I found out that saving up money in an account is not a way I like to do it. So I decided that I would rather save up work days and after I had bought the plane tickets I would get them paid the next pay-day.
After collecting clothes from our own family and some from my grandmother, I thought it would be a good idea to send out a message at work if anyone had any wool/winter clothes left over that I could bring with me to refugees in Lebanon. I did not really expect much response because most already give them away to good causes already, but maybe someone had not already given them away and this was the time most people would check and see what they had.
The response was enormous and in ways I did not even think of.
I received a lot of clothes for young boys, especially many wool inner clothes for 12ish year old and some for girls, something I had nothing of coming from a family with only boys.
The names will be added later (after I ask them and if they agree) in great appreciation of what they have given me. Because of their support I was able to bring 60 items of clothes! More then I had expected and something that was the absolutely maximum I could have. I needed some space for my own clothes as well, after all I was planning to stay for 10 days as a vacation to try and get this to work.
I was astounded by the amount and people coming to say that they had given away their clothes already. But there is nothing wrong in that, as long as it goes to a good cause and that someone who needs it get to use it I am happy!
One of the emails I got as a response asked me a bit about it. So I wrote back that it was my own little project, that I had saved 1000$ and would bring the clothes I collected, where I had planned to go etc.
After a few days I got a response saying that he had brought up my little project to his philanthropist group who donate money to charity several times a year and that they would match the amount I had collected!
I was speechless, I didnt really know what to say. I had not even thought about asking others as I was so unsure if this would work or not. It was just a trial-project for myself.
By asking in 1 email at work I doubled the clothes I would bring plus doubled the money I could give to the refugees. While I was really happy for this amazing amount of support it also made me feel pressure and if there was even space enough for my own clothes.
Considering that is the biggest worry I had it was already going to be great.
My project was something personal and I dont like talking about lofty ideas and plans that never gets realized. So I kept it to myself and were keeping an eye on airplane fares to Lebanon and using even less money on myself while trying to find a time I actually could take some time off.
In September the prices seemed to become very low for October and I found a round-trip ticket from Bergen to Beirut via London for around 500$ from October 11 to 21st of October. The only backside was a long wait on the way back at Heathrow, but its worth it.
The amount I could spare was around 1000$, excluding any other expense. So now I could start collecting the clothes I wanted to bring. My plan was to wrap them all and mark them so I could give them knowing exactly what was inside them. This did not really go as planned, but more about that later.
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| A lot of big wool socks, scarves, leggings lined up |
After collecting clothes from our own family and some from my grandmother, I thought it would be a good idea to send out a message at work if anyone had any wool/winter clothes left over that I could bring with me to refugees in Lebanon. I did not really expect much response because most already give them away to good causes already, but maybe someone had not already given them away and this was the time most people would check and see what they had.
The response was enormous and in ways I did not even think of.
I received a lot of clothes for young boys, especially many wool inner clothes for 12ish year old and some for girls, something I had nothing of coming from a family with only boys.
The names will be added later (after I ask them and if they agree) in great appreciation of what they have given me. Because of their support I was able to bring 60 items of clothes! More then I had expected and something that was the absolutely maximum I could have. I needed some space for my own clothes as well, after all I was planning to stay for 10 days as a vacation to try and get this to work.
I was astounded by the amount and people coming to say that they had given away their clothes already. But there is nothing wrong in that, as long as it goes to a good cause and that someone who needs it get to use it I am happy!
One of the emails I got as a response asked me a bit about it. So I wrote back that it was my own little project, that I had saved 1000$ and would bring the clothes I collected, where I had planned to go etc.
After a few days I got a response saying that he had brought up my little project to his philanthropist group who donate money to charity several times a year and that they would match the amount I had collected!
 |
| Different clothes lined up for wrapping |
By asking in 1 email at work I doubled the clothes I would bring plus doubled the money I could give to the refugees. While I was really happy for this amazing amount of support it also made me feel pressure and if there was even space enough for my own clothes.
Considering that is the biggest worry I had it was already going to be great.
