Blogs For A Cause

Holiday Discount

2009-11-01T05:30:00.001-08:00

Now that Halloween is over and November has arrived, we can start getting ready for Chrismtas! I know that some of you will be wanting a Christmas or seasonal design on your blog to celebrate the holiday, so I decided to offer a deal!

If you would like a Christmas or winter holiday themed blog, you can take part in this $40 discount. For $40, I will create not only your holiday themed blog, but also a new design for you to switch to after the holidays are over. These two designs would usually cost $50, so you would be saving $10 if you use this discount. I will make both designs when you contact me. I will install your holiday blog, and then save the other blog on your blogspot account and install it whenever you email me after the holidays.

Please email me and write Holiday Discount in the subject line if you are interested in taking part in this deal. I have linked some great holiday kits below that you may be interested in!

"Dear Santa" $5.99
http://sweetshoppedesigns.com/sweetshoppe/product.php?productid=17552&cat=0&page=4

"Happy Feet" $6
http://www.scraporchard.com/market/product.php?productid=17703&cat=0&page=1

"Winter Wonderland" free
http://summertimedesigns.blogspot.com/2009/10/winter-wonderland-kit.html

Welcome

2008-07-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! My name is Nikki and I am a University student living in Canada. With the help of funds raised through Blogs for a Cause, I have travelled to the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Ethiopia to do volunteer work. I am now raising money to head back to the country that has stolen my heart; the Dominican Republic. I will be there for 2 weeks over Christmas. In May of 2010, I will be moving there to do longer term work. To do this, I am going to stylize blogs for $30 each. Of this cost, $25 will go towards funding my work and $5 will go to a Charity of the Month. My experiences in the DR, Haiti, and Ethiopia have completely changed my life. I now have a passion for working with impoverished families and helping to improve their quality of life... and I need your help to do this.

The first step is to send me an email at ncochrane3@hotmail.com I will then ask you several questions so I can get the best idea of what you want in your blog design. You will pick the digi scrap kit you want used in your blog (see Go Shopping links on my sidebar)- but make sure to check with me before purchasing it so I can explain how it works and let you know if it is a good kit.

Next, I will come up with something and put it on a test blog. I will email you the link to the test blog to see if you want changes, and then if all is good I will add it to your blog. I will also add a link to this website on your blog, and I ask that you keep it there to help attract new customers.

With the $30 that you pay, you will get a personalized header, a matching background, and a new layout. If you do not like the design I come up with, I can start fresh free of charge. If you still would like further changes, you will have to pay an additional fee as this can get very time consuming.

In the future if you would like changes, I will charge $5-10 to switch in new photos and $25 for a new design for 2nd time customers.

Thank you so much for supporting me in this dream. It is because of people like you that I will be able to return to the DR and make a difference in these kids' lives.

Charity of the Month

2008-07-28T01:34:00.000-07:00

Last month we raised $90 for a women's program in Haiti.

For the next little while, we will be raising money for DOVE Missions, based in the Dominican Republic. You can view their blog HERE, and their website HERE. DOVE is run by a woman named Liz who lives in Puerto Plata. She operates a Boys Club and a Girls Club for the poorest children of Puerto Plata. The kids in the Clubs receive english lessons, art lessons, and fun and education several times weekly. Their families also receive vouchers to buy groceries every month. This is one of the programs that I work with when I am in the DR. I will bring this money down with me, when I go for 2 weeks in December, and will see where DOVE needs the money the most at that time.

December Blogs

2008-07-27T08:39:00.000-07:00

So far, we have raised $270 for DOVE Missions, a program running a Boys Club and Girls Club in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. $100 of this has already been donated for school uniforms for some of the kids, and the rest will be hand delivered to the DR this Christmas when I go to volunteer.

Soli Deo Gloria: Emily blogs about her six children. Two of her sons were adopted from Ethiopia.

Together Forever: Shonda blogs about her 5 kids, two of whom were adopted from Ethiopia.

Money Donated

2008-05-14T08:53:00.000-07:00

The following is a summary of where the funds raised through Blogs for a Cause have gone.

KIVA: We raised $100 to Kiva, a micro-lending organization. The money was lent to Hannah Ademoriyo, a happily married woman in Nigeria with five children. She is 38 years old and comes from Ajamgbandin in Lagos State, Nigeria. She grinds pepper, tomatoes and beans for people living in her community. She has been in this business since 1997 and she is in need of a loan of $450 to buy bathing slippers to add to her shop to sell. She said it will enable her to add an additional source of income. The great thing about KIVA is that we are able to help people living in poverty help themselves, and they will continue to do so even after they stop receiving donations.

Real Hope for Haiti: We raised $540 for Real Hope For Haiti. Lori and Licia are sisters who live in Haiti and run a Rescue Centre for children who are very ill, or who have no one to care for them, as well as a medical clinic. Many of these children are suffering from severe malnutrition. Some have come to the clinic too late and pass away before Lori and Licia can help them, all because of a lack of healthy food. The money raised the first time RHFH was the Charity of the Month went to the Diaper Fund to purchase diapers for the kids living in the Rescue Centre. Money raised after that went towards wherever it was most needed. There are many supplies needed to keep the Rescue Centre going, so money went towards things like food for the kids, medicine, pay for the staff, etc.

Santiago Orphanage: We raised $400 for the Santiago Orphanage in the Dominican Republic. This orphanage is for children with special needs, and many of them are stateless and will never be adopted. I have visited this orphanage several times in the past two summers that I have volunteered in the DR, and hand delivered the donations to them. There are 74 children in the orphanage, most of whom have cerebral palsy. They have very few toys or anything really to stimulate them; most of them lie in their cribs staring at the ceiling for hours at a time, as there is very few staff compared to the number of children. Money goes towards food, pay of staff, upkeep of the orphanage, any medicine, etc. The little girl pictured in my arms is Rosie. She is 8 years old and was left at the orphanage in a garbage bag at just a few days old, leaving her with several disabilities. She has grown up in the orphanage and has never seen outside its walls.

Mayan Families: We raised $655 for Mayan Families. We were able to sponsor Sara to go to school for a year (we paid for her grade 5 year, and she has now graduated to grade 6), and buy her traditional clothing, and materials for her grandfather to have surgery. We were also able to send her Mother a Mother's Day basket of food, and buy an onil stove for a different family in need. Lastly, we were able to provide food to the family of a little girl named Ingrid who was sick in the hospital. Mayan Families provides care to indigenous students and families in Guatemala, in the Lake Atitlan region. This group has provided sponsorship for hundreds of students to go to school, and for just as many families to be assisted by their many programs, such as the micro-loan program, the sewing program, and an iniative to provide the families with clean drinking water.

William's Adoption: We raised $250 to help Jen bring home her son from Liberia, William. William has special needs, including deformed toes and fingers, an absent left leg, and a bilateral cleft palate and lip. He had the first of many surgeries to reconstruct his face while still in Liberia and will be starting occupational and speech therapy in the coming year. William is now home and adjusting to life in America with his new family! One of his sisters, Naomi, was also adopted from Liberia with caustic ingestion. His parents, brother, and three sisters are enjoying getting to know their new brother, and have recently announced that William will soon be a big brother!

His Hands for Haiti: We raised $250 to send reusable menstrual pads to the young girls who go to the schools that His Hands sponsors, so that they won't need to miss classes when they have their period. The leftover money was sent to go towards the schools that HH4H works with, to provide pay for the teachers, go towards lunch programs, or to buy educational material for the classes. His Hands for Haiti is a wonderful program providing education to Haitian children through child sponsorship. They charge two payments of $40 each year to sponsor a child and work within eight communities in Northeast Haiti. They also offer two trips each year for sponsors to travel to Haiti to meet their sponsored children and see the work that is being done in Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere.

Red Letters Campaign: We raised $100 for RLC's Ethiopia Launch program. They are raising money to provide care for over 1000 orphans in Ethiopia! They have paired up with several Ethiopian orphanages and are looking for communities, churches, and individuals to sponsor these kids for $30 each month. They offer trips to meet the orphans and hope that the funds pooled together from sponsorship will provide long-term care for the kids, providing things like food, care, water, and education for the orphans. They do work outside of Ethiopia as well, connecting socially conscious people around the world through their website as they offer resources to learn about and help to put an end to extreme global poverty.

Apac School Project: We raised $120 to help Kate build a school in Uganda! Kate is a really inspiring 17 year old and she has taken on a HUGE project. It is her goal to raise $60,000 to build a school in Apac, Uganda. This will include a school (14 classrooms), breakfast and lunch program, dormitories to house 400 students, and some other unique programs aimed at helping rehabilitate the children from the attrocities they have faced. You can read more about Kate's vision on her website, The Apac School Project. Many of the children in Uganda are desparate for education after many schools were burned down by rebels. A classroom opened for 70 children and over 600 showed up. This school would make a HUGE difference in their lives and in the future of Uganda.

We raised $90 for an organization in Haiti led by Heartline Ministries. It is a women's program and has four components- The prenatal class meets once a week with pregnant women to provide prenatal care and to help ensure that their babies are born healthily. Once a woman gives birth, they can enter the Early Childhood Development Class. This class provides education on caring for their newborn babies and other children in the family. Each woman and her child can stay in this class for one year. The literacy class meets three times a week to teach Creole reading and writing and lasts for about four months. It is a pre-requisite to our Sewing Class, which is a six month class teaches women how to sew and run a business. The Women's Program helps very poor women who often have no other options. They are, in many cases, suffering domestic abuse, struggling with poverty and malnutrition, and dealing with trying to take care of their children. These classes really have the power to change their lives and the futures of their kids. You can further support by purchasing their bags from Haitian Creations.

August-November Blogs

2008-05-13T09:18:00.000-07:00

My Dominican Dream: A new look for my blog about my Dominican humanitarian trips.

The Littlest Linam: Join Leann in the adoption of her third child from Ethiopia.

Stillwater: Julee just started this blog about her large family. In the last 7 years she and her husband have adopted 14 children from Ethiopia, China, South Africa, Vietnam, and the USA.

El Segundo Viaje: Megan has a son adopted from Guatemala and is now in the process of adopting from Colombia.

All I Want For Christmas: Cindy blogs about her two children adopted from Guatemala.

Ross Family Trio: Meg blogs about her young son Jake.

Life With Boys: Eliana blogs about her two teenage sons.

Mayah's Fund: Jenn uses this blog, Mayah's Fund, to raise money for orphans in China with special needs, in memory of her daughter Mayah who passed away at 21 months of age.

Three Sisters and a Dog: Brenda blogs about her three daughters. All three are adopted, the youngest two from China.

The Life of Ally: Julie and Becky blog about their daughter Ally, adopted from Guatemala.

Father's Joy: Becky blogs about her daughter, Abby, who passed away at 9 days old of a rare heart defect.

Hollomon Three: Dawn is adopting her first child from Ethiopia.

Bringing Hope: Melissa, the writer of this blog, was my roommate in the DR this past summer and will be returning with me during the summer 0f 2009, again as my roommate. She will use this blog to update her sponsors on details of our trip.

India Christian Ministries: Sarah lives in India with her family and works for this charitable organization.

Recovering Noah: Leslie blogs about her daughter Nandini, adopted from India, her son Eli, adopted from Guatemala, and her oldest son Noah, who has autism and was adopted from India.

No Greater Gift: Elisabeth blogs about her 3 children her passion for Downs Syndrome adoption.

Little Lady: Jane blogs about her daughter, Cara, who was adopted from Guatemala.

Just Stuff: Daphine blogs about her family; her husband and her daughters Morgan and Jaelyn.

Skylie Smiles: Kelly blogs about her daughter, Kelly, adopted from Guatemala.

5 Chinese Sisters: Maggie blogs about her 5 daughters, all adopted from China.

Journey to Malia: Jennifer has a 14 year old son, and is adopting a baby girl from China.

This Much Is True: Kathryn is "half Southern, half Midwestern, and 100% in love with life."

Eastiopians: Theresa has a 2 year old daughter and is starting the process to adopt from Ethiopia.

Got Our Hands Full: Paula just started this new blog about her 5 kids, 2 of whom were adopted from China.

Waiting On Lucy: Christy has three daughters and is adopting 11-year old Lucy from China.

Angel Wings and Heart Strings: Shelley is adopting a baby girl from China.

Our Quest With Alex: Kim adopted her son, Alex, from Guatemala.

The Stephens 5: Amy blogs about her kids, Grace, Drew, and Zach.

Peep-Eye: Christina adopted her son from Ethiopia.

Princesa Ava: Janel adopted her daughter, Ava, from Guatemala.

Brown Eyed Gurlz: Terri adopted her two daughters from Guatemala.

The Journey Continues: Lori has a son and daughter adopted from Guatemala.

Simply Love: Kari blogs about her three kids. The youngest, her baby girl, was adopted from Ethiopia.

The Walters: Allyson blogs about her daughter and son.

Fendesha's Adventures: Kimberly blogs about her travels and her journey to adopt siblings from Ethiopia.

Trip to Peru: Kerry is going to spend a month volunteering and travelling in Peru.

Journey to Motherhood: Megan and her husband are adopting their first child from Ethiopia.

Life At The Lunds': Lynda was the winner of my most recent blog giveaway. She blogs about her 5 kids, her youngest of whom was adopted from Guatemala.

A Day In The Life: Ali blogs about her 2 young kids, Jack and Riley.

Add More Chocolate: Renee blogs about baking and her favourite recipes.

Birthed In Our Hearts: Stacy has three kids, the youngest of whom was adopted from Mongolia. She is now on the journey to bring a little boy home from Mongolia.

Stories of An Adoptive Mom: Justice blogs about her son, adopted through the US foster care system. She is now pursuing another adoption.

New Kind of Normal: Jessica blogs about her 3 sons. Her youngest has a very syndrome called Rubinstein Taybi Syndrome.

The Smallest Seed: Sunday is adopting an infant daughter from Ethiopia.

The Family Ties That Bind: Cameo blogs about her daughter, Valentina, adopted from Guatemala, and her close extended family.

A Place To Call Home: Vickie adopted her girls, Ali and Addison, from China.

Party of Five: Carol adopted her three kids from China.

Living With Baby B: Barrie blogs about her son whom she adopted from Guatemala.

The Foley Family: Kelly blogs about her kids, Ava and Max. Her son has a rare syndrome called Rubinstein-Taybi Syndrome.

The Day Our Hearts Grew: Johnda blogs about her 2 sons and her daughter adopted from Guatemala.

Into the Here: Sabrina blogs about her now 2 year old son who was adopted from Guatemala.

Storming The Castle: Jen blogs about her 2 older kids, and her little one adopted from China.

Life With Emily: Becky adopted her daughter, Emily, from China.

Harlow Adoption Auction: Diane is using this blog to fundraise for her adoption of a little girl from China.

Tree Huggin Mummy: Kimberly has 2 daughters, and blogs about raising them the "green" way.

The Freeman Family Journey: Lisa blogs about her three sons, Corey, Kyle, and Colin.

Mia Makes Six: Melinda is adopting a little girl named Mia from China.

The Rouse Files: Layne just started this blog about the little girl she is adopting from China.

The Amazing Jeremiah: Suzanne just started this blog about her son, Jeremiah, who was adopted from Guatemala.

Roots and Wings: Sarah blogs about her two daughters and her Ethiopian adoption.

Worth the Wait: Jodie blogs about her one and a half year old daughter.

Open Hands: Kim has three children, and is adopting her forth from Ethiopia.

Charlotte's 5 Angels: Charlotte blogs about her 4 kids (three of whom were adopted from China) and her grandson. She is now in the process of adopting her fifth child from Eastern Europe.

Howell Quints: Ellen blogs about her quintuplets.

Mei Mei Journal II: April blogs about her 5 kids, two of whom were adopted from China.

Missing Cooper: Suzie blogs about her son, Cooper, who died when he was 2 days old from a prolonged delivery.

Wild Adventures: Donna blogs about her twin boys who were adopted from Guatemala.

On Our Way To Ongole: Leslie has three kids, two adopted from India and one adopted from Guatemala. She will soon be going back to India on a trip to work with children with special needs.

Desert Springs: Gayla blogs about her husband and 3 kids and their life in Doha, Qatar.

Our Three Blessings: Melanie blogs about her three girls. The youngest two are twins and the oldest is adopted from Guatemala.

Jaco For Him: Kelley and her family will soon be leaving for Costa Rica to be full time missionaries in an area called Jaco.

Handsome Van: Tracey blogs about her son adopted from China.

COTA Orthotics: Jody is blogging about that work that COTA does in Guatemala, specfically in the division of orthotics and prosthetics.

Princess Heather: Heather blogs about travelling and life in general.

Freedom Through Friendship: Jody is starting a foundation that will furnish single moms with a cell phone that they can sell minutes to friends with and earn enough income to keep purchasing minutes and still make a few quetzals.

Longing For Hanna Laura: The Fisher family are blogging about adopting their daughter, Hanna, from Ethiopia.

Our Forever Family: Becca blogs about her 2 sons who were adopted from Guatemala.

Miss Magoo and Monkey 2: Cathy blogs about her two children adopted from China.

Dove Missions Blog: I started this blog and will be working on the upkeep. It is for a program in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, that I volunteer with. It provides services for the poorest children of Playa Oeste and Aguas Negras, Puerto Plata.

Ethiopia Dreams: Michelle blogs about her 3 children, and how she and her husband are beginning the process to adopt from Ethiopia.

Our Adoption Journey: Jennifer blogs about her three children, and how she is beginning the paper chase to adopt from Ethiopia.

Bows For Orphans: After adopting her boys from Ethiopia, Heather realized she wanted to do something more to help the people of her boys' country. So, she started Bows For Orphans. She is selling handmade products to raise money for orphan care in Africa.

Our Blooming Chapina: Sarah blogs about her daughter, Lily, adopted from Guatemala.

Our Miracles: Julie blogs about her 5 kids, including her 2 youngest boys who were adopted from Ethiopia.

KY Artist Place: Jody started this blog for her mother to write blog about her artwork.

Casa de King: Lila blogs about her 3 kids. Two were adopted from Haiti, and one was adopted domestically.

Little Did I Know: Lisa blogs about her 3 kids, adopted through the foster care system.

Eight Times Blessed: Janet blogs about her eight children, including three who are in the process of being adopted from Haiti.

Children of the Americas: Jody blogs about the organization COTA, that provides surgery and medical support to women and children in Guatemala.

Always and Forever: Molly adopted her daughter from Ethiopia, and is now waiting on a referal to adopt another baby girl from Ethiopia.

Our Journey To Life: Jodi blogs about her three sons, and the changes her family is making in life in order to help others, especially orphans.

The Preschool Chronicles: Melissa blogs about her son and daughter, both adopted from Russia.

The Walker Family Stories: Ally blogs about her son, Zach.

Finding What I Am Looking For: Sarah blogs about her daughter, Pippa.

Big Adventure Calling: Ginger blogs about life, her dog, Nola, and her humanitarian work.

Adoption Blessings: Melissa writes about her daughter, Gabriella, adopted from Guatemala.

Love Is Patient: Lori has a 16 year old son, and is adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia.

The Graber Gab: Ashley blogs about her sons, Joe and Sam, adopted from Guatemala.

Walking Humbly: Courtney blogs about her son, Clinton, and daughter, Heidi Sage.

Life's Little Wonders: Paige blogs about her 5 kids. Her youngest, a daughter, was adopted from China.

The Hanks Family: Kara blogs about her three kids. Her youngest, Dillon, was adopted from Guatemala.

Our Journey With Max: Chelsie blogs about her 4 year old son adopted from China.

Life As A Friedrich: Victoria blogs about her 2 sons, Jack and Charlie.

Chilling With My Peeps: JulieAnn blogs about her three kids, one of whom was adopted through the foster care system.

Precious In His Sight: Erin blogs about her kids, grandkids, and passion for mission work.

Growing Up Vaz: Heather blogs about her 3 kids. The youngest was adopted from Ethiopia.

The Ties That Bind: Becca blogs about her daughter, Ella, who was adopted from Guatemala.

Chasin Chase: Becky blogs about her husband and son, Chase, and their life in Egypt.

My Red Thread: Diane blogs about her four kids, one of whom was adopted from China. She is now in the process of bringing home her 5th child from China.

Peapod Parade: Whitney blogs about her daughter, Conley.

My 7 Passions: Chalene blogs about her 5 kids. Her twin girls were adopted from Ghana.

Butterfly Bible Studies: Pam blogs about the Bible Study that she runs.

Always In My Heart: Doreen just started this new blog. She has four daughters adopted from Guatemala.

Deer Panting In The Desert: Jameika blogs about her life in the desert as a medical technologist.

My Crazy Adoption: Kari has three kids, her youngest adopted from Ethiopia. She uses her blog to write about her family, and to encourage other parents to adopt.

From Ethiopia With Love: Liz has four kids, and one of her daughters (Tess) was adopted from Ethiopia. She is now in the process of adopting a 6 year old girl from Ethiopia.

Zehlahlum Family: Jamey has two sons, and is adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia.

Team Truman: Stacey has four boys, and a baby girl adopted from Ethiopia. She is now in the process of adopting a toddler boy.

The Family Ties That Bind: Cameo blogs about her very close family, including her daughter who was adopted from Guatemala. She is now writing about her sister as she battles cancer.

Guatemalan Prince: Kathy blogs about her son, John Carlos, who was adopted from Guatemala.

Teagan: Gina blogs about her three year old daughter, Teagan.

To Infinity and Beyond: Maggie blogs about her 6 kids; two of whom were adopted from Guatemala, and one from Ethiopia.

Stape Scoop: Karen blogs about her 2 sons, one of whom is a missionary in Vanuatu.

Naijababies: Alisa blogs about her daughter, and her second pregnancy.

The Hanks Family: Kara blogs about her son, adopted from Guatemala, and her 2 daughters.