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At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

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July 15, 2014

Will You Help?

Blogging is fun. REALLY fun! We’ve had some seriously amazing opportunities come our way through blogging.

We get to work with incredible companies reviewing their latest products.

We’ve traveled the around country, spoken at conferences, been given an all-expenses paid trip to NYC, toured the HGTV Smart Home, been featured in magazines and met so many wonderful people along the way.

It’s a pretty great gig!

But, as much as we enjoy all of those thing, what we love the most about blogging is that it allows us the opportunity to shine the light on issues that are near and dear to our hearts.

Issues like infertility and adoption. And healthy living.

Christmas in July graphic

And even bigger issues. Issues like vulnerable street children. Children with no parents who are living on the streets of Brazil.

Children who were being systematically killed because they were deemed a ‘nuisance’.

Thanks to Susan from the blog ‘My Place to Yours‘ we were made aware of an incredible organization called ‘Hope Unlimited for Children‘.

hope-logo-med

Here’s a little bit of their story…

Hope’s vision for Brazil was launched in 1991 when thousands of vulnerable street children were being systematically killed by gunmen largely hired by local business leaders. Their purpose for these killings was to eradicate a “public nuisance”— street children. 

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In the rescue phase, children are referred to Hope by the Brazilian courts, who have determined that these children are at mortal risk. Hope staff provides immediate emotional support, psychological and medical care, and spiritual healing. In the transformation phase (four to eight years), the child is guided through educational programs, and vocational coursework, within the context of family life. In the re-entry phase, Hope’s young men and women intern with local businesses for a year and live at a transition home for six months. Upon graduation (around the age of 18) each Hope student is guaranteed a job and is given ongoing support through the Graduate Center. Each graduate receives basic household furnishings and a complete set of tools for the trade he or she has learned.

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Since Hope was founded in 1991, thousands of children have gone through our residential programs. Hope Unlimited currently cares for children at four primary locations and serves graduates and family members through various outreach programs. Most important, 85% of our graduates are in stable living situations, meaningfully employed and active in a local church.

Recently we were contacted by Balsam Hill with an exciting offer. No, we weren’t asked to talk about their latest wreaths or whether or not we were gearing up for the holiday season and wanted to review a Christmas tree.

christmas ornaments

In fact, this had absolutely nothing to do with us.

Balsam Hill is celebrating Christmas in July in a very special way!

Not only do you have the opportunity to give but also to receive.

We have a goal…a dream…of raising at least $1,000. And if we do, Balsam Hill will match that amount!

For every $5 you donate you will be entered to win a beautiful set of Mistletoe and Holly Christmas ornaments.

christmas ornament

But for every $25 you donate you will AUTOMATICALLY be sent one ornament from the exclusive Mistletoe and Holly ornament collection!

 Would you consider helping these children?

 CLICK HERE to donate and make a difference in the life of a child in need!

And on behalf of those whose lives you are impacting, we say THANK YOU!

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9 Comments Filed Under: Good Ideas

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. martina says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:35 AM

    So sad…this is a great cause! Thanks for sharing the info with us!

    Reply
  2. Shirley@Housepitality Designs says

    July 15, 2014 at 7:39 AM

    Oh this story is so disturbing and just breaks my heart in two!!!….Thanks for putting this story out to us!. Hopping over to donate and to hug my granddaughter and count our blessings!!…

    Reply
  3. Ashley @ Cherished Bliss says

    July 15, 2014 at 5:38 PM

    This is just fantastic!!! Such a great way to celebrate “Christmas in July”

    Reply
  4. Susan Nowell @ My Place to Yours says

    July 18, 2014 at 4:46 PM

    It’s good to see a few of your readers joining us! I forwarded your link to our social media person, and she’ll get it up soon (if not already). Hopefully that will send a few more your way to help get the matching funds. Thanks again for doing this for the kids!

    Reply
  5. Stephanie Fig says

    July 22, 2014 at 10:58 PM

    https://www.etsy.com/shop/theenchantedfigtree

    I would love to donate! There is at least one person a day that comes to my shop because they were perusing your beautiful blog. Thanks Heather and Vanessa for giving back for the online community.
    Stephanie Fig at The Enchanted Fig Tree on Etsy

    Reply
    • At The Picket Fence says

      July 23, 2014 at 7:40 AM

      Oh Stephanie thank you sooooo much!!! 🙂 Blessings to you!

      Reply
  6. Dagmar Obert says

    July 28, 2014 at 6:13 AM

    Hi Vanessa!

    Just wanted to drop a note and say that I’m really inspired by your kindness. It’s rare to see a person who does acts of generosity simply just to help other people. It’s great to know that people with your heart and spirit are actively doing something to improve the lives of children.

    I also want to thank you for doing your part to make us aware of the situation in Brazil. A lot of people don’t know about the conditions there. With this knowledge and information, I’m sure more people will join the effort to give assistance to these kids.

    -Dagmar

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. A Recycled Bird Feeder …from a fondue pot! - At The Picket Fence says:
    July 16, 2014 at 4:30 AM

    […] We also want to remind you of our “Christmas in July” Balsam Hill charity event! We are raising funds to help Hope Unlimited for Children.  Won’t you consider making a […]

    Reply
  2. Inspired by Summer says:
    July 17, 2014 at 7:15 AM

    […] friends Heather and Vanessa over At The Picket Fence are celebrating Christmas in July with Balsam Hill Christmas Tree Co. – and they’ve asked us to join them!   I’m […]

    Reply

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