Crochet for a Cure Fall 2008

There were positives and negatives about this year's Crochet for a Cure. There were parts that I was happy with and parts that I was very disappointed about. I think maybe I had too high of expectations, so the fall was that much harder.


Let me start with what did go well. I do not want to seem ungrateful because I was blessed to have friends and family who do care. Stevi's family did so much and I am very appreciative of their efforts. They let me use their home, Stevi and Ripley made so many crocheted goods, Joe helped put prices on the items, Bryan baked an assortment of delicious dessets, and Teri made flower arrangements to give to high donors. The small amount of people that came were incredibly generous because we made $314. I am so thankful that they took some time out of their Saturdays to spend some time with me, and support me in a cause that means so much to me. So from the bottom of my heart, I thank those who gave their time, money, and hearts to me last night.


I was also disappointed by a lot of my friends and family. I do not have this event to make money for myself or Stevi. We take 50% of the profits, but I guarantee that does not cover the price of our yarn or our time. We do it because we want to honor my mom. I want to do something, no matter how small it is, to make a difference. And yet, I was left feeling that a lot of people just didn't care. I can't tell you how many people did not rsvp, many of whom were my own relatives. I am not talking about only one or two people, because a good portion of my invite list had to be contacted by me. I understand if people couldn't make it, but I can't understand why I had to call and email people prior to the sale to find out whether or not they were coming. I don't think I have ever not responded to an invitation that I have received. Now I understand people live very busy lives. I understand that people may have had plans already, but all I wanted was an accurate head count. But I felt like I had to go out and ask a lot of people on my guest list whether or not they were coming. When I did finally get responses I was at 30 people who were coming, and a whole lot of maybe's which was wonderful! Last year's sale had only 9 participants and I made $289. So I thought this year was going to blow it away! But sadly, out of those 30, only 13 showed up. And out of those 17 who didn't come, only a few were curtious enough to call and say they couldn't make it. Again, I am absolutely understanding if something came up, and a person couldn't attend. What I can't understand is those people who didn't call me to say they weren't coming. One person who told me they were coming and requested a specific item that I scrambled to finish in the last 2 weeks before the sale, didn't show up. I was also annoyed at the senior citizen that my dad brought to the sale. My dad met this women years ago because he volunteers to drive the elderly to a Thanksgiving dinner at a church each year. He is nice enough to check on this 85 year old and make sure she is doing ok. She met my mom when we had her over for coffee and cake a few years ago. So we thought it would be a nice evening out for her. Well, my dad picked her up and dropped her off. We served her desserts and coffee. She talked everybody's ears off and we even wrapped up some cookies for her to take home. And yet she did not give us anything, not even one dollar! Now I understand as a senior she is on a fixed income and all. But I felt like for all my dad does for her she could have given us a little something.

I was also hoping that more of the maybes would make it. Now they were not definite so I understand them not being able to come, but not one out of about 25-30 maybes came. We purposely made it a stop and go event this year, from 7-11 so people could stop by before or after work or their other plans. We left everything out until 11, because we were hoping some more people would come by, but no one else came. None of the mom's whose children I have been teaching religion for 4 years came. None of the people my Dad has worked with for 22 years came! I was just so disappointed by the small turnout and lack of a response overall.

I hope this doesn't seem mean and whiny. And again, I am not trying to pressure anybody and tell them what to do with their money. I know the economy is bad right now, but we offer items priced from $2 up to $30. We try to have something for everyone, so that even someone with not a lot of money can get a little something. I know I shouldn't expect that people have to care about my cause. But you know, it really hurts. I feel like I do what I can for other people. I try to be supportive of other people's events and causes. I guess it just hurts so much because this cause is so personal to me. It's the one thing I feel like I do to keep my mother's memory alive. Stevi and I work are hands to the point of aches and pains to make it all. And I feel like we try to make quality stuff. We put care into each item we make, and I was left feeling that aside from a select few, no one cared about what we were trying to do.

Overall, this is not directed at anyone in particular. I understand that each person had individual circumstances last night and I know things come up. I was disappointed on a whole rather than with individual people. So if anyone is reading this and was unable to make it last night, I am not targeting anyone in particular. I am more upset by people who didn't rsvp initially or the people who told me they were coming, but just didn't show up and didn't call or anything. Again, I apologize if I seem upset, I just wanted so much more from this year's sale, and when my expectations weren't met I was very disappointed. I promise I am not forgetting the good that came out of this event. I just needed to vent a lot of my frustrations and my blog seemed a good place to do it.

Moving forward, here are a few good things.

1. We did make $314 so that is a donation of $157. Since we had so much left over, we took pictures of the 70 items that were left and put them on photobucket. Maybe some of the people who couldn't make it will want to get something. http://photobucket.com/crochet4acure.

2. We might be adding a fourth crocheter to next year's event which will be wonderful.

3. I am going to try and still spread the word, and maybe get our event and the causes of uterine cancer published in some small newspapers or something.

4. I have decided that next year's event will be held at a real craft fair. That way it will be open to the outside public and I won't have to ask people that I know. I will still make everyone aware of when it will be, but I won't be so dependent on their support.

Thank you to anyone who has supported Crochet for a Cure this year or in the past! It really does mean so much to me!

I really did try Mom.... I love and miss you very much!