Giving Back in 2012

Another year has come and gone, and 2012 was a big success story for Lofted Designs! Happily, this translates to increased donations at the end of the year to organizations that help others.

As you may know, each quarter I select a non-profit organization to receive a portion of Lofted Designs' profits. In addition to the great success I experienced at craft fairs and events this year, I hit a huge milestone by surpassing 450 sales on Etsy in December! Thank you (yes, YOU!) for supporting my small business and helping to make this possible.

HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF

All proceeds from pet ID tags sold on my Etsy site between the time of Hurricane Sandy and the end of 2012 were donated to organizations on the ground in New York and New Jersey including the American Red Cross and the Humane Society's Disaster Relief Fund to help people and pets displaced by the storm. 

B.O.N.E.S.
Beagles of New England States is a charity very near and dear to me, since I am the proud mama of a beagle rescue. I try to include them in my charitable giving whenever possible. They have rescued, rehabilitated and found loving homes for more than 1,200 beagles since their start nine years ago.

THE CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN
Based in Portland, Maine, the Center for Grieving Children has provided free bereavement support and crisis response to children, teens, young adults and their families for 25 years. They encourage the safe expression of grief and loss and foster each individual’s resilience and emotional well-being.

HOPE ELEPHANTS

Hope Elephants is a unique facility in Maine that cares for retired elephants, provides education programming about elephants and inspires wildlife conservation. Rosie and Opal, a pair of aging and injured retired circus elephants, receive state-of-the-art physical therapy and nutritional support in a purpose-built habitat dedicated to their needs.

**Sandy Sale Update**

For those of you who have been keeping up with my blog, you know I donate a portion of my proceeds from sales to a local non-profit each quarter. You also know I have an awesome dog named Sandy. You also know that Sandy was excited for her namesake storm last week (since everyone kept saying her name all the time).

Well, now Hurricane Sandy has come and gone and left complete and utter destruction in its wake. Many places near my hometown in New Jersey are devastated beyond belief. Thankfully, all my friends and family are out of harm's way, but the road to recovery and rebuilding will be a very long one.

As a result, beagle Sandy and I have decided to turn her hurricane sale into a hurricane relief fund.

All proceeds from pet ID tags sold on my Etsy site through the end of the year will be donated to organizations on the ground in New York and New Jersey including the American Red Cross and the Humane Society's Disaster Relief Fund (to help pets lost or displaced from the storm). 

I typically choose a local non-profit each quarter for my donations, but this devastation is very near and dear to my heart, "local" is a relative term, and this is where our help is needed most. Beagle Sandy and I thank you for your support, as always.