They're Here; Baja Fresh Fundraiser Flyers!

We have Baja Fresh flyers! If you think you might be able to make it in at any time on October 8th, whether to Dine In or Take Out, please print off this photo and bring it with you...the flyer must be presented at time of order, so we'll get the 15% donation.

 If you can't print it, but wish to join us, just let me know, and I'll send you one.:)

-Kelly

Fundraiser Night October 8th!

Finally we have our Baja Fresh fundraiser night planned! Saturday, October 8th is the date, and soon we will have the fliers available for anyone who'd like to join us for dinner.


All you have to do is visit Baja Fresh on Lancaster Drive, in Salem, order your meal, and present our flier. The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation will then receive 15% of the total of all receipts with fliers attached. Julie Hutchison has been incredibly supportive of our efforts to raise funds for Rachel's dog, and we are working closely with both PAWS and CHF to achieve our goal. We will have extra fliers at the restaurant if you forget yours.;)


If you want to be sure you get a flier, please message us here, and I'll make sure you get one, or 20 if you want to help spread them around. All messages are screened before posting, and if you don't want yours posted publicly, just say so.


Also, two more donation letters in the mail today, and an increase of $80 to the thermometer. It's moving more slowly these days, but we're hoping for a good turnout for the fundraiser night, so maybe we'll have a big increase soon.


-Kelly

School and Blogs

We don't have any exciting news to share right now, as our days are taken up with school. High school is a lot harder now than it was in the early 80's, and Rachel is spending about 7 hours a day at her studies, and sort of struggling to stay caught up.


On the upside, her grades are good, and she's still engaged in the process, though there is some occasional whining when it comes to test-taking. There's a definite anxiety there.


Also, Rachel has decided that she'd like to start her own blog, and talk about what it's like to be her, while sharing random bits of her life. When she gets around to getting it published, I'll be sure and link from here, so you can all get to know her a bit better. I think you'll like her.:)


-Kelly
ETA: After posting this, we received two more donation notifications in the mail, so I increased the thermometer by another $100 today! Thanks so much, everyone.:)

Tears of Joy and Gratitude

A couple of weeks ago I received an email from my dear friend Cindy, letting me know that she had sent of a series of checks to PAWS, from folks who had either purchased donation items, or just wanted to help out with the fundraising.


Since I made a commitment to only update the thermometer when I receive official word from PAWS, I put it out of my mind.


Today I checked the mail, and found a rather thick envelope from PAWS. Inside were our copies of the letters sent to the donors. As I looked over each one, addressed to friends and strangers alike, I felt myself tearing up, and now I'm doing it again.


Those letters touched my heart, because I know that in the moment those checks were being written, somebody was thinking of Rachel, and wanting her quality of life to be better. 


I am saving those letters, and I would love to say that I will be able to send out individual thank you cards when this is all over, but that's probably not realistic. Please know what a difference you have made for Rachel, and for our family. When the time comes that Rachel receives her dog, it will be because of you, and we will never forget that.


So, while I try and type with running eyes, I have a huge smile on my face when I tell you that I increased the thermometer by $243 today!


-Kelly

Thermometer Update!

I know it's been almost a week since I updated last, and I'm sorry for that, but it's been pretty busy in our home life, and not so busy in our fundraising life as a result.


I am very glad to say that I was able to increase the thermometer by another $72 this morning, bringing us to almost $2,000.00 in donations! 


Rachel had a few partial seizures over the last two days, and so has some make-up work to do for school today, keeping us pretty close to home. I am anxious to find time to set up our fundraiser night with Baja Fresh, and really hoping to have that done by the end of the week. Details to come, of course.


Thanks so much for sticking with us, and I hope to have something more exciting to share with the next update.


-Kelly

Canisters, Fliers and Dinner

We've gotten past the first week of school, and if it isn't with flying colors, at least it's not horrible. It's getting easier for Rachel as she goes along. Adjusting to a new school takes time, whether it's online or not.


So, today we finally got back out, and continued on with some of our 'advertising'. We stopped in and checked on our canister at Everything Pawsible, switching the first one out for one with the new cards made for us by Cindy.

We think they look pretty spiffy, and we hope to have more of them around town soon. We also stopped in at Roth's on Lancaster, and put up one of the fliers with the tear-off tabs on their bulletin board. They don't allow just anyone to put up canisters.

Also, we'll be setting up a fundraiser night with the Baja Fresh on Lancaster Drive, so watch for the date on that, and if you want to join us and don't have a flier for the event, just ask, and we'll be sure you get one. You'll need to present the flier in order for us to get the best possible donation.

No increase to the thermometer today, but I know of a few donations that haven't gone through yet, so it will be going up soon.

-Kelly

Small Update

I'm very pleased to update the thermometer by another $155!


Things have slowed down just a bit since the manic jam-making days, but school has started now, and that's taking quite a bit of my time. I can't just leave Rachel at home, and go out to put up fliers, or do fundraising. She has to go where I go, unless Brett is home, and he's working 10-12 hour days lately.


We do have a couple of things we're going to be be trying, and when they're a go, I'll be sure and update here, so everyone can join in, or follow along.


Thanks for hanging in there with us.:)


-Kelly

Donation Item Box Now Active

Just a short update today, to bring your attention to the new box in the right-side column, highlighting the items we currently available for shipping.


If you make a $10 donation at Paypal to raisethewoof4rachel@gmail.com, we'll send you one of the custom-designed cosmetic bags, and the original art cards will be shipped for a $2 donation each. Just leave instructions for quantity and style when you make your donation, and we'll get these items shipped out to you ASAP, with free shipping to U.S. addresses!


The instructions for making a direct cash donation to Rachel's PAWS account have moved to the left-side column, in an effort to reduce confusion for folks. Please note that the PAWS instructions are not to be used for ordering donation items.


Thanks again for reading, and for your support.


-Kelly