November 21, 2008
The Keiki Slippah Wish Fund
Do you believe in magic? What about miracles? Do you believe wishes can come true? I do. I believe it because of you, my readers. Last year, right about this time, I told you about Auntie Lynn’s wish that the children in her housing project could all have shoes. Not just any shoes, though. They needed slippahs - those cheap rubber sandals that are ubiquitous in Hawaii. Children lose them, of course. The weather is always warm and slippahs can get in the way of in impromptu game of ball or a climb on the jungle gym. They’re not much good for walking on the beach, either, so off they come, often to be forgotten and left behind. For some families the price of a replacement pair of slippahs is too dear, so the children remain barefooted. Auntie Lynn wanted to help fix that. She made her wish and shared it with some friends, but she didn’t sit back and wait for it to come true. She knew the secret to wishes and magic and miracles: sometimes we have to help them along.
Auntie Lynn’s wish and a lot of hard work made The Keiki Slippah Wish Fund happen. That was in 2005 and the fund has been growing each year. More importantly, the reach of the project has grown. Each year new distribution points have been added. Last year it finally came to my own Waianae Coast, to families who live on the beaches and in homeless shelters. Lynn says that happened because of me, but that’s not quite right. I found out about the fund last year and blogged about it, but it was you, my readers, who brought it to the Waianae Coast. Your generosity amazed and astounded me. Sure, I prodded you a bit. I told you I would match your contirbutions and you couldn’t resist making me do just that! It was your support that swelled the funds to magnaimous proportions so that the children of the Waianae Coast and another housing project could have new slippahs for Christmas.
Slippah don’t last forever and it’s time for you to help again. I can’t offer the same challenge as last year. I can’t afford to match your generosity this time around. As most of you know, my work has declined so much that I’ll soon be leaving my beautiful Hawaii. Since my own contribution to the Slippah Fund will be less this year than last year, I’m hoping some of you can help make up the difference. A little money can buy a lot of rubber slippahs, toys, food and clothes for the keiki who need them. Will you pitch in and make this dream happen? Lynn believes you will. She’s added several new distribution points this year because she believes that you and others will help her cover the territory. For the first time ever, The Keiki Slippah Wish Fund is even spreading off-island. One of my readers asked last year if the project could be brought to Kauai. Asked and granted! That means more slippahs are needed, though, and that means more money needs to be collected.
ChipIn is the preferred donation vehicle, but if you wish, checks can
be
mailed to:
Blaine Fergerstrom
1689 Piikea St.
Honolulu 96818
Make check payable to
Blaine Fergerstrom with note "For Lynn’s Slippah Project."
I’m going to make this as easy as possible for you. Click on the ChipIn button above and you’ll find instructions for giving. Give a little - slippahs are cheap and even a few dollars can buy several pairs. Give a lot - there are so many children whose lives can benefit from you donation. Give what you can, but please - do give!
[tags]charity, Christmas charity, Hawaii, keiki, slippahs, shoes, Keiki Slippah Wish Fund[/tags]
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November 23rd, 2008 at 4:19 pm, allysther Says:
Skeet-
Thank you so much for posting about this again this year. I was happy to contribute last year and will be even happier to do so this year. It is such a wonderful, small idea and provides such big help!
December 2nd, 2008 at 5:56 am, Carnival Welcomes in the Holiday Season! Says:
[…] wants to be sure we’re aware of The Keiki Slippah Wish Fund. Skeet posted this article over at Skeet’s Stuff and tells us that, “donations are […]