Hi, Y'all,
I'm working on fundraising, as you know, for the Africa trip in June. What I'll be doing is making art with girls, ages 8-14, who have been orphaned by AIDS. I'll also work with a small community of adult artists who have started another home for orphaned kids. I am obviously blatantly asking for donations to support my trip, (as well as performing comedy in living rooms and selling my artwork, and I may do street mime as well, soon), but there's something else I need to accomplish -
I need to get art supplies for these kids. I have contacted two huge suppliers, more than once, and they are maybe offended by my begging tone, don't like being nice to little kids, or hate my Southern accent, or somethin', because no one is calling me back. I'm not good at this, this is really stepping outside my comfort zone (getting hep shots and malaria pills isn't.)
I'm going to contact another as well as a big company I used to work at which happens to own a crayon company (guess who?), to see if anyone can donate supplies for the kids, as well as shipping to Quelimane - which is a big issue, as I need my suitcase space for my hot rollers ;-). Seriously, getting the stuff there is a signicant thing, as our last leg of the trip is on a small plane.
Soooo, if you have ideas, leads, peeps, numbers, art suppliers . . . or can ask someone yourself to help me with this piece of the big picture, I would so appreciate it!!
I am figuring out the specifics of what I project we will need, and am glad to provide that info, as well as trip details to any company or person interested in getting art supplies to the kids!
To donate directly to support my trip, go to http://www.CanadaHelps.org (the link is in the lefthand column here), then search "Native Earth Performing Arts" , and then select "Shakespeare Link Canada (in Trust) to donate. You can designate the funds for my trip by entering my name in another field.
I will keep you updated! I have raised $1500 of the $6000 needed. We leave June 7 from Toronto.
**********UPDATE!*********** I raised about $2500 prior to the departure, so was not able to make the trip in 2009; I am still working on the same goal to reach Mozambique in summer 2010. Please send me a note or comment here if you are interested in supporting me in this venture. peace, trl