It seems we can’t get away from natural disasters these days – earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and droughts. I remember when I was a kid, South Texas got hit with some pretty devastating drought years where water restrictions were quite strict. I always remember my Nan lamenting the loss of her grass, her tomatoes, and the strawberries in those years.
This year has been unlike any other, for so many people. Here on the East Coast, Hurricane Irene devastated more areas than I care to count. In our own yard, a tree fell and took out my car (totaled), the retaining wall, power, and internet in one fell swoop. We have insurance though, our health, and our home is still in one solid piece. We’re going to be okay.
As much as I live in New Jersey, though, my heart is always in Texas. The tales of drought, dryness and wildfires this year have been chipping away at me, feeling helpless from so far away. If I were home, I’d go help out in a shelter, or bake and cook lots of stuff for the firefighters working tirelessly to try and save what and who they can.
You see, firefighters are my extended family. My brother-in-law is one, has been a member of the San Antonio Fire Department for most of his and my sister’s marriage. I feel an extra kinship to those guys and the work they’re trying to do in Bastrop, Austin, and the surrounding areas right now.
Image Courtesy of Time.com
The people of Central Texas are hurting right now. Many folks’ homes have turned to ash and rubble. They have no choice but to rebuild every inch of their lives.
Image Courtesy of Time.com
We can do something to help. All of us. Even though we’re far away.
The Red Cross of Central Texas needs our help. They’re doing everything they can to keep people safe and sheltered, clothed and fed. (Follow them on Twitter for updates.)
All those things take money. Even just a handful of days this month without my house in working order reminded me just how much money that stuff can take.
I’ve asked several of my favorite companies to partner with me here today to create a raffle to benefit the Red Cross of Central Texas. Below, you will find 3 prizes, each worth at least $150. Wait, hold on – Scharffen Berger Chocolate, Miss from Miss in the Kitchen and Shawnda from Confections of a Foodie Bride are awesome! Below you will find 6 prizes, ranging in value from $16.95 to $225.
Chicago Metallics Package
Chicago Metallics on Facebook | Chicago Metallics on Twitter
Estimated Retail Value – $165.00
KerryGold Irish Cheese & Butter Gift Basket
KerryGold USA on Facebook | KerryGold USA on Twitter
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(2) wedges Kerrygold Swiss Cheese (2) wedges Kerrygold Blarney Castle Cheese (2) wedges Kerrygold Aged Cheddar (2) wedges Kerrygold Reserve Cheddar (2) wedges Kerrygold Red Leicester (2) packs Kerrygold Pure Irish Butter (2) packs Kerrygold Unsalted Butter (2) packs of Kerrygold Garlic and Herb Butter |
Estimated Retail Value – $150.00
Keurig Special Edition Brewing System
Keurig on Facebook | Keurig on Twitter
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From Keurig’s website:
“The Special Edition Brewing System brews a perfect cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or iced beverage in under one minute at the touch of a button. Featuring chrome accents and a blue, backlit LCD display, the Special Edition brewer allows you to program water temperature, set the digital clock and Auto On/Off. With the choice of three cup sizes, the Special Edition brewer offers a removable drip tray to accommodate travel mugs.” Programmable |
Estimated Retail Value – $149.99
New Additions !
Scharffen Berger Chocolate Baking Set
Scharffen Berger on Facebook | Scharffen Berger on Twitter
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The Scharffen Berger® Chocolate Maker “Everything Basic Baking Set” includes the staples needed for fall baking season: Sweetened and Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder, Roasted Cacao Nibs, and three 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bars. Created with the world’s best cacao beans that are perfectly fermented and roasted, Scharffen Berger® chocolate will give a rich, elevated taste to any sweet or savory recipe. (1) Sweetened Natural Cocoa Powder, 8 oz. (1) Unsweetened Natural Cocoa Powder, 8 oz. (1) Roasted Cacao Nibs, 6 oz. (3) 70% Cacao Bittersweet Chocolate Baking Bars, 9.7 oz. |
Estimated Retail Value – $60.00
Miss in the Kitchen Cotton Flour Sack Towels
Miss in the Kitchen on Facebook | Miss in the Kitchen on Twitter
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Miss from Miss in the Kitchen has kindly added a set of her handmade towels to this raffle. You can choose from any of the designs found on her website. Miss is originally from Texas, and her towel designs truly speak of Cowboys, Texans, and the Country life. The towels are an eco-friendly replacement for paper towels in any kitchen, and beautiful to boot. |
Estimated Retail Value $16.95
Kitchen Aid 5 Qt Empire Red Stand Mixer
Confections of a Foodie Bride on Facebook | FoodieBride on Twitter
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From Shawnda at Confections of a Foodie Bride
Shawnda has graciously offered to purchase and ship an Empire Red 5Qt Kitchen Aid Mixer to the raffle ticket winner! 325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl |
Estimated Retail Value – $225.99
How To Enter
Donate Here
Please choose “Disaster Relief” from the choices. Once you have donated, you will receive an email confirmation of your donation from the Red Cross. Forward this email to:
[email protected]
For every $5 donated, you will receive 1 raffle entry.
Edited to add:
Please note, it has been brought to my attention the Red Cross website requires a minimum donation of $10.
This means $10 gets you two entries. If you donate $25, you’ll get 5 entries. The more you donate, the more chances you get to win.
I will return by email your “ticket numbers”.
Official Stuff
- This raffle fundraiser has been approved by the American Red Cross of Central Texas.
- The raffle will close on September 21st, 2011 at 12:01 A.M. EST
- Entries will be input into a spreadsheet in the order received. Raffle ticket numbers will be sequential.
- Liking these companies on facebook or following them on twitter will not increase your chances of winning, but it sure would be nice of you to do so anyway, as a Thank You for their donation.
- Winners will be chosen via a random number generator.
- The first winner chosen will get to choose from the 6 prizes. The second winner chosen will choose from the remaining 5 prizes. The third winner chosen will choose from the remaining 4 prizes. The fourth winner choose from the remaining 3 prizes. The fifth winner chosen will choose from the remaining 2 prizes. The sixth winner chosen will get the remaining prize.
- Each winner will have 24 hours from my initial email to respond with their prize choice or a new winner will be chosen.
- Each prize will be shipped directly by the company to the winner. If your prize is the KerryGold gift basket, you must be available for delivery, as it is a perishable prize. KerryGold will work with you directly to arrange a date that best suits you.
- You must have a United States delivery address to win. This is due to customs costs and international food shipping regulations.
{ 27 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh Amber, thank you so much for doing this. As heartbreaking as this is (and you chose stellar pictures to illustrate that) the generosity of everyone has been outstanding. Every place I go in town has a way to donate to those affected, and even though our drought levels and fire danger are still incredibly high it’s encouraging to know that we have each other’s backs when the next fire inevitably flares up.
Big ‘ol hugs from Austin to you.
Megan, big ol’ hugs right back at you. I couldn’t sit by and do nothing. I’m just so grateful these companies agreed to help me. I hope we can raise a decent amount of cash!
Thank you very much for doing this! I’m very touched by your gesture. Be well and thrive!
Hector, we Texans stick together. No matter where we live!
Hey Sis, can’t thank you enough for putting this together! I can speak from the wife of a firefighter and I will tell all of you that helping to donate this money is so important. Our firefighters are so dehydrated, hungry and exhausted because of all the fires in the past weeks. I am so grateful for the wonderful donations provided by the Red Cross and others like H-E-B to step in and provide them with water, gatorade and food to keep these crews going. THANK YOU to Chicago Metallics, Kerrygold USA and Keurig for their donations to provide an incentive for people to donate to this cause. Please say prayers for the families that have lost everything and for all the firefighters that continue to try and save our land and our homes. I’ve never been worried when my husband goes to work, until lately.
Love you, Chell. I’ve been so worried about Jeremy too lately. I don’t ever worry unless it’s wildfires or water rescues! *sigh*
what a great cause to donate to, and wonderful prizes.
Thanks so much, Angela, for your comment and your donation.
This is an amazing idea! Here is Ottawa, Canada we don’t see much of any extreme weather, thank goodness, and it is always devastating to hear. Thanks for this.
Thanks for reading, Katrina. Lots of love x
What an amazing you’re thing you’re doing, Amber. So sorry about your car and everything. My heart just breaks when I see the photos from Vermont and Texas.
Thanks, Julie. We’re okay, but appreciate your good thoughts. My heart breaks too, that’s why I’m doing this. We’re separately donating to the red cross in vermont too.
What a great raffle for such a great cause. My dad is a volunteer firefighter and I’m sure he would approve. :-)
Thanks, Tracy :)
Amber, here again, I am soooo proud of you. This was really a neat thing to do. Not only do we do something nice we might GET something nice. Much love to you.
Sheila
Thank you, Sheila. I learned it by watching you! ;) Love right back at ya.
Thank you, this is wonderful of you! Our local (Huntsville) radio station KSAM put together an impromto remote to ask for donations for our local Vol Firefighters and raised $24000, in one afternoon. Maybe other radio stations can do it when they get a little breather.
Tracy, I doubt we’ll raise $24K, but I started with a goal of $500, and we’re already well on our way to $1,000! Thank you so much for your donation and kind words.
What an amazing opportunity to donate to help families, and gain chances at awesome prizes! I donated, thanks so much!
Theresa, wasn’t it so lovely of so many people to donate stuff? We’re well on our way to $1000!
A lot of my family live very close to where all of these fires are happening. The fear that they are living with every day is so horrible. I pray for rain each night.
Thank you for doing such an amazing fundraiser for Red Cross. As another misplaced Texan, I thank you so much!
Jessica, thank you so much for your donation. We’ll always be Texans, no matter where we live, right?
Thank you for this! I’m also hosting a similar raffle on my blog, and I’m just so excited that so many people are getting involved! I was not affected, but I do live near Magnolia where the second-biggest fire was and the destruction is devastating. Thank you to anyone who donates (to anywhere)!
Lauren, stay safe! I’m happy to help in any way that I can.
Thanks so much for organizing this! It’s such a great cause for people in such great need!
Hope your fundraiser is successful.
What a wonderful thing you’re doing!! My father was a volunteer firefighter and his unit was like our family.. Great people! Glad I got a chance to donate.
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