Trades of Hope

I can hardly believe that it has been over 4 years since I met this AMAZING woman.  This is how it all started: I got an email from a local Thirty One Director. She wanted to know if we could connect. I have to admit that I was hesitant. I was a new Director and feeling a little overwhelmed by leadership. God nudged and I responded. I am so glad that I did. I am blessed to now call Karen Peet a friend, and a sister in Christ.  I am blessed that Thirty One brought us together.

Here is her story about God’s tug on her heart:

Did you ever feel like you had a missing puzzle piece in your life? Well, that was me. I love what I do. I am involved with a local non profit, Step of Faith Ministry. We do lots of local mission work and have a large ministry in Haiti. It is all wonderful and I love it! Our ministry helps many but still I felt a missing piece. One of my friends in Haiti said that ” “Haitians need to stop taking. What they need is a hand up by learning how to work!” That conversation never left me. One day in August 2014 I found it…that piece. It is called Trades of Hope (TOH). Trades of Hope helps provide sustainable income to women mostly in third world countries through a party plan model business. They are being given an opportunity that they have never received before, which is to learn skills, work and provide for their families. We are giving a voice to the voiceless and empowering women all over the world one product at a time. I am helping to provide for my family and at the same time helping another woman across the world provide for hers. Plus the products are beautiful, great quality and handmade made with love.

I asked Karen to share the TOP 3 things that she loved about their products…It’s hard for me to name my top three things I like about our products but here it goes!

1. I love that our products are fair trade. That our woman make a living wage and can feed, provide a home and education for her family. TOH makes sure she has enough to do all that.
2. Our products are teaching skills! Not only do our artisans learn skills to make our stunning products but they learn more (designing products, budgeting, buying goods to make our products, travel to buy, accounting and more)! Plus women are teaching women. It has a ripple effect.
3. When you buy a product you are getting more than a piece of jewelry or home good, you are providing HOPE! I love that being a Compassionate Entrepreneur for TOH gives me the opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless. I am speaking up for those who did not have an opportunity in their desperate situation. We represent woman in extreme poverty, victims of sex trades, slavery and more! Hope is one of the most empowering things you can give.

Check out Karen’s website at www.mytradesofhope.com/karenpeet or if you have more questions you can reach out to her via phone at 732-687-0215.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Redeem-Her

Happy Saturday! I am so excited!  This past week I was asked to be a member of the Board of Directors for Redeem-Her.  I have been looking for a local cause that I can get involved in.  There are ALOT of amazing groups in Ocean County but none of them felt like the right fit.  I am a grassroots, non-profit kind of gal.  At the suggestion of my good friend, Karen, I checked out Redeem-Her.  I am a program person, a grant writer and when I am for a cause, they get me hook, line and sinker.  After researching the group, talking to some Board members – I am in!

Here is their mission:

Redeem-Her successfully transitions women recently released from prison, jail and drug rebab to become valued and contributing members of society.

Redeem-Her, a non-profit organization founded and operated by formerly incarcerated women, provides a safe, sober, supportive environment that is enhanced by positive role models who meet the tangible needs of clients.

Redeem-Her employs a model emphasizing that positive opportunities can transform the lives of women to become responsible, generous members of society.

So, how can you help?  They have a wish list online for products.  They have an AWESOME Thrift Store in Neptune City.  BUT right now, they need CASH donations.  Over the last two years, I have written checks for over $2,000 to local fundraisers (not counting the endless donations of product) as a result of fundraising efforts.  Don’t worry, I am still doing fundraisers for YOUR favorite cause!

BUT you guessed it – Redeem-Her is my September “gives” program.  There are THREE opportunities in September to help this AWESOME cause:

#1 Check out Thirty One’s September Hostess and Customer special. Thirty One’s Customer Special for September is the Deluxe Utility Tote – a top 10 product for $15 or the Double Up Crossbody – a NEW Fall product for $10 with a $35 purchase. Spend $70 and you can get BOTH of them for $25.  Place an order online at www.partywithHope.com.  Click the link and go directly to the Fundraiser.  If you are attending ANOTHER Thirty One party (not already a fundraiser), I will donate a portion of the sales from YOUR party as well.

#2 – Don’t want to shop BUT would love to help a great cause!  You can write a check and mail it directly to: Redeem-Her, PO Box 1913, Toms River, NJ 08754.  All donations are tax deductible!  We are a 501(c)3.

#3 – Fall means cleaning out the closets and the house.  Have things you don’t want.  Don’t toss them, donation them to our Second Hand Thrift Shop in Neptune City.  We take clothes, household items, shoes, books and furniture.  It can be dropped off at 101 Third Avenue in Neptune City!  Looking for bargains – check out the store.

How will you help?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Trades of Hope

It is Saturday Spotlight…..

About three years ago, I got an email from a local Thirty One Director.  She wanted to know if we could connect.  I have to admit that I was hesitant.  I was a new Director and feeling a little overwhelmed by leadership.  God nudged and I responded.  I am so glad that I did.  I am blessed to now call Karen Peet a friend, a sister in Christ and until recently a Thirty One sister.  Here is her story about God’s tug on her heart:

Did you ever feel like you had a missing puzzle piece in your life? Well, that was me. I love what I do. I am involved with a local non profit, Step of Faith Ministry. We do lots of local mission work and have a large ministry in Haiti. It is all wonderful and I love it! Our ministry helps many but still I felt a missing piece. One of my friends in Haiti said that ” “Haitians need to stop taking. What they need is a hand up by learning how to work!” That conversation never left me. One day in August 2014 I found it…that piece. It is called Trades of Hope (TOH). Trades of Hope helps provide sustainable income to women mostly in third world countries through a party plan model business. They are being given an opportunity that they have never received before, which is to learn skills, work and provide for their families. We are giving a voice to the voiceless and empowering women all over the world one product at a time. I am helping to provide for my family and at the same time helping another woman across the world provide for hers. Plus the products are beautiful, great quality and handmade made with love.

I asked Karen to share the TOP 3 things that she loved about their products…It’s hard for me to name my top three things I like about our products but here it goes!

1. I love that our products are fair trade. That our woman make a living wage and can feed, provide a home and education for her family. TOH makes sure she has enough to do all that.
2. Our products are teaching skills! Not only do our artisans learn skills to make our stunning products but they learn more (designing products, budgeting, buying goods to make our products, travel to buy, accounting and more)! Plus women are teaching women. It has a ripple effect.
3. When you buy a product you are getting more than a piece of jewelry or home good, you are providing HOPE! I love that being a Compassionate Entrepreneur for TOH gives me the opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless. I am speaking up for those who did not have an opportunity in their desperate situation. We represent woman in extreme poverty, victims of sex trades, slavery and more! Hope is one of the most empowering things you can give.

Check out Karen’s website at www.mytradesofhope.com/karenpeet or if you have more questions you can reach out to her via phone at   732-687-0215.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

#tradesofhope #partywithHope #empoweringwomen #dream #believe #haiti

Saturday Blessings

YEAH, it is Saturday….. memories of sleeping late (ok, so for me that means 7AM instead of 5:30AM), high school football games, birthday parties, cheering competitions, family gatherings and enjoying just being in the moment.  Just for TODAY, I am heading to my part-time job and I am going to practice being in the moment.  To know that no matter where I am, I need to STOP, look around, and appreciate the blessings in my life.  I don’t miss a message from God by thinking about the next thing.

In addition to sticking to my new office hours this week, I started riding my stationary bike as I read my devotions and talked to God.  It has helped me to find focus in the morning.  I have been doing morning devotions for a long time but usually sitting at my desk with lots of clutter around – which usually means I am easily distracted and not listening to what God has to say to me.  Riding the bike is a way for me to accomplish two things at once – my feeble attempt to exercise and when I am done reading my devotions, I am taking time to talk with God.  What a difference in how I approach the day?  Okay, so sometimes it takes me a little bit longer to catch on to things.

I have found my passion again with Thirty One.  I never really lost it … I just let it get covered up in all of the other “stuff”.   You know – the comparison game, the numbers game, letting others steal your “sparkle” or whatever it was that caused Doubtful Debbie to camp out on my doorstep.

Tonight, I get to be part of a launch party for a special friend… Karen and I met through Thirty One.  She has been my accountability partner and has become a true friend.  She is launching a new business that is her heart.  When you look at this company – you see Karen.  She has a love for missions and people.  She loves Thirty One but felt that God was calling her into a new direction…so today she launches her “Trades of Hope” business.

Trades of Hope is a company that empowers women all over the world. They provide a sustainable income to women in third world countries that are living in slums, working in sweatshops, sex trade victims or not able to feed their children and giving them up to an orphanage. Our mission is to empower these women to get out of these dire situations. Our artisans provide beautiful handmade crafts that are brought back to the states and sold by our consultant. aka compassionate entrepreneurs….that’s Karen!!  Feel free to shop the catalog.

My best tip for today… enjoy the moment whether it is spending time at work, being with family, running errands with the kids or just enjoying the many blessings that God has given you.  So, I will be spending time at work, then getting a chance to CELEBRATE – ENCOURAGE a friend while hopefully making some new friends along the way.

What are you doing today?

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!