Monday, November 24, 2014

A Whole Month to Be Thankful For

We’ve come a long way in the past few months.

The lineup for the fundraiser at
Washington DC's Keren Ethiopian Restaurant.
At the time of my last blog post, I admit that I was a bit worried about the pace of our fundraising. $1,000 per month? That would stretch the project out to 2016. People would be waiting for water that entire time.

I was wrong to assume that things would progress in a linear fashion. Already, this November is a month where we’ve raised nearly $1,000 from a donut sale at St. John the Evangelist parish in West Chester, Ohio, and nearly another $1,000 through the generosity of my former coworkers at the International Labour Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. Nearly $400 came from an Ethiopian charity buffet night at Keren Restaurant in Washington, DC planned, and some of the connections we made have promising potential for future events.

The donut table, just before the appetites of
St. John churchgoers in West Chester, Ohio struck.
On top of all that, we’re starting a campaign to help local businesses in Atlanta, Cincinnati, and Washington, DC show their support for our cause by putting a “This Business Supports Clean Water in Ethiopia” sticker in their front window with a link to our webpage.

We’re crossed the halfway point of our $25,000 goal faster than I’d ever expected. For that, I’m thankful today. And for certain, the people of Ganda Boya will be thankful once we reach our goal and bring clean running water to a village that’s never had it.

For everyone's deep and continued generosity, creativity, and genuine concern for their fellow human beings, I am thankful. Happy Thanksgiving to all of our donors, supporters, volunteers, and leaders. You continue to provide proof of the power of good in the world.

Danny