I've been struggling with this decision for months now, mostly because I'm having a hard time telling people who really need help that I won't be able to help them.
Over the next month or so, I'll be shutting down operations for Goods 4 Girls. I still have shipments going out to South Africa (Chrysalis Girls), Sudan (NESEI), and Uganda (Shanti) and will hopefully use all the stock and funds I have on hand for those deliveries.
It seems like a natural breaking point, the one year anniversary of starting this project. The domain name renewal is coming up in February and I will not be renewing it. I'll be contacting all the donation sites to let them know that I will no longer be accepting kits or donations. And I'll be contacting distribution partners and letting them know that I will no longer be able to support them.
I'm announcing it here first because this is where it all started. As much as I'd like to be able to save the world, I just can't. And I have too much going on to be able to manage this project as well.
If you are already working on donations, feel free to send them in and I will get them distributed. But, please do not make any new contributions to the program.
Thanks for all your support over the year. I think we've made a huge difference in hundreds of girls' lives.
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39 Crunchy Thoughts:
I'm so sorry to hear that you have to "close your doors." It must have been a wonderfully fulfilling project, though it must have taken many hours to do well.
Hopefully, from this announcement, there will be someone come forward who can take it over for you and continue your wonderful and inspiring work.
I think it's great that you did so much. You're a real inspiration.
You are shutting it down because you don't have the time to keep it up? Is it something you'd be willing to transfer to someone else if they could take up the responsibilities?
Sad to hear that, but completely understand. Life at home with your family takes priority and the economy makes it increasingly difficult to reach out and help others when resources need to stay close. Hopefully you will be able to restart the program again someday.
I read about this when you first started, but my lack of sewing skills and laziness in not sending in a donation, I never participated. I'm glad you did this, while you did. I pray that it was a great blessing to many girls. *hug* May God continue to direct your steps as you minister to those near and far.
This is such a great project. You did a great job developing it. Is it possible to give readers an address where we could send pads directly?? Such as where ever you have sent them? That way we could still continue the project in a way.
Thanks for all you did with this project, Crunchy. You should feel really great about it!
I would love to see someone come forward and, using the organization you already put in place, take over the operations. That person will not be me, but maybe there's someone out there who feels the call?
Would you be open to it, Crunchy?
So sorry to see this go. Like so many others, I'd love to see someone else take this on but, like all those others, do not think it could be me. What a great ride it was.
how can i help? perhaps there are several of your readers (myself included) who, while feeling it woulld be too big a project for themselves alone, would be willing to work together to continue the good work you started.
I'd be willing to pack and mail if someone else could handle the website and location scouting or whatever else needs to be done.
Crunchy, if you could provide a list of things that you do related to this project, I think it would be easier for us to understand what efforts need to go into it. I don't want to see this stop, especially if there are still people requesting help...but I don't blame you for not wanting to keep up with it yourself.
This was a beautiful project and we were happy to contribute (I just sent off a batch of goods we made). I too hope someone is able to take over the project. I would be happy to continue to contribute.
I do think it would be worth a shot to try to pass it on; almost certainly to a group of people, not just one. (Obviously, it takes a team to replace you, Crunch).
We need: 2 people willing to take primary responsibility; and 8 more to commit to real time and help. And Crunch needs to be willing to do the transfer, or course- which is far from a trivial request.
Already have couple volunteers here- speak up, everybody.
And- man, Crunchi- I'm glad you're cutting back somewhere. We want you to stay sane, ya know.
Crunchy, can we start a little list of people who would be willing to take over this incredibly worthwhile project from you? As Greenpa said, it would take more than one person to replace you.
Crunchy,
Please let me know how I could help to continue this very worthwhile project.
I have been telling anyone that would listen about, even a few that were less than willing. I took a box of Party In My Pants all over town, even into restaurants telling people how important it is for these girls to have reusable pads.
Connie
Kudos to you for all of the work you've done on this, Crunchy. You've made such a difference! :) I also admire you for knowing when you need to cut back. I know how hard it is to do.
I wish I had the time to commit to help with taking this over, but I'm so pleased to see others willing to. That's awesome. :) I hope the project can continue.
I, too am sorry to hear this. You did some wonderful work on this- moat appreciated.
I hope you will consider passing it on. I was part of a mailing list that struggled for over a year to just find someplace to mail our contributions! Once we heard about you, well, we were thrilled! I would hate to see this end. I would also like to help (although I suppose we'd have to see where everyone is to figure out logistics) :)
You can add my name to the list of people willing to help. It's a shame to see so much hard work toward such a good cause end. I'm sure we can keep it going if many of us work together!
--Erika
I would be willing to help out - as part of a team rather than the leader of a team.
Am very interested in helping this project to go forward sans Crunch, if it's at all possible.
I think this is a wonderful project. BUT you really have to put your family first here and you have an awful lot on your plate. You brought an awareness to a need that maybe some of us never considered.
Hvae you considered possibly contacting some churches who do mission work over in Africa? Many require community service as part of their confirmation programs.
My daughter made the switch to making her own pads and she made some for herself. As a poor struggling college student it's not only enviromental smart but helps out with saving a few dollars. While we may not been the best at donating (laziness)both my daughter and I comend you on such a great effort.
Count me in as someone willing to help also!!
I would be willing to help also! I'd love to see your hard work continue--it's such a valuable project!
I might be able to help out on the website part. I'm a free lance web designer and if I knew what work was needed for the site could potentially take that on pro bono. Never got around to sewing anything for Goods4Girls, but I meant to!
Having just returned from visiting my niece in Niger and being moved by the people there, I would love to help carry on the project. I will head it up if that works for you. I have been involved with animal not-for-profits. I have no experience with websites so I would need some help with that. Perhaps I could help turn it into a 501c. Let me know if that seems possible. Would love to work with some others who offered. I am a CPA so would have no problem preparing financial disclosures if I am able to move it to a 501c.
Cindy
I'm with everyone else -- what an awesome project you started singlehandly, and it's successful!
The machine is moving, and it would be fantastic if you could hand leadership over to others while there are momentum, distribution channels and need. Think of it as "venture volunteerism" -- you start it up, make it work, and "sell" it to somebody else!
Reusable pads are something that never even crossed my mind until your post. And with an 11-yo daughter who could start just about any day now (crossing my fingers for 2011, though :-), I hope to get her thinking this way from the start.
Crunchy, I'm awed at what you accomplished - and it sounds like you are going to be able to keep it going, just not under your own aegis - but that's good - you created something, inspired people and made it possible for it to take off without you. What more could anyone accomplish?
Sharon
I agree heartily with previous commenters who've said they'd be willing to help out as part of a team.
I also just emailed Lunapads and Gladrags to see if either company would be interested in helping spearhead such a team—maybe kicking in support for the domain/hosting, etc.
Fingers crossed. It's a wonderful work that you've done and it would be a real loss if it just faded back into nothingness again....
PS—especially since you say you'll have to contact all the donation sites and distribution partners—that will be a lot of work, and it might be easier on you just to hand off the information to another/others—?
Well it looks like there are plenty of volunteers, but if there is a need for an Iowa regional commander, please let me know. I just started making my own cloth pads this month. Contributing a couple to this cause was in the plans.
And, just a thought off the top of my head, but maybe some sort of forum area to discuss the transfer would be beneficial. Maybe a Yahoo group or something? That way details could be hashed out someplace beside Crunchy's comment zone. :-D
I just discovered your blog and am very excited because its an awesome site!
Also, I don't know much about your Goods 4 Girls program (will check that out after writing this) but even though I don't know much about it yet I'd be willing to help if any help is needed. It sounds like a good program!
I, too, would be delighted to help continue this project. I'm based in New York City (super collection point!), and I'm going to Kenya & Tanzania in April.
I had recently suggested to my church craft group that we take this project on for the year. We were actually choosing patterns and had already announced the plans to the group when i noticed this post. I would really like to know if people plan to keep this going or if someone knows of a similar charity we could contact! I think its an amazing way to enrich the world through assisting women to become better educated in such a simple way!
So, what's the verdict? Can Goods 4 Girls continue on under different leadership? I really hope so, and I bet a lot of others do to. I've just converted to handsewn cloth pads, and would very much like to make and give to others now.
Oh no! I didn't get any sort of announcement. I have a lot of pads to donate, can I still send them? I still had the donation sets for sale on my website as of 2 minutes ago. I have some donors who want receipts. This was such an inspiring cause & I am very grateful to ahve been able to participate in it, Thanks!
Oh no! I didn't get any sort of announcement. I have a lot of pads to donate, can I still send them? I still had the donations on my website as of 2 minutes ago so I feel pretty dumb. I have some donors who want receipts. If there is an alternative to send the donations to please let me know!
This was such an inspiring cause & I am very grateful to have been able to participate in it, Thanks!
Thank you for all you have done. We would be delighted to help you take up the torch. Project Thrive has been distributing feminine hygiene kits to third world countries since the Fall with our Days For Girls program. We are currently doing so in several countries and we would love to keep your efforts going with your connections. We have need of more kits, more volunteers and even more groups to distribute to. We're dedicated to serving this cause that you have proven so well. Please contact us if you are interested. We'd love to keep your legacy going. www.ProjectThrive.org 360-354-4538
I think that G4G was a wonderful project, and I'd be willing to handle some workload. I'm in Utah, but we'll be moving to the SF Bay area in May. Please let me know if there is something that can be done.
If anyone is still interested in this, please visit www.sishope.org. I started an organization that sends reusable pads to girls/women in developing countries. It is all about women helping women!
Please visit the page and get involved!
You can email me at sarah@sishope.org.
Sarah Vandiver
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