Drum Roll...

The girls have finished their fundraising for Africa.  They reached their goal and passed it just a little.  The total raised was $1,014.  They had received a matching gift for the $1,000 goal.  We pledge to match after the $1,000 (we got the easier end).  So, the grand total being sent into World Vision to fight famine in the horn of Africa is......

$2,028

Victory!

Well, the August 1st deadline is tomorrow and a donation from friends came in that put the girls past their goal!  The girls have received their match.  We are matching anything after the $1,000 mark so in the next day or two their final total will be up...stay tuned & thanks for all your support!

2 days left....

The girls have 2 days left to raise the final $53 to meet their $1,000 goal to fight famine in Africa.  If the girls raise the last $53 a family has agreed to match the $1,000!!!  Come on girls you can do it!

$79

Only $79 away from their goal!  The girls have 15 days left in their quest for $1,000 to fight famine in the horn of Africa.  Thanks to all who have donated!  Spread the word.  Rumor has it if the girls reach their goal someone has pledged to match the $1,000......imagine what $2,000 means to hungry people in a famine stricken land.

Lemonade

2 girls, 2 states, 1 goal.  Yep, that is how it all began months ago.  They each came up with ideas to raise funds for Famine in Africa.  They set a goal.  They sold toys, collected bottles, rode bikes, talked to family, friends, classmates, and sold lemonade.

Last weekend one of the girls sold lemonade and made $49!  Way to go!

15.4 Miles

Well, this weekend was the planned bike-a-thon and despite not practicing our goal at all...(we had a crazy week selling our house unexpectantly).

Abby and I spilt our biking into 2 trips.  Last night we biked 7.7 miles and this morning we biked another 7.7 miles totaling 15.4 miles in 12 hours.

As of right now, Abby raised $280!
So, the total tally meter is changed to reflect her pledges and the $37 from her change jar.

The girls are only $243 from their goal with 6 weeks to go.

Bike-a-thon

Well, our bikes have been getting ready for the big Bike-a-thon!  Abby has been taking pledges for June 16th when she will ride 10 miles to symbolize the 10 days people in the horn of Africa walk to find food.

If you would like to sponsor her, feel free to 

1.  Email us: brandydulak@yahoo.com

2.  Leave a comment with your name or email and we'll contact you

Abby returned another $12 in donated bottles.

Another one of the "girls" is holding a lemonade sale June 1st.

These girls are on a mission!  They have raised $440 towards their $1,000 goal.

Way to go!

Early April Update

I've been amazed at how well the girls are doing in raising funds to fight famine in Africa. "The Girls" have been busy asking for donations, saving their own money they are working to earn, selling toys, and collecting & returning pop bottles.

Today we updated the total seeing we took in another $117!

The total does not include the change jar.

Abby made change jars as a project one day. We have 3 right now...one for Families Fighting Famine and then two for different friends that are trying to adopt. Every penny helps a cause. Make a jar and see how much you can collect...it really is fun to watch it fill up.

Pop Bottles

This morning we went to return all the pop bottles that people have been dropping off. With two kiddos and 7 bags of bottles we headed to the store. People think they can't help but every bit has made an impact. When all was said and done today, another $11 was added to the jar of funds to help the famine in Africa.

Thanks so much for your bottles and keep them coming!

Fundraising Ideas

Part of their speech at school involved the ideas they came up with to raise money for Africa. Specific dates and ways to donate to these events will be made known to friends and family via email. If you want to be included on our email list, please let us know by way of the comments section, or an email to us. Here are the ideas the girls plan to participate in:

Lemonade Stand

Garage Sale

Collecting Pop Bottles

if you want to donate your bottles or return slips let us know and we'll happily accept them for Families Fighting Famine

Bike-a-thon

Abby has decided to bike 10 miles to represent the 10 days it takes for people in the horn of Africa to walk to find food. She will be taking pledges and looking for a few friends who want to ride with us and collect pledges as well. (Yup, that means mom & dad have to bike too)

More info to follow.

They have already shared with family, friends, and classmates. Some toys have been sold. Bottles returned. Donations received. The girls are up to $200 in donations already!

It's amazing what can happen when God places an idea on the hearts of young ones. The girls have incentive as both families have offered matching challenges for their fundraising. Can't wait to see what happens!

They Did It!!

"The Girls" did it! They went to school and shared in front of a class of kiddos their heart for Africa. Neither of the girls is super outgoing in front of a group but by God's grace they did it! They shared the stories posted on this blog of how this mission started and the things they have come up with to earn money. They will post in a few days the ideas they have come up with so far.

Here is the map that they took into school to show the kids where the horn of Africa is.

Obviously, one of the dad's is an art teacher...

Then, they made book marks for the kids and teachers to ask them to pray for the people in Africa. They worked so hard writing on and decorating them. The moms laminated them and added the ribbon. The girls even picked out the bible verse and pictures to go one the book marks.

The part that really touched their hearts was on the way home from school, they mentioned the teacher had put a donation in their backpack. They eagerly asked if they could open it up. Inside was a beautiful note and a $20 donation. They we so excited that stepping out to share earned the people of Africa $20. Thank you Mrs. H. for supporting the girls and the mission God has laid on their hearts. So fun to watch them walk this out!

Opportunities

On Tuesday, 2/21 the "girls" will have an opportunity to share their mission with a group of school children. While the girls can not specifically ask for donations, they have the opportunity to share what God has laid on their hearts and to inspire other children to act on the passions of their heart as well.

Please pray for:

• The girls to have peace about speaking in front of a group of people
• The girls to have the words to share
• God would be pleased with their service for His glory

To borrow the words of a dear sister in Christ and Abby's much missed babysitter...we all have seeds of greatness in us. May these children who hear this story have their seeds watered and may God get the increase from all of their efforts.

The Article that Started it all...

It was one of those days were I wonder why I homeschool when the World Vision magazine arrived. I was sitting reading it when Abby joined me. She started looking at the pictures and asking questions. I started explaining what the article, Famine No More said. She in turn started to cry. She asked me what we were going to do to help. And so began the grand plans of an 8 year old.

(Copyright 2012 World Vision Inc.All rights reserved.Used with permission.

1-888-511-6548 www.worldvision.org")

First she called her best friend to see if she would pray about helping her do something for Africa. Then, as only Abby can, the BIG plans started to roll off her tongue. I fought the urge to quench her desires as only God can do what was happening in her.

A few days later after the girls had been talking I talked with my best friend who happens to be the mommy of Abby's best friend. She shared how her daughter called a family meeting, opened the meeting with prayer, read scripture, and declared a media fast to pray for the people in Africa. Yup, a 7 1/2 year old.

Clearly God was moving among these precious girls. So, thus begins our journey to help Africa. Whether the girls raise $10 or reach their goal of $1,000 God will receive all the glory for the work he is doing.

Stay tuned to hear what the girls are planning, how you can get involved, and how awesome our God is through their journey to gather Familes to Fight Famine.

The Start

Families Fighting Famine is the name of the initiative started by our kids. The initiative to help others who are less fortunate than they are. To join together with other friends and families to fight poverty throughout the world.

This blog will serve as a way to share what our family, along with a few other close friends (who prefer not to be named online) will be doing to serve the least of these. It's not about "who" is doing this but it is about WHY they are doing what they do. They do this because in the process, they are showing the world the love of Jesus Christ. Won't you join them in the cause to meet the needs of the needy?