This week I wanted to use the rest of the surplus of money collected for the Spa Bag project to do something fun for the Safelight Domestic Violence Shelter. I set aside what will be needed for the October delivery of the last spa bags, and found I had just enough to do a special project for this week. In the past I have found some fun water bottles with great messages, but that was not the case this year. I really couldn’t find anything I considered appropriate. The last thing I want to do is give an abuse survivor something with “Bang, Pow” on it. So, I emailed the shelter director, Christine, and asked about bringing them a cake for the holiday. Christine said they were doing a party with hot dogs and games, and a cake would be a wonderful addition. I set to work on the stamping bench to make some cards to celebrate freedom to go with it. I printed the “Celebrate Your Independence” using my computer and color ink, then mounted those sentiments on red card stock.
The gold fireworks stamp is really a snowflake, but with a sparkly crystal in the center, it looks like a celebration. I used five different stamps for the messages in side, so not everyone got the same one. The back side has a little angel stamp that says “stamped with love”.
I assembled 24 of them for the adults currently at the shelter and a few extras for anyone that might come in this weekend. I added three sparkly stars to the fronts of the cards. Then I stamped the envelopes with the sentiment “You are Amazing, always remember that.”
Yesterday, after a fun guild area meeting, and a lovely lunch with friends, I went to Publix to pick up the cake I had ordered. It is a special order, half-sheet, premium vanilla cake with a strawberry filling and buttercream frosting, with little sprinkles for fireworks. The decorator added some dimensional plastic stars as a finishing touch. It looked so good!! And I wished I could have had a piece, LOL!
As I was checking out, the cashier remarked on the sentiment on the cake, so I told her who it was for and why it said this. As I was talking, the lady in line behind me commented on how nice it was, and asked if I worked there. I said, no, but my readers and I support the shelter. As I was getting my change and receipt, she and the cashier were talking about the shelter. Then, as I was turning to go, the lady said “ma’am?”, and I turned to her. She held out a $20 bill, and said to add it to the fund. It is always a surprise to me when this happens, and I thanked her as I added the bill to the Safelight cash envelope. It is so gratifying to see the kindness of people who want to help their community. It must have been divine intervention, as reader Vicki in MN had emailed me that she could make cards for the next delivery but she didn’t have envelopes. I came home and ordered more envelopes (on sale for the holiday at Michaels online) for the next round of cards for the spa bag project with that money to go with Vicki’s cards and my own. I do not know her name, nor do I know if she will see this or not (I did give her a blog card), but I hope she knows that I am grateful for her support and her contribution is already going to the service of the shelter.
A little while later, Christine sent me a couple of photos. Christine said “Here’s our wonderful intern Alison winning the day with fun and food for the whole shelter!”
She also sent this one of the buffet table during set up. Christine said “Honestly, the women were most excited about the cake!”
Thank you to everyone who contributed to the Safelight Project with donations of money. Every penny is spent to support these courageous women and men. I also want to thank Mary H, who made a donation to Safelight mentioning my name. I received a letter yesterday acknowledging the gift without giving details. Thank you for supporting this worthy cause.
Wherever you are today, Celebrate Your Freedom!
From My Carolina Home 
I loved the idea of providing the cake…so nice along with the patriotic messages. I was wondering where you got the stamp “imagine with all your mind” etc? We have a ministry that provides gift bags for a local women’s and children’s shelter for abused individuals and it is always difficult to think of appropriate encouraging messages to include. We are a Christian group of women but avoid religious messages because we don’t know the religious preferences of the women and for that reason the shelter discourages this kind of message. Anyway I think yours would be nice. thanks, Linda
What a special post!
Great ideas! Well done!
who doesn’t love cake! great idea to add that to their party.
what a wonderful thing to do for the shelter!
This is so incredibly wonderful — the idea of doing something special (And I love that phrase, too!) and especially the lady at the counter. The cake looks fantastic and I can tell the women loved it.
On another note, do you need the small notecard envelopes? I found a big box of plain white ones I’d be happy to send (or send in shifts) — they fit the small card size. I can measure when I get home. I’ll pull out a few but truly, more than I will ever use and I was going to either recycle or donate somewhere. Let me know.
Happy July 4 and beyond, Carole! I think we all need to celebrate our own independence, however we interpret that.
Such a wonderful post….yes Celebrate Your Freedom! Thank you for this and for bringing some blessings and cake to their lives. I do love the story of the encounter with the woman at the store…perfect!
This has made my day with smiles and warmth in my heart. Thank you for sharing. Loved making bags for Safelight last year and will be awaiting your call for them this year. “Celebrate Your Independence” is the perfect phrase.
out of all of the special things you do this has got to be the most rewarding.
Carole, the cake turned out lovely. I’m sure it tasted as good as it looked. How thoughtful of the woman in your check-out line. The world needs more people like her ~ and you! Also, you did a beautiful job on the charity quilt; thank you so much.
What a special thing to do! I love the Celebrate YOUR Freedom ! Brilliant message!
In a week with some much bad news, it was a relief to read something uplifting and to know that we can all make a difference in someone’s life. Thank you for all you do. Have a relaxing and spirited 4th.
I agree with all the sentiments expressed and can’t really add anything more except to say thank you and thank all who contribute to this project. This the best thing I’ve read all day. I support our Esperanza Women’s Shelter where I live monetarily, but not with all the special things that you do for the women and the occasional man at Safelight.
Oh, that cake is perfect!
I am so happy to help Carole! I was stamping again today, so much fun coming up with new ideas. So nice of the lady to hand over $ and you have the envelopes now:) Happy 4th!
Well done Carole,
With this project you give a lot of people happy moments!
Thanks for all you do, Carole!
You are a thoughtful person and a cake was a nice addition to their party
Thanks you Carole for the joy you spread. Happy INDEPENDENCE Day!
Carole, what a beautiful way to honor the members of Safelight. You are so creative and thoughtful. You spread the message about Safelight and touched the heart of others. You go lady!
Caro