Pink Saturday... Makeovers with heart

"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul."

~ John Muir

All photos courtesy of Enchanted Makeovers

Happy Pink Saturday, all!

After a couple weeks off, I am returning to Pink Saturday with a post very dear to my heart. One of the great things about blogging is discovering new things. I was reading one of my favorite blogs the other day, The Pleasures of Homemaking, when I saw a new button had appeared on Manuela's sidebar. It read "Enchanted Makeovers - We Stand Together with all Women and Fuel the Power of the Feminine." I was intrigued, so I clicked on it.

After landing at Enchanted Makeovers and reading for a few minutes, I was happily stunned. I had stumbled upon (or was led to, as is more likely the case) the physical embodiment of my philosophy that Beauty Does Matter. I can't relay what Enchanted Makeovers is any better than its Web site: "Enchanted Makeovers is an internationally recognized non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization that transforms shelters for women and children into places of peace and possibilities - not just where basic needs are met, but spiritual needs for hope and beauty also."

What could be more appropriate for Pink Saturday than featuring this organization?

Enchanted Makeovers was founded by Terry Grahl, an award-winning interior decorator and wife and mother. She recently gave up her own design business to completely devote her time to this endeavor. And it all started with a simple request from a shelter to see if she would volunteer to help spruce up the place a bit - even just paint a wall. I encourage you to read her story of how that led her to this.

The organization relies on volunteers and donations to transform shelters from bleak places of last resort to havens of healing and regrouping. "We organize dozens of volunteers to help clean, repair and gather new and handmade items and monetary donations for each makeover. Some require major construction work; others require mainly cosmetic facelifts," the site says.

One of the things I love about this group is their appreciation of the homemade. This isn't a group that just asks for money (though that is, of course, always welcome). They ask people to donate homemade items like blankets and pillowcases and jewelry and journals for the women and girls. In other words, they're asking for your creativity. On the Enchanted Makeovers' Web site, it says:

"We Believe...

• No woman or child recovering from an abusive situation or an addiction should have to sleep in a bedroom that looks as they feel (unworthy, depressed and scared). These makeovers are just as important as the shelters' recovery programs.

• Everyone is worthy of surroundings that nurture their soul from where their greatness can emerge. When you help others realize their dreams, you realize your own.

• Handmade items infused with one's creativity and thoughtful attention to detail carries with it the love and hope of the creator. It will also inspire others to create love and hope with their own two hands."

I couldn't have said it better myself. Below is some more of their work.

After reading everything on the site and blog and looking over their donation list, I e-mailed Terry and asked about the sort of donations they always need, no matter which project they are working on. (Click here for their current project). She said they always need the following (new, please):

• Monetary donations (large or small matters to us)

• White bath towels and white wash cloths

• Standard size pillows

• White set of twin sheets

• P.J.'s and robes for women and children

• Coloring books and crayons

• Pillow protectors

• Twin mattress pads

• Journals

• Handmade jewelry (or store-bought is OK)

• Gloves/hats

• New bras and underwear for women and children

• Toothpaste, soap, toothbrush, deodorant, Q-tips, pads, tampons for our outreach program that we are starting in 2010

• White plastic hangers

"We love and prefer handmade items!! Everyone is welcome to e-mail us with ideas and suggestions for the makeovers and our outreach program," Terry said in her e-mail.

So, dear readers, I have a challenge for you. If you are in a position to help this wonderful organization, please consider doing so. And remember, money is always welcome, but I would ask that you consider putting your creativity to good use (and I know there is plenty out there!) by sending handmade jewelry, a decorated journal or a pretty blanket you knitted or sewed. If you have an idea or question, please e-mail Terry - all the information is on the site. Just adding the Enchanted Makeover badge (you can pull it from my sidebar) with a link to their site on your blog or mentioning them in a post would be a great help - you'll be spreading the word and possibly sowing the seeds of future help. Since doing any of these things would be a wonderful gesture on your part, I am offering you a little something in return: a blog award.

If you can help in any way, please take this award as well to post on your blog (you can either drag it to your desktop or right-click on it). There are no links or rules or anything associated with my award - it's just a small thank you from me. :)

As always, thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting Pink Saturday. You can find a full list of this week's participants on her blog.

Have a beautifully pink weekend.