WomenAid in the News!

Our plans for officially launching WomenAid has been going smoothly. We were so pleased to be featured on the front page of On the Common, a local paper in our area! You can view the online version here: Fiscal First Aid is on the Way.

WomenAid in the News!

Update on WomenAid

Our WomenAid website is finally up and running, so go ahead and check it out. We still have a few more kinks to work out, but it is basically finished.

Stay tuned for more updates on fundraising and raising awareness!

Update on WomenAid

WomenAid Walk-a-thon a Success!

Saturday morning the weather was really cloudy and we did get a little sprinkling, but nothing bad at all. Still great weather for the walk-a-thon. It was a success, we raised $400.00; not bad, considering that we only had two weeks to raise pledges.

I want to thank everyone who helped us by donating. We now have more than enough to file our paperwork get our initial funding going.

Here are some pictures from the walk; it really was a good time. We talked a lot about our lives, our kids, etc. They had a lot of booths set up along the trail and we got some great information on how they are working to clean up the Blackstone Valley River. We also got to help release fish into the river; they are trying to repopulate it with trout.

The Knight and I had brought along the wagon for the girls to ride in, and eventually towards the end the Mermaid fell asleep. After the walk we went to my uncle's surprise birthday party: more on that to come.

WomenAid Walk-a-thon a Success!

Update on WomenAid

Here is a little information about an event we are doing tomorrow to raise funds for WomenAid. If you wish to make a donation, please email me at roxanne600@aol.com with WomenAid in the subject line. We are seeking to raise funds to pay the fee for filing the proper paperwork and to get the word out about our organization.

Here's the information about the event:

Help a Family in Need!
Help Raise Funds for Blackstone Valley WomenAid!
Saturday May 3rd
9am to 1pm
5-mile course
295 Visitors Center, Lincoln RI

Wellness Walk-A-Thon
A Journey of Discovery along the Blackstone River Bikeway
Blackstone River Valley Corridor Keepers
Sponsored by Whole Foods Market
Honorary Co-Chair Senator Jack Reed (D-RI)

Did you know that low income children's overall health, education, and family structure in Massachusetts is ranked 50th out of all 50 states in this country?[1]

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE by helping Blackstone Valley WomenAid raise funds and enjoy a walk along the beautiful bikeway!

Blackstone Valley WomenAid is partnering with this event to establish its initial pool of funds to grant to families in financial need.

Blackstone Valley WomenAid is an all-volunteer charity organized by a group of dedicated women who are helping keep families healthy and in their homes in Blackstone Valley communities in MA by providing short-term financial assistance to families in need who do not qualify for federal or state assistance. Families are identified and nominated by independent verifiers in the community. All funds are paid directly to a service provider. One grant per year, not to exceed $500 may be awarded to a family in need upon the vote of the Board of Directors.

Please join us for the walk or make a pledge TODAY! Hope to see you there!

[1] Annie G. Casey Foundation study can be found at http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-11-22-needychildren_N.htm#states

Update on WomenAid

How Do I Say No?

I am finally going to admit it: I think I have taken on more than I can chew.

These past couple of weeks I have been completely overwhelmed. Completely. Besides homeschooling and my Arbonne business, I've also:
~ been working to get WomenAid up and running with the other ladies of the board.
~ signed up for a CBE certification course and have started my reading and assignments
~ have started the application process to be accredited for another position that I am not supposed to announce until I am actually accredited.
~ have been really busy with my doula business

Not that I am complaining about any of these things. I love homeschooling and being a mom to my girls, I love being a part of WomenAid, love my Arbonne and Doula business, etc. But I think it is too much at once, I am stretching myself too thin.

I am not a good person when I am overhwhelmed. I snap at people, yell at people, and generally turn into a bad person.

Besides that, I haven't been able to set aside time to nurture myself lately and it's showing. I haven't knitted, or even just sat down with a nice cup or tea and a good book right before bed like I used to. I miss that.

However I find it so hard to prioritize and decide which activity needs to take a back seat. I'm thinking that if I come up with a schedule that divides my time between acitivities that would help. But I need to realize that it might take me a little longer to reach my goals, and that's okay. I'm not superwoman, I'm just the best woman I can be.

This is what I am thinking:

1. Homeschooling and my girls always take first priority, that one is a no brainer.

2. I will contine to work my Arbonne business, but only in the hours that I had set aside to work it (roughly two hours a day). One of the problems I have is that I will jump online to "just check my work email real quick" and lose myself for two hours without realizing it.

3. I will set aside two hours a week to work on WomenAid, and that does not count the group's weekly conference calls.

3. I will set aside three hours a week for my doula business, in which I will work on updating my website, creating a brochure, networking, etc. I will limit myself to one birth client and one postpartum client a month.

4. I will set aside one hour a day to work on my CBE certification course, or my other accredidation course, but not both on the same day.

5. I will keep my house clean.

This is just a rough draft, and I still feel overwhelmed just looking at it. But it is a nice first step, don't you think?

How Do I Say No?

WomenAid

In my past few posts I've mentioned a few times that my dear friend and business partner and I are starting up a new project. Well we've finally been able to take the first steps in getting this project started, so I thought I would share.

We're in the process of starting up a non-profit organization called WomenAid. WomenAid is a small group of women who have come together to raise money in order to provide short-term financial assistance to people who need it most in our community. We rely on community leaders such as school nurses, social workers, health care practitioners and clergy members to identify and validate requests. These requests remain totally anonymous. If the request is approved by the board of WomenAid, the money is paid directly to the service provider. Our goal is to make the payment within 48 hours of request. Examples of requests that we would cover include: a starter for a car of a single working mother; a month of prescriptions for a child who fell ill and isn't covered by insurance; a deposit on an apartment that a family needs in order to get out of a shelter.

Right now we are focusing on filing the proper paperwork and brainstorming for fundraising ideas.

Can I tell you, I am so incredibly excited. I feel so blessed to be able to have the time and freedom to reach out into the community in this way. I will keep you updated on our progress as we bring our dream to life.

WomenAid