Boo Running!

TEAM SOUL PURPOSE!

Actually, this is only part of the team.  By race time we were about 20 strong. (AWESOMENESS!!!!)  The non-stop rain made it a little tricky to get pictures.  That's right.  Non-stop rain.  We were all cold and wet and happy at the end of the race. 

How fantastic is it to be wth a group of people who believe in a cause and will brave the elements to support it?

How can you feel anything but great when you know you have done something to help others?

Thank you ALL for coming out to the peninsula with us to take part in Safenet's Boo Run.  Thank you to those of you who made donations directly to Safenet.  You are amazing!

Who knew Frankenstein could be so adorable? 

Amy and Ellie.

 Melissa and Annabelle modelling the race shirts after warming up.

And a close up of the logo.

Thank you all for supporting Safenet and Project 2!

YOU are making a difference!



Domestic abuse is......

Domestic abuse is scary.  It is not knowing what the next day or sometimes the next moment brings.  It is feeling ashamed.  It is lying to cover for the person you love, no matter how they are treating you.  It is not feeling worth it.  It is feeling that no one  understands.  It is losing friends, family, and others that you love because they can not understand or you are just to afraid to open up to them.  It is driving home and feeling sick to your stomach because you are not sure what waits for you.  It is feeling so lonely all the time.  It is almost losing your job due to call offs because the night before you were having your head slammed into the floor.  It is being spit in the face.  It is being told that you  are nothing.  It is covering your arms so no one can see the bruises.  It is making excuses to not go places because of the bruises.  It is taking so much blame on yourself that you are convinced you deserve it.
It is.....sad
It is....desparate
It is..... hard to leave.  That does not make sense to some, but it really is hard to leave.  It is making plans to be safe and still not being sure you will be safe.  It is facing the fact that the person you trusted with your life and your heart is the one that is hurting you the  most.  It is taking months, years, or even decades to undo the damage.  It is thinking you are doing just fine and then being slapped in the face with a memory that brings you to tears.  If is feeling like you have no voice, no control, and no choice.

Please come out and support SafeNet next weekend at the Boo Run Run.  Help them continue to protect, councel, and rebuild these women.

Register here:  http://safeneterieboorun.weebly.com/

Boo Run Run

The Boo Run Run is just over a month away! Have you gotten registered yet?

 

A few questions have come up so we just wanted to clarify a couple of things. This is a FUN event. Don't let "5K" intimidate you. If you want to run, please do, but as of now the majority of our team is going to be walking the course.

 

If you want to wear a costume, again, please do, but you do not have to.  :)

 

We would love to see you there running, walking, skipping, or dancing.

Costumed, not costumed, in your pj's, or however you would like to dress.

If you are still working out your schedule and are not sure you can commit to that day yet, just remember you can register the day of the event.  And you can always sponser Team Soul Purpose with a donation!

Hope to see you there!!

Announcing Project 2!!

We are so excited to get started with Project 2. We are hoping for a great turn out that will benefit a wonderful and unfortunately much needed organization. 

SafeNet is an organization that helps house, counsel, and protect women dealing with domestic violence.  Click the link below to learn more about SafeNet, their programs and what they do.

http://www.safeneterie.org

Did you know?

-One in four women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime.

-Nearly 50% of homeless women and children are homeless because of domestic violence.

-More than three women a day are murdered by their husband or boyfriend.

-Most cases of domestic violence are never reported.

These women are alone, afraid, and embarassed.  They stay in dangerous relationships out of fear and because they start to believe that they are the problem and that they deserve what is being done to them.  They have no self-esteem left.  They truly are broken.

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We want to help in any small way that we can.  Housing, counsel, and protection of these women costs money.  October 28, 2012  Safenet is having a 5k walk/run and all the proceeds will help with these expenses.  It is called the Boo Run Run and as you can guess from the title it is a costume run.  There will be prizes for the best costumed runner/walker.  There will be door prizes and trick-or-treat candy.  You will also receive a long sleeve T-shirt with your registration.

It is going to be lots of fun and we are hoping for a big Soul Purpose team.

How to join the Soul Purpose Team, you ask?  Fill in the registration form that you can find right HERE.  You can give it and your registration fee to Clarissa or Lisa. We will get it where it needs to go and add you to our "roster".  Or you can mail it to Safenet on your own and email us at soulpurpose.erie@gmail.com and we will know to add you to the roster.  

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So get dressed up, come out, walk/run, have lots of fun, and help us raise funds for Safenet and the amazing work they do.

Overwhelmed

Wow.  You guys rock. 

Here we are at today's scheduled drop off. (Notice we are out in the sun this time!)

And here is what you brought for Community Shelter Services today. (Awesome!)

And here is the result of your generosity...

Wow.  Seriously - Wow.  Our kiddos helped to get it all sorted to make it easier to distribute...

Some numbers for you:

Notebooks - 164

Pencils - 903

Boxes of crayons - 94

Boxes of markers - 64

Folders - 96

Glue sticks - 197

Pens - 342

Colored pencils - 61

Bookbags - 16

(and lots and lots of erasers, scissors, pencils cases, highlighters and other fun stuff)

When we started this project we, in our own minds, knew what we wanted to happen.  This is far beyond.  We are overwhelmed and more than thrilled.  Thank you for making this possible. We are very much looking forward to sharing our next project with you.



Project 1 Update

We are counting down the days of our collection of school supplies for Community Shelter Services.  We have one week left before we need to get everything into Mary's hands so that she can get them to the children waiting to use them.

The first Drop Off was yesterday.  We were all set to have a table at the park and greet you all in the sunshine.  The weather really decided not to cooperate, so Plan B went into effect and the Drop Off became mobile!


Claire and Lisa hanging out in Soul Purpose Mobile Headquarters!

 A big thank you to those of you who braved the rain with us. Watching everyone add to the totes we are keeping things in has been so exciting!

Our second Drop Off is scheduled for Sunday, August 19th.  We will be at Frontier Park, right across from the amazing Romolos, from 12:30 - 2:30.  Sing the "Rain, Rain Go Away" song with us, and maybe we will get some sunshine this week.
Seven days and counting!  Let's see how many more kids we can help start the school year with everything they need!

Supply List Update

Our contact, Mary, at Community Shelter Services has given us an updated list of the things their children need to start the school year.  Check off a few items the next time you go shopping.

backpacks
3 ring binders ~1 to 1 1/2 inches
pencils
glue sticks
crayons
facial tissue
erasers
scissors
two pocket folders
spiral notebooks
colored pencils
plastic pencil cases
rulers
loose leaf notebook paper
packaged notebook dividers
pens
highlighters
Trapper Keepers
black Sharpie markers
pencil sharpeners
small sticky notes
lined notecards
colored markers ~ thin or wide


We were also told that school clothes items are also needed, if you can pick up any of these items, they would be appreciated.

any size child/teen/adult white or navy polo shirts.
any size child/teen/adult khaki, navy, or black uniform pants.
white socks
new 3-6 pack underwear.