Striving to Raise $5,000 for Habitat for Humanity - Haiti Build

This summer when I learned I had been selected as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity's Jimmy & Rosalyn Carter Work Project in Haiti, I wondered how I would raise the required $5,000. Habitat provided the goals so I quickly decided I was going to provide the determination to meet them.

We - my many supporters and I - have met the first three goals by the dates provided by Habitat.   

• July 15: $1,000 raised Goal  met
  

• Sept. 1: $2,500 raised Goal met 

• Oct. 15: $4,000 raised Goal met four days early!

• Nov. 30: $5,000 must be raised in full

The Oct. 15th was just met!  (If you look at the fundraising web site you will see a little less than that. I have received $125 in checks, which Habitat does not reflect on the web site. The web site only reflects donations made directly on it.) I am so grateful and know I must continue to work hard to raise the remaining $1,000.

The vast majority of this money will be used for the actual build. Volunteers are required to pay for their own transportation to/from Atlanta and for all of our vaccines, which are costly and not covered by insurance. We will also be living in six-person tents and using pit toilets and "bucket showers." I wouldn't want it any other way as the purpose of the donations is to provide as much housing as possible for Haitian families and to spend as little as possible on the volunteers.

I am working a lot of angles to raise money the last $1,000, including selling made-to-order candles by a Delaware County candlemaker and trying to obtain support from a community organization. Most recently, I went to a festival to raise money.

A friend from work asked me if I was interested in having a fundraising table at a festival in South Jersey.  "Sure!" was my response.  I had some hesitation the day of the festival but I am glad I worked through that and went.

When the day came, part of me didn't want to go because I hadn't felt well and still wasn't feeling great. I wrestled whether to go or not but the wrestling match didn't last very long. I was kindly offered a table at this festival so I didn't want to disrespect that generous offer. I also remembered that I just rolled out of a comfortable bed in my safe and dry home - something the Haitian families working side-by-side with the Habitat volunteers are dreaming of.  Those thoughts encouraged me to pack up my car and head out.

It was a windy day so I had to fastened things down with some unsightly brown tape and some gerry-rigging.  From the front, the display didn't look too bad.  From the back it was a mess but it was effective in the wind.  It was also effective enough to bring about $50 dollars in donations.

These most recent donations helped me pass the $4,000 goal and put me closer to the $5,000 I am required to have raised by November 30th.  This goal and the commitment it represents will prevent me from hesitating in the future when I may not feel up to taking certain steps on this journey.  I am determined.