LumberJocks
DAILY DEALS Turning Tool Set at Rockler  |  DeWalt Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler at Tool King

Woodworkers Help Save the Children #1: Idea

Blog entry by Martin Sojka posted 804 days ago 867 reads 1 time favorited 24 comments Add to Favorites Watch
no previous part Part 1 of Woodworkers Help Save the Children series Part 2: Approved »

Our Summer Woodworking Awards Event has come and gone and the Award recipients are already enjoying their well-deserved gifts.

With yet another challenge completed, it’s time to start planning our next event and what better time to think of helping others than right now. Not only is the change of seasons heading us towards the time of year that many children look forward to (Christmas) but many children are also being threatened right now, by the effects of natural disasters as well as the travesties of war.

With these events in mind we have approached “Save the Children” about doing a fundraising event around the world to raise money to help children in need.

Save the Children is an organization that has offices around the world and their goal is to help children in need, with health care, emergency needs, education, and other issues.

The Challenge Idea

  • woodworkers create a project to auction/raffle/sell, with the proceeds going to Save the Children
  • a fundraising event is set up in the woodworker’s own area (ex. a raffle box or silent auction is set up in the local pharmacy)
  • promotional materials for the individual events are provided by Save the Children and LumberJocks.com
  • funds raised are sent to Save the Children (where 85 cents of every dollar goes towards the children’s needs).

More information will follow as we iron out the details. But until then: start planning and start building. Together, we will make a difference!

P.S. Debbie, thanks for all your hard work on this so far ;)

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka


24 comments so far

View Russel's profile

Russel

2033 posts in 818 days


posted 804 days ago

A most remarkable idea . . . the wheels are turning.

Man, you gotta love this group.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3785 posts in 1193 days


posted 804 days ago

Both thumbs up for this one Martin!!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7222 posts in 1125 days


posted 804 days ago

Great idea Martin. This one takes the cake. Goo-Rah! Jockmike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Greg3G's profile

Greg3G

770 posts in 964 days


posted 804 days ago

Outstanding Idea Martin! You have picked an wonderfull organization as well, Feed the Children has been doing great work for a very long time both in North American and overseas. Ok LJ’ers, let sharpen those chisels, put a new blade on the table saw, and let’s get to work. This is for a great cause, kids.

-- Greg - Charles Town, WV

View Karson's profile

Karson

25279 posts in 1279 days


posted 804 days ago

Great project. Great cause.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Roger Strautman's profile

Roger Strautman

534 posts in 1013 days


posted 804 days ago

This sounds like a real challenge and adventure. I like it!!! I think I might make two projects.
Now if only I can find some suckers to but my carvings. LOL!

-- " All Things At First Appear Difficult"

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3709 posts in 858 days


posted 804 days ago

Martin;

All of the above!!!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 915 days


posted 804 days ago

What they said!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View Don's profile

Don

2590 posts in 1056 days


posted 804 days ago

OK – sounds like a very worthwhile idea.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6402 posts in 862 days


posted 804 days ago

Got lots of ideas, but when is the deadline ?

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14096 posts in 1039 days


posted 804 days ago

the details aren’t ironed out yet. You’ll just have to be patient – but planning and building can get started. There are no limits as to what you can build. Big, small… doesn’t matter.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View DocK16's profile

DocK16

697 posts in 966 days


posted 804 days ago

What Mot said…........... the wheels of invention are turning in my head …..with smoke coming out my ears.

-- DocK, WV

View Buckskin's profile

Buckskin

484 posts in 867 days


posted 804 days ago

This will be interesting. Doing things for the kiddos is always good!

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1808 posts in 965 days


posted 804 days ago

Very cool….....

I already have a project for this one. My paddles already have some pretty good exposure in the Stand Up Paddleboard circles. I can build 90% and then customize the length to suit the winner.

One issue I have is that my auction needs to be web based. I don’t think my paddle would sell very well locally. What about getting eBay involved?

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

View DrSawdust's profile

DrSawdust

230 posts in 977 days


posted 804 days ago

When it comes to helping the ‘little people’ you can count me in.

-- Making sawdust is what I do best

View Bob Babcock's profile

Bob Babcock

1808 posts in 965 days


posted 804 days ago

Looks like eBay already has something setup. Not sure I like the percentage going to the managing company “Missionfish” I may just want to handle it on my own without having them involved. If I understand it correctly If I manage to sell a paddle for $300 they get $30? Seems kind of steep. eBay does wave some of its fees though.
http://pages.ebay.com/help/sell/selling-nonprofit.html

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14096 posts in 1039 days


posted 803 days ago

the difficulty with doing web-based (which was in our options) is that the shipping costs has to be paid by someone…and that can be pretty expensive.
That’s why we decided “locally” ... but we aren’t stopping anyone from being creative. Maybe your brother could do the auction/sale for you in his area. You’d still have to deal with shipping but at least it would be in an area of “need”

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Martin Sojka's profile

Martin Sojka

1385 posts in 1351 days


posted 803 days ago

It seems like this is going to be one great event. Thanks for the feedback everybody!

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://profile.to/msojka

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6402 posts in 862 days


posted 803 days ago

My plan is donating one of the pieces I sell on Ebay, making sure it that it is prominately listed, as all profits going to the children fund charity with a LUMBERJOCK link to the lumber jocks directory that contains everones charity projects. I’ll also upload and post the lumberjock logo and link to my eBay page …

hopefully Martin can set up a lumberjocks www.paypal.com account that I can easily transfer funds too.

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6402 posts in 862 days


posted 803 days ago

Ebay has an option for direct selling that does not have Missionfish fees associated with it.

link to that section on ebay

You know, sellers can list there items locally as well as on eBay and sell to the highest bidder. Setting a decent reserve price is always the best option for a ebay seller if they are not experienced or sure their item will sell for what its worth.

All shipping costs associated to eBay sales are almost always tagged to the buyer etc

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View RobS's profile

RobS

1231 posts in 1185 days


posted 803 days ago

Very Cool. Great idea!

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

View Sawdust2's profile

Sawdust2

1168 posts in 966 days


posted 803 days ago

I hate ties!

I have to wear a tie when I go to court.

I ONLY wear Save the Children ties. For at least 10 years. My favorite charity.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

View jembo's profile

jembo

105 posts in 892 days


posted 802 days ago

Great stuff Martin. this sounds very inspireing.

Count me in!

-- James - Geneva, Switzerland

View scottb's profile

scottb

3391 posts in 1206 days


posted 793 days ago

I have a save the children christmas tie. Santa drawn by Lauren, age 6. I love it.
I’ll add something to the mix. Online or locally. We may be having a craft fair at work, if there’s enough interest – though we have our own local children/family based Santa Fund (at my company). I can’t really give the impression of raising money for a seperate charity there. I guess I’ll have to go Dans route on eBay… unless we can figure out a way to set up an all inclusive LJ auction/store.

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

You must be signed in to post the comments.

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase