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.

Comments

  1. I have read of this before and it is such a wonderful organization! Thank you so much for your visit to my party and a reminder that I can help with this great venture ;)

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  2. Oh ~ and I just adore your blog. It is beautiful!

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  3. TFS!!

    love your blog and encouragement.

    I am gonna check this out and donate. I love making journals special with scrapbook embellishments and ribbons and I always have a stash of them.

    love and blessings! Denise Marie

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  4. If this is my second comment here I apologize and just delete it. The first one I left did not show up.
    I want to thank you for sharing the organization with us. I will definately send them some of my hand made jewelry. I also took the award and posted it on my side bar and I posted the link to the site also .
    Blessings to you on this pink saturday!
    Gwen

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  5. What a beautiful post. I am familiar with this marvelous organization - Terry does such important work. Happy PS!

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  6. Great post !
    Love from the Netherlands RINI

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  7. What a beautiful make over and for such a great reason! Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Pink Saturday. Sherri@lavenderfields

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  8. This is wonderful, thank you for sharing this!!!

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  9. Isn't that a wonderful cause??? I saw this on Daisy Cottage, and I was just awed. I'm so glad you posted about it because it is very important work.

    Happy Pink Saturday to you...

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  10. That is so great that you did this wonderful post and spread the word on this organization...

    Have a great weekend,
    Aimee

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  11. Oh Thank You for a wonderful cause I had never heard of. I grabbed the award for my blog and I am going to make this my NEW project! Just a great, snazzy edgy and glorious thing for us to do isn't it. Glad I found you and I invite you to visit me. Mollye

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  12. I will definately check this out..and see if I can help in any way. I think this may be a new project for me and since I love to craft and such..maybe I can help. I will post the button and award..and hope it gets more volunteers. Happy Pinks and thanks for all the information.

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  13. I love the pinks you've chosen to share with us today. I hope you are having a wonderful Pink Saturday.

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  14. What a wonderful organization! I'll definitely grab their button and display it on my blog to help spread the word.

    Happy Pink Saturday!

    PS: Love your blog!

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  15. Thank you for bringing this to my (our) attention.....I'm going over to check it out..Thanks again and Happy Pink Saturday!

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  16. Hello Eileen,

    God Bless You for sharing my website and my mission. Thank you ladies for spreading the word.

    Many Blessings,
    Terry Grahl
    Enchanted Makeovers

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  17. I love what Enchanted Makeovers is doing. The "beauty" in the rooms can give hope to what must seem like a hopeless situation. (Still on my Pink Saturday rounds. Have a great week!)

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  18. I will have to go over and check it out, it certainly is a worthy cause and everyone can use a little help in hopeless times. Happy Pink Saturday, Char

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  19. Hi! Love your blog - such a gorgeous post for Pink Saturday. Thanks so much for visiting my site and commenting. x

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  20. Thank you for sharing this worthwhile and important cause! I'm off to check out the links.

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  21. Hi: I am going over to see what this group is all about. Thanks so much for putting it out there. Blessings, Martha

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  22. Well done you for letting us all know about this wonderful cause. Leigh

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