We're so grateful for all of your help!

Because of our new format this year, we needed extra help during breakfast, getting everyone signed in and fed before we headed out to our volunteer assignments. That was another half-dozen folks to be grateful for--along with all of the women who are happy and energized to give much of a day to others in the community. The artists and craftspeople who donated their work for our raffle, too, didn't need to be asked twice.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to make a difference. I was part of a crew that assembled gifts for an upcoming conference for leaders of homeless shelters. Not something you think about, right? That those people also get together to exchange what in the corporate world we called "best practices"? We also learned that the average age of people passing through the Holland Rescue Mission these days is--what would you think? I've asked a few people, who've said 38? 47? 29? Nope. The answer is 12. Twelve years old, on average. That was shocking to me.

But I digress. What I meant to do was to create a place where other folks could share their stories from Women's Volunteer Day 2008. What did you do? How did it feel? Wasn't it a beautiful day?

What to bring and expect on September 25

Because this year is different from previous years, here's some more detail about what to expect. First, what to plan to have with you:

• We're holding a raffle, so bring some cash! See the terrific donated raffle prizes in earlier posts below.
• We're collecting donations for Holland Rescue Mission; the items they need are listed below.
  
• Bring work gloves (and rubber gloves if you prefer to use them for indoor cleaning).
• Wear (or bring, just in case) CLOSE-TOED SHOES to protect your toes.
  

Plan to get dirty, not to make an impression; dress accordingly!

Here's what the day will look like:

8:00-8:15 a.m.

• Arrive at Hope Church, centrally located at 77 West Eleventh Street in Holland (between River and Pine Avenues, just south of downtown Holland and west of Centennial Park).
• Drop off your donations for Holland Rescue Mission just inside the door.
• Check in at the Welcome Table (we're requesting a breakfast donation of $5) and buy raffle tickets ($1 each, 6 for $5, or 14 for $10).
• Draw your table number, which will also indicate your crew assignment.
• Distribute your raffle tickets among the artwork donated by four talented women.
• Go to the table number you received and meet your crew and agency representative.

8:30 a.m.

• Help yourself to the breakfast buffet and network with your crew while you wait for the raffle drawing results.

9:30 a.m.

• Adjourn with your crew to your work site. Remember to take along a crew assignment card from your table, as well as an apple and granola bar for a snack at your work site.
• Plan to have lunch with your crew and wrap up by 3:00 p.m. Unless, of course, you're in the groove--then stay at your work site as long as you like.

Holland Rescue Mission Donations
Our donation drive this year is for women and children at the Holland Rescue Mission's Family Hope Ministry Center, which shelters women, children, and intact families experiencing homelessness.

For women, the Mission needs: new panties and socks; shampoo, conditioner, hair gel/spray/mousse/etc., combs, brushes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, dental floss, disposable razors, lotion, and feminine hygiene products.

For children, the Mission needs: diapers, wipes, sippy cups, pacifiers, bibs, onesies, and toddler/preschool snacks.

Raffle Prize: Painting

"Autumn Birch" by Kathy Stanton
Size: 16" x 20"
Based on a photograph taken on the Leelenau Peninsula, then digitally enhanced to exaggerate the essence of the scene.

Raffle Prize: Oil Painting

"Lift Your Name—From the Cross, to the Earth, to the Sky" by Kim Harris
Size: 9" x 12"
Oil on canvas, black canvas floater frame

Raffle Prize: Handpainted Wine Glasses

Handpainted Wine Glasses by MaryJo Campbell
Four 18 oz. red wine glasses with large purple petals around goblet, green stem swirled around glass stem, and two purple flower buds on a black base.

Raffle Prize: Custom Pillows

Set of two pillows, donated by Cathy Brooks
"Small Dot" Maharam pattern / Luna fabrics & many other choices classified as C.O.M.s. Raffle winner may take pillows on display on Women's Volunteer Day or choose other fabrics or sizes to be custom-made and delivered after the event.

Why our geographic focus?

Every now and then, the planning team is asked why this event is in Holland/Zeeland instead of in Spring Lake, for example. There are a couple of reasons. In the first few years, all of us on the planning team worked at the Holland/Zeeland Herman Miller facilities, and understood that employees come from the north and south and east (not the west so much, but only because of the water). Holland/Zeeland seemed to be the common ground, with the advantage of having enough active agencies to assure that we had enough places for volunteers to work on the same day. When we had a half-day event, it also made it convenient for most people to pop into or out of the office. And because one of our objectives was to give women an opportunity to connect or reconnect with lots of other women, we wanted to be able to bring everyone together for part of the event--lunch or, this year, breakfast--so we didn't want people spread too far around the area.

This year we've decided to extend our network more deliberately beyond Herman Miller employees; for the planning team it still feels right for us to center our efforts in Holland/Zeeland--this is also the common ground among the seven of us on the planning team.

While our own ambitions haven't called for developing events in other geographies, we certainly understand and applaud the desire from other folks to contribute in their own communities. We'll happily share our experiences, planning documents, and expertise to give anyone who'd like to plan a comparable event in another place a head start!