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
Russel
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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.
dennis mitchell
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3785 posts in 1193 days
posted 804 days ago
Both thumbs up for this one Martin!!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 804 days ago
Great idea Martin. This one takes the cake. Goo-Rah! Jockmike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Greg3G
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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
Karson
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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 †
Roger Strautman
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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"
Lee A. Jesberger
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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
mot
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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)
Don
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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/
DAN
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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
MsDebbieP
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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)
DocK16
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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
Buckskin
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484 posts in 867 days
posted 804 days ago
This will be interesting. Doing things for the kiddos is always good!
Bob Babcock
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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
DrSawdust
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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
Bob Babcock
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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
MsDebbieP
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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)
Martin Sojka
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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
DAN
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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
DAN
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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
RobS
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1231 posts in 1185 days
posted 803 days ago
Very Cool. Great idea!
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
Sawdust2
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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.
jembo
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105 posts in 892 days
posted 802 days ago
Great stuff Martin. this sounds very inspireing.
Count me in!
-- James - Geneva, Switzerland
scottb
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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/