I Love Wee Forest Folk Club

Where did 2014 go?  I was on the road for over 130 days and I’m sorry to say this club site got neglected.  Some of those travels were to WFF events.  There were five events last year, a flurry of activity for the Wee Forest Folk collector.  And through them all a lot of money was raised for charity!  It never ceases to amaze me just how generous you collectors are.

It’s time to renew those annual memberships.  If you renew this month or next the membership dues will be going to the Souper Bowl of Caring.  This is a fundraising campaign to help feed hungry children.  And a challenge to you all for your next service project.

The Souper Bowl of Caring wants you to help out your local food pantries.  So what can you do?  If you are going to a Super Bowl party or hosting one you can initiate a canned food drive or solicit cash donations.  Or have a neighborhood food drive.  Or donate to a food drive in your area.  Or go to a shelter and feed the homeless.  Just a small act of compassion can help fight hunger!

We have a new Halloween T-shirt Exclusive to Club Members.  Cost is $15 for M-XL, $18 for XXL, Unisex 100% cotton short sleeved tee, plus shipping.  They can be ordered at www.whenthecatsaway.com.   (XL is currently sold out, taking a wait list for the next order).

There is only 24 made of the first run.  Once they are sold out we will go to a waiting list and make another batch when we have another order for 24.

We will be able to deliver these to Folktoberfest if you order a size we still have in stock.  To avoid shipping charges, order early!

Profits from the sales of shirts will go to Ruff Patch Rescue, our current service project.  They rescue unwanted dogs from shelters, provide them with necessary medical care or training, and adopt them out to new homes at weekly adoption events.

It’s been awhile since Mouse Expo and our last service projects.  Time to get another one going.  Our current project will be donating through Strut Your Mutt to the Ruff Patch Rescue Group.  My 6 month old pup Mia, if she is feeling up to it (she’s getting spayed next week), and I will be participating in the Strut Your Mutt event in Salt Lake City on September 13th.  Hosted by Best Friends Animal Society, Strut your Mutt Salt Lake City partners with local rescue groups and shelters to raise funds.

Ruff Patch Rescue is a small organization dedicated to rescuing dogs from shelters, providing them with the necessary medical care and finding them loving homes through weekend adoption events.  I see the good deeds of this group on a regular basis as the founder is a tech at my vet.  You can check our their web page at ruffpatchrescue.com for more information on the group or their Facebook page Ruff Patch Rescue to see their recent success stories.  

To donate, please go to my team fundraising page, Brenda Lyon, and help out Ruff Patch Rescue!  My personal goal is $1,000 and the team goal is $4,000.  Teams that get up into the top three will receive additional bonuses in addition to the money they raise through their partnerships.  

Thank you for your support.  Mousers are always the most generous people!

Our first Club piece is here.  Club members have until April 10, 2014 to order Step Right Up, $128.  This piece is painted to go along with our Mouse Expo 2014 set.  Those club members who attend Mouse Expo also have the option to put an embellishment on the sign.  More details to follow as the factory decides which embellishments will be available.  She is available on http://www.whenthecatsaway.com or on the Mouse Expo registration forms.

Our February Service Project requires just a small effort on the part of our club members.  Colin will be turning 11 on March 9th.  Colin’s mom asked him if he’d like a birthday party and he said no because he doesn’t have any friends.  Colin has a social disorder and doesn’t interact with others well.  He eats lunch in the school office because none of the kids want him to sit by them.  So Colin’s mom decided to start a secret Facebook page for Colin’s birthday hoping to show him that he does have friends he doesn’t even know about.  It’s going beautifully.  Last time I checked, Colin had almost 2 million “likes”.

Let’s jump on the bandwagon.  If you are on Facebook you can head on over to Happy Birthday Colin (www.facebook.com/Coliniseleven ) and like his page.  Birthday cards can be sent to Colin, PO Box 756, Richland, MI 49083-0756.  Together we can all make a difference in one small boys life.

The Pumpkin Junction Raffle is continuing.  We are just about at the break even point and will hold out longer so we can raise some money to fight hunger.  Tickets are only $1 each and each donor has both their names written on the backs of the tickets and the numbers assigned to them.

I think many of us got caught up in the holidays, so we are extending our Pumpkin Junction Raffle through the month of January.  Tickets are only $1 each with profits going to the Utah Food Bank.  

Welcome to our new members. We got several in November and even more in December!  Most of you have had your membership cards mailed out.  I still have a couple because I am shipping them with the t-shirts you ordered.  They came in late last month and we will be shipping them out this week.  

Later this month we will start sending out our members only newsletters.  And we are working on our first member only exclusives, a t-shirt and sweatshirt that can be pre-ordered in February.  Lot’s to do this month, so stay tuned!

Our November & December Project will be Fighting Hunger with Fun!  During the holiday season we are reminded how blessed we are when we hear about those who make do everyday with so much less. Far too many in our communities struggle to put regular meals on the table for their families.  Hunger is all too real.  Our profits from this month will be donated to the Utah Food Bank who fill not only their own, but also the food pantries of charitable organizations throughout the intermountain west.

Where does the fun come in?  We are doing a raffle for a Pumpkin Junction!  Tickets are only $1 each for a prize valued at $1500.  It’s like having our own little mouse themed lottery.  You can purchase tickets with a credit card at http://www.whenthecatsaway.com (look for the I Love WFF link) or at gofundme.com/iloveweeforestfolk.  Checks made payable to Mouse Expo can be sent to our contact address.  We will also have a few other fun contests announced in the coming weeks.

Our October Project raised $871 in profits for the American Cancer Society, earmarked for Breast Cancer Patients and the Hope Lodge building fund.  Hope Lodge, when completed, will offer comfortable housing for a patient and family during treatment at no cost.

PS…Send us your holiday themed display photos and we will post them under our display page and choose a few for our newsletter.