back, harvest food pantry, volunteer
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haiti design release + charity:water; a word of introduction.
Friday, April 16th, 2010
A few days ago, I was talking with one of our team members about how excited I was about this Haiti design we’ve released. I wanted to brainstorm some ways to get the word out…get some “exposure” for the piece and spread the word. I couldn’t believe what she said; (paraphrasing) “we can try a few things, but unfortunately people are “so over” Haiti”. My stomach sank when I heard this. Not because I thought we had missed the bus with the project, but b/c there might be some reality to what she was saying. I couldn’t get what she said out of my head. Are we that headline oriented? Do we have that short of memories? If so, maybe it is more than coincidence that our design releases over 3 months after the initial earthquakes. Maybe it’s to serve as a reminder of the work to be done, and the assistance still needed.
Faith & Fortune’s goal from day one has been to be involved with and incite positive action. While we are small and our resources are as of yet limited, we will do our part. We will contribute as best we know how.
Designed by Boston based artist Temple Simpson, the design features the Haitian land mass with the face of a young child imposed upon it. The message communicated is that reconstruction efforts in Haiti are essential to the future generations and any hope they may have. We hope the design reminds and inspires others to stay involved on some level.
Through the sale of this shirt, we will be donating to the organization Charity:Water. More specifically we will be funneling the money towards their current effort “Unshaken”, which is focusing 100% of it’s donations to 11 different clean water projects in Haiti. Most of us are not going to have the chance to physically go to Haiti and lend a hand in that way. However, this does not deny us the ability to help in other ways. Remember, even the smallest effort can go a long way.
To learn more about charity:water and their effort Unshaken, visit them at http://www.charitywater.org/unshaken/
Tags: charity:water, fashion for a cause, Haiti, help, volunteer
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Slacktivism; are you guilty?
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
I was reading an article the other day covering a well known charity that had just won a funding contest, pumping about $1 million into their resource pool. Very cool stuff. The reason I mention this, is because the founder was asked something about the “level of involvement from volunteers” or something along those lines, and he used the word “slacktivism”. My curiosity was immediately piqued, so I Wiki’d it (yes, Wiki is a verb now). I was not all that surprised at the definition;
Slacktivism: The word is considered a pejorative term that describes “feel-good” measures, in support of an issue or social cause, that have little or no practical effect other than to make the person doing it feel satisfaction. The acts also tend to require little personal effort from the slacktivist.
Examples of activities labeled as “slacktivist” include signing internet petitions, the wearing of wristbands (“awareness bracelets”) with political messages, putting a ribbon magnet on a vehicle, joining a Facebook group, posting issue-oriented YouTube videos, altering one’s personal data or avatar on social network services, or taking part in short-term boycotts such as Buy Nothing Day or Earth Hour.
When I first read this, I had a good laugh thinking about those “lazy fools” who consider themselves to be doing good from the safety of their own computer. Bracelets? Facebook Messages? Please. Give me a break. What I’m doing is so much…er…I mean, I kind of….crap; I’m a slacktivist. They are talking about me! No! The horror, the humiliation, the shame!
The truth is, the connected world we live in today makes this type of “activism” not only easy, but normal. I will freely admit that I expect to be able to do just about anything I want from the comfort of my computer. Stay connected with friends, make a quick donation to a cause, promote an event I know I will never, ever attend. Look what we’ve created!
This is not all to say that those above things are bad, or even inadvisable. In fact, they are one of the perks and major benefits of the Social Media driven world we live in. The viral nature of the social networks we live in are major players when it comes to spreading the word about anything, good or bad.
So what’s my point, you ask? My point is that those things need to be in addition to actual, physical, self-sacrificial actions. Things that make you a little uncomfortable, a little nervous…a little scared. I say this b/c when we retreat back to the safety of our homes and desks, we now have actual flesh and blood relationships on which to build those online initiatives, and this time it’s with a very different perspective. We’ve gotten our hands dirty. We’ve looked into the eyes of the individuals in need. We’ve broadened our perspective, and ultimately bettered ourselves for it.
What does this look like you may ask? It doesn’t mean you need to start your own charity. It doesn’t mean you need to adopt an entire village of needy people. You don’t need to build a soup kitchen (by all means, if you’d like to please do!). It can be something as simple as getting a group of friends together to make a meal for a homeless shelter. Go through your closet and donate some old clothing. Participate in a “green up” day. Just do something already!
In closing, I offer this directive not from a soapbox, but standing right beside you. I too am guilty of this slacktivism. It’s actually one of the major reasons why we founded Faith & Fortune. We want to use something we are passionate about to help others, even if in some small way. We may sell clothing and great designs, but we’re selling something even greater. The community. People being part of others lives. In the end, that’s what it’s all about, right?
Tags: charity, faith and fortune, slacktivism, volunteer
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Faith & Fortune Visits the Hope Lodge
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
For those of you who have been following us on our Facebook fan page or on our Twitter page, you know we had been recruiting volunteers for a visit to the Hope Lodge in Boston last week. Our plan was to host a simple ice cream night, just to give their residents a break. Well, they were incredibly thankful for the gesture, and so much so, we were left wondering why we hadn’t done it sooner!
For those of you not familiar with the Hope Lodge, it is a 40 suite, outpatient residence for those who live at least 40 miles away from the hospitals in which they are receiving cancer treatments. It provides an opportunity for some sense of normalcy and comfort while undergoing some very challenging times. They have done an amazing job of building a warm, comfortable, accommodating place.
They even have a theatre!
Faith & Fortune’s hope with volunteer opportunities like this, is to force ourselves and our community to step out of our comfortable daily routine. I’ll admit that it’s easier, and certainly more predictable to go about my daily schedule thinking only of myself. Having said that, those times that I do force myself into opportunities like this I end up realizing how much personal growth I gain. Additionally, it just become easier and easier.
Faith & Fortune in the Hope Lodge kitchen
Going forward, we’d love to have you involved in some way. Keep an eye our for different events that we will either be hosting or taking part in and don’t hesitate to drop us a message. Also, if you have a charity that you are regularly working with or would like to see Faith & Fortune get behind, let us know! If we can work it into our plans, we’ll do our best!
Tags: apparel, boston, faith and fortune, hope lodge, volunteer
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Faith & Fortune Will Host An Ice Cream Night At The Hope Lodge In Boston And We Need Volunteers
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
AstraZeneca Hope Lodge, Boston, Massachusetts
On February 18th the Faith & Fortune community will be hosting an Ice Cream night for the residents of the AstraZeneca Hope Lodge in Boston, Massachusetts. The Hope Lodge provides a tremendous service to cancer patients and their families who come to Boston to receive medical treatment. This Ice Cream night will be our way of supporting the Hope Lodge and hopefully lifting up the spirits of those staying there. If you can scoop ice cream, tell a joke, or have a nice smile, you can help. And we need you! We are able to bring 15 volunteers so please contact Faith & Fortune as soon as possible if you are interested in being a part of this important event. You can reach us at: hello@faithfortune.com
Hope Lodge Kitchen
Five years ago, the American Cancer Society, New England Division, embarked on a capital campaign to build the first ever Hope Lodge in Boston, where cancer patients traveling more than 40 miles to Boston for outpatient treatment could stay for free.
For many, treatment at medical centers in Boston offers the greatest hope of beating their cancer. However, we know that the cost of traveling far from home and then facing the expense of hotels, meals, and transportation, can make that option prohibitive for many. That’s why building a ‘home away from home’ in Boston for cancer patients has been a goal of the New England Division.
Getting emotional and social support from other survivors can be as important as getting the proper medical care. At the Lodge, patients live with other people going through similar experiences, and are supported by caring staff and volunteers. The nurturing, comfortable environment at Hope Lodge allows guests to focus on what is most important – fighting cancer.
For additional information on volunteering, you can reach the Hope Lodge at: azhl.volunteer@cancer.org
Tags: cancer, Hope, ice cream, service, volunteer
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