Search results (tags) for: "donations"

Etsy for Animals: Working Together

2008-07-03T15:25:00Z

It all started with an idea and an Etsy forum thread. A year and a half later, Etsy for Animals (EFA) has over 530 members, and is one of the largest Teams on Etsy. For EFA's first Storque post, click here. You can get to the team members' items by searching "team efa."

Although the only membership requirement is a love for animals, many members also choose to donate a portion of their proceeds to animal charity: either to the EFA charity of the month (this July, the charities are Dogs for the Deaf and the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue Program) or to other animal charities that they individually support. EFA also has a shop, where all items are donated by EFA members, and 100% of proceeds from sales goes to the EFA charity of the month. When contributions from the EFA shop and EFA members are totaled, many small donations add up to large contributions to animal charity.

How does such a large team function? Electronic communication, shared documents, and the EFA Yahoo group, administered by Darktemptations, are essential since team members live all over the world. But, most importantly, many EFA members have volunteered their time to help. Here are just a few of these hard-working people and the EFA projects they're working on.

[Michele aka mvegan5 and her cat, Moses]

Michele aka mvegan5 is the EFA team founder and co-leader. She's a California artist who currently lives and works in Israel. Michele says, "I've always known I wanted to help animals and be an artist, and have now been able to combine the two." Michele is the contact for new members, writes the EFA newsletter, manages the EFA Flickr group, assists with the EFA shop, and promotes EFA wherever she can.

[El aka ElephantDance modeling her blue and white spiraling cloche]

El aka ElephantDance is the EFA co-leader, and administers the Etsy for Animals shop with the help of eight dedicated volunteers. El recently moved to California from Saipan, a small island in the Northern Mariana Islands. El says, "Seeing the poor neglected animals on the streets of Saipan convinced me that I needed to do something, even if it was one animal at a time." El also manages the EFA blog and her own two Etsy shops while working, going to school, creating lovely crochet, and running a Help the Puppies campaign to provide ongoing medical care for animals she rescued in Saipan.

[Poodle Boating Party by haleyshandmades]

Haley aka haleyshandmades contributes many hours of her free time to maintain the EFA website. She also creates wonderful poodle artwork. Her favorite piece, made when she was a student at Washington University in St. Louis, is Poodles Crossing the Delaware, a huge 3 foot by 5 foot print of poodles fighting in the American Revolution, based on the painting by Emanuel Leutze.

[Emerald Kitty by Lynn aka LolaLynn]

The multi-talented LolaLynn organizes the EFA monthly challenges where EFA members vote on a challenge theme each month, and then members submit entries based on that theme. Entries are then showcased on the EFA blog, in forum threads, and in Treasuries. Lynn says, "I so firmly support El and Michele's mission that I took on coordinating and editing the monthly challenge even though I knew nothing about blogs! In the process I have made new friends and learned a lot."

[Etsy for Animals logo, designed by alilsumptinsumptin]

Welsh felt artist and costume designer, Kim aka Midnightrabbits, keeps track of donation requests that EFA receives from animal charity groups for handmade items to be used in fundraising activities. Many EFA members have contributed their time and talent to create items for these fundraisers.

Fiber artist, Marjorie aka WHSKR, is the EFA publicity coordinator. Marjorie, who lives in New Zealand, says that when she first joined EFA, she was concerned that her relatively small contribution would not make a difference but then realized that the small amounts contributed by many sellers "all grow together to make a donation of several hundred dollars each month. People can touch the other side of the world without leaving home — it's an astonishing thought and a powerful motivator."

You can meet EFA members in the lively and fun weekly EFA team chats hosted by Gena aka Dogonwear every Thursday from 10:30 to 11:30 AM ET in the Etsy Virtual Labs. Come on in to network, learn, and have fun! Gena, who designs canine fashions, also organized a cooperative quilt project as an EFA fundraiser. The quilt will be available soon in the EFA shop. Stay tuned!

Further Resources:
Etsyforanimals.com
Etsyforanimals.blogspot.com
EFA Team Interviews:
mvegan5, ElephantDance, haleyshandmades, LolaLynn, Midnightrabbits, WHSKR, Dogonwear

Earth Tones: Craftivism Motions in the Oceans

2008-07-01T12:17:00Z

Erin Chan aka designsquid calls to Etsy sellers and buyers to care for our ocean animals, endangered by bad habits and indifference. We give our Etsy Pets series an Earth Tones spin, in this post for animal and nature lovers.

71% of the Earth’s surface is covered in a common chemical substance that is essential to all known forms of life: water. Each year, an estimated 14 billion pounds of trash are dumped into this valuable resource. All around the world, our oceans are in crisis. Though we acknowledge water to be a very important part of all life, we risk our future as well as the future of marine life by turning our oceans into dumping grounds. However, it’s not just pollution that threatens our oceans. Whales continue to be listed as an endangered species because of their continued slaughter. Plastic bags, bottle caps, cigarette butts, food packaging and other waste are harmful to birds, turtles, and other marine animals who mistake these things for food. Fish swallow small bits of plastic which we in turn digest when consuming seafood. Plastics are able to absorb other chemicals around them and thus spread their harmful properties across the world.

[Photograph by djloche]

Only we can help control these disasters. In order to help save polar bears, seals, narwhals, fish, and ultimately ourselves, we must save our oceans. By reducing CO2 emissions on an individual level, you can help. By taking action against industrial fishers who destructively trawl the bottom of the oceans, you can help. By lobbying against offshore oil and gas activities, you can help. Here are some other suggestions:

If you walk or exercise outdoors, pick up litter you might see along the way. Streets and storm drains empty into rivers that lead to the coast.

Avoid using plastic disposables. Use reusable containers and avoid plastic bags and wraps of all kinds.

Volunteer for International Coastal Cleanup Day which is on September 20. Find action in your area by visiting this website.

Support responsible vacationing. Cruise ships dump 90,000 tons of sewage and garbage into our oceans every day.

The most important thing you can do is get educated and get involved. There are many organizations around the world that promote cleaner oceans by saving marine wildlife and helping communities become environmentally aware.

So, how does this impact Etsy? What you could be asking, rather, is how can you make an impact through Etsy? When I started my Etsy shop, I already knew that I wanted to promote environmental awareness. By donating 10% of every purchase to Oceana, I know that I’m making a small step in the right direction.

[Photograph by Shek Graham]

There are already other Etsy shop owners finding ways to help:
JumpingJackDesigns sells personalized sea turtle stationary from which $3.00 goes to help the Wrightsville Beach Sea Turtle Project.

retrowhale generously donates $5.00 to the Heal the Bay organization for each print she sells from her Heal series.

10% of the sales from Dragonfire’s Sea Life jewelry is donated to help clean up our oceans and beaches.

These are only a few of the Etsians who are determined to help save our oceans and marine wildlife. Imagine if every Etsy store promised 10% of their monthly sales to help promote a greener way of life? Imagine the impact that would make on our environment.

Any little bit helps. Offering specific items with proceeds donated that are separate from your other listings is a good way to get started. Joining teams that specifically help causes that interest you and hold monthly donation drives is also a big way to help.

If you don’t own a shop but purchase from Etsy regularly, you can help by searching through donation items first.

If you are interested in helping, but don’t know where to start – here are some websites that can help you determine in what direction you might want to go.

Further Resources:
Oceana
Greenpeace
International Fund for Animal Welfare
Save the Whales
International Year of the Reef
National Marine Life Center

Cruelty Free Etsy | EFA Etsy for Animals |
Earth Tones | Etsy Pets on the Storque | Special Pets Showcase

Etsy Pets: Paws for a Cause — Listing Items for Animal Charities

2008-04-29T14:32:00Z

Growing up, I always knew I would have cats — my parents had cats, their parents had cats, their parents' parents...maybe it's genetic. When I got my own apartment, it was only a matter of weeks before it was time to add a kitty. I began my search at Petfinder.org and came across an “adorkable” kitty named “Roxy” (later renamed Quasi) at the Cool Cats Rescue, a no-kill shelter in Annapolis, MD.

When I met Quasi, the sneezy little kitty with a cleft lip, it was love at first “snarf.” I knew she was something special, and adopted her on the spot. She quickly became a wonderful, attention-demanding addition to my family and I knew I had to give something back. I began listing UglyKitty buttons in exchange for $1, $5, and $10 donations to Cool Cats. That was 18 months and $2,000 ago.

If you’ve ever wanted to thank the shelter who gave you your fabulous furry friend (or help another worthy animal cause), it’s time to use your powers of craft for good and consider donating to your favorite animal charity!

First, there are a variety of ways to raise money for animal charities. Decide which works best for you!

Designate specific charity items in your shop, like these notecards by ImagesbyAileen. She donates money to Petsmartcharities.org from the sale of these items.

Donate a portion of ALL your sales, like greytcrafts and gabrielsaunt.

Try helping locally, like greytcrafts. All her donations go to the Greyhound Pets of America - Arizona Chapter, her local greyhound rescue!

Gabrielsaunt suggests adding "PIF" as a tag, which stands for "Pay It Forward." PIF items are a way to do a virtual good deed by offering items for the cost of shipping only. Many Etsians search for PIFs when looking to do something good. PIFs can be anything, so get creative with it!

Donate a set amount from an item, like retrowhale.

She suggests sending your donations to the charity at the beginning of every month — almost like a bill. That way you never lose track.

Offer a percentage from a specific item, like CaptureCapeMay.

If you have a lot of supplies, but not cash, consider donating an item to a charity shop, like classichound, who donated this collar to handmade4hounds.

She recommends joining charity teams like handmade4hounds (of course) and Etsy for Animals. Don’t be afraid to start your own team: every bit counts!

Or, go all out and open a shop entirely for charity, like RescueMeTugz.

Through RescueMeTugz, Michele is able to donate more than she ever could on her own. Instead of giving cash, she invests in supplies...for the toys she sells...to raise money for the Heartland Great Dane Rescue!

Things to keep in mind:

- Always remember to offer a tangible item in exchange for the donation. Per Etsy’s DOs and DON’Ts, you must have an item that you intend to sell. Listings just asking for money are a big no-no.

- Think about what items will best lend themselves to donations. For example, if you’re raising money for Golden Retriever rescue, consider dog or Golden Retriever items...that’s your target audience! Also, think about how much materials cost and how much you’d be able to donate, but only give what you feel comfortable giving.

- Give your customers the specifics about donations. Do you donate a portion of all your sales? A portion of certain sales? Do you subtract transaction fees? What about shipping costs?

- Be sure to include a website and specific information about the cause. Customers want to know how their money is helping. Adding a link also gives your listing credibility.

- Help your customers find your charity items. Try adding tags to your listings like: donate, charity, animal, shelter, pets, and team names (“team EFA” is the Etsy for Animals tag). Also, consider making a section in your shop dedicated to charity items.

- Figure out a system that works for you. I prefer to keep an Excel sheet with all the donations until I send them to the shelter. Also, be sure to check with your charity to see how they prefer to receive donations.

Now get out there and help some four-legged friends! And post your animal charity listings in the comments too!

Further Resources
Ace of Hearts Adoption
Heartland Great Dane Rescue
Greyhound Pets of America - Arizona Chapter
Almost Heaven Greyhound Adoption
Cool Cats Rescue and Adoption

Renee, aka UglyKitty, works 9 to 5 as an environmental scientist in Annapolis, Maryland and from 5 to 1 as a frantic crafter. If she had free time she would probably use it to sleep...or bake cupcakes — the world always needs more cupcakes. Quasi is a full-time lounger and enjoys hiding pens under the coffee table, Law & Order (SVU), and sneezing on "her person."

Housing Works says Thank You Etsy!

2008-01-22T11:00:00Z

In December we buddied up with Housing Works to raise toys and financial assistance for people in need as as well as awareness about AIDS. We asked for your help in the Storque (here), and you really came through. Etsy Admin and Housing Works thanks you for your kind hearts and generous donations! We also raised some loot through the Etsy Labs shop so thank you to Mary, Julie and Christine for working the merch — and doing an incredible job at it. What an amazing community we have here - lets get together more often to make a difference.

If you have charity or project in mind, let us know in the comments below. Let's show the world Etsy Cares!

All about Etsy FAQ Series: Welcome to the Etsy Labs

2008-01-14T12:17:00Z

We here at the Etsy Labs are often asked questions about what the Labs are and how the community can get involved. We realize there isn't really any published material about the Etsy Labs on the site other than our Merchandise and Class shop, so we hope that we can clear up a few of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Etsy Labs in this article!

For more on this All about Etsy FAQ series, check out the intro, the All about the Teams post or the All about the Storque post. More to come too!

What are the Etsy Labs?
The Etsy Labs are the physical Etsy offices located in Brooklyn, New York: Etsy central! Within the offices, the Labs functions as a community workspace where we offer classes, open crafting times, and occasional events. The Etsy Labs folks run the community workspace, schedule classes, host events and visiting members of the press, design and make handmade Etsy merchandise and press kits and promos, manage the Etsy Labs shop, host online workshops and tutorials each week and represent Etsy at craft shows. We also work as admin who are here to help you whenever you need shop advice! In short, Etsy Labs is much more than an office: we work to bridge the online and offline worlds of Etsy.

Can I come visit the Etsy Labs?
We welcome visitors at the Etsy Labs and love putting faces with names and avatars! The best time to come by and say hello is on Mondays from 4pm-8pm, when the community space is open to the public for Craft Night. Can't make it on a Monday? Just send us and email to labs@etsy.com or a conversation to etsylabs.etsy.com to schedule another time to come by. We are located at 325 Gold Street, 3rd Floor, Brooklyn NY, 11201.

View Larger Map

How do I keep up with what's going on at Etsy Labs, like finding out about events and online workshops?
To find out about events at the Labs and any online workshops that are coming soon, just keep an eye on the Etsy Labs column of the Storque by clicking on the link under Featured Columns. We're always updating what's going on and how you can be a part of it! Also, you may join the Etsy Labs mailing list to receive updates from the Etsy Labs straight to your inbox.

What is craft night and how can I get involved?
Every Monday from 4pm-8pm we hold an open crafting night where the community space in our offices is open to the public. Each week the Etsy Labs organize a skill-sharing project. We provide supplies, tools, snacks, and know-how. Participants are also welcome to bring their own project to work on. This is the perfect time to get a tour, see the space, use the equipment and supplies free of charge. Just stop on by! If you would like to lead a craft night project, send your ideas to labs@etsy.com with "Craft Night Idea" as the subject line.

The first Sunday of each month from 2pm-6pm the Church of Craft gets together at the Labs, which also serves as an open crafting time and you are welcome to join in.

How do I find classes available at Etsy Labs and sign up for one?
Specific classes and workshops are regularly scheduled and frequently added to our Etsy Labs shop . Just click on the class sections that are categorized by month to get a full list of classes, descriptions, see photos of the class, and reserve your spot! If you have any questions regarding classes at the Labs, send an email to labs@etsy.com or julie@etsy.com (she's our fabulous class coordinator). If you see a class that you would like to take has sold out, just shoot us an email to join the waiting list for that class.

How can I apply to teach a class at Etsy Labs?
If you'd like to apply to teach a class at the Etsy Labs, please fill out the following application and hit submit! If your class proposal isn't the perfect fit for our Brooklyn space, we are always looking for guests to come in and host online how-to workshops in exchange for a Storque feature. If you are interested in hosting an online how-to, please send an email to labs@etsy.com.

Can I rent equipment from Etsy Labs? s,
Due to Etsy's recent growth, we have discontinued equipment rentals, so be sure to come by on Mondays during open crafting night to use what you need then! We have sewing machines, paper cutters, a buttonmaker, and more available. If you have a question about our equipment, just send us an email.

What are the Virtual Labs and how do I participate in an Online Workshop?
You know Jared, the admin who made all the amazing flash features on Etsy? He also created an online community space! The Virtual Labs are a multi-user online representation of the Etsy Labs using Workshop rooms. The homepage of the Virtual Labs represents an imaginary mapped spacial layout of the Labs offices in Brooklyn. Click on any of the rooms to gain access inside that particular workshop chat room. We use the Virtual Labs to connect with our community, host events, live webcam how-to's, team meetings, newbie chats, show and tell, shop critiques, and more! To find out what is happening in the Virtual Labs this week, just visit the lobby of the Virtual Labs for a schedule or check out the weekly Virtual Labs Storque articles for the details.

More info about the Virtual Labs here.

Apply to host a workshop in the Virtual Labs here.

Why is your blog so out of date?
Our Etsy Labs blog is what we used to communicate with the commmunity before the Storque made it's debut on Etsy! Now that the Storque is here, we now keep in touch with you guys over here. However, since there is so much useful information and so many resource links over at our old blog, we wanted to leave it up for you all to access everything that still lives over there!

Do you still accept donations?
Through your generosity we have a full house of donated craft supplies and equipment at the Etsy Labs, and we are pretty much filled to the brim. We are limiting what we can take at this time, so if you would like to send a donation, just send us an email to labs@etsy.com to work out the details.

Can I have a trunk show or host my event at Etsy Labs?
With Etsy's recent growth, we've decided to discontinue trunk shows and limit the amount of events held in our office space.

Can we have an Etsy Labs in our city/area?
It would be wonderful to have an Etsy Labs in every state or in non-US countries, but at this time we are focusing all of our energies on the Etsy website. It is our hope that through the Etsy Teams, people will be able to meet up and form their own community workspaces in their areas where they host skill shares, get donations, and generally help each other spread the Etsy love. If you take on a project like this, please keep us in the loop by sending us your progress to labs@etsy.com so we can cover it in the Storque!

Soooooo.....all you ever wanted to know about the Etsy Labs! Didn't see the answer to your question in this article? Send us an email to labs@etsy.com or post in the comments below and we will be sure to get back to you with your answer!

xoxoxoxoxo,

Julie, Christine, and Danielle

Virginia Tech: MacheteConfetti Organizes Donations

2007-04-24T15:49:00Z

Johnna aka MacheteConfetti, an Etsy seller and a student at Virginia Tech, contacted customer support. She told us about her efforts to organize donations to the families of Virginia Tech victims. MacheteConfetti had been on campus — two buildings away — when the shootings happened. She lost friends in the tragedy.

“I have to say that I took it pretty hard at first, but one of the things that assisted me in recovery was etsy itself. It allowed me to make a tribute using a treasury, and while it was happening I actually got on etsy. I didn’t have my phone, and my mom is on etsy a lot. I figured she would be on. She wasn’t but the etsy communtiy was soooo supportive in the matter. ” In fact, Etsians had already been on the forums that day looking for MacheteConfetti and hoping she was not hurt.

Johnna’s efforts have resulted in a pool of items tagged with VT4162007. The money from these items will go towards the Hokie Spirt Memorial Fund, which supports the families of the victims. To find out more and get involved, please see this forum thread.

Her mother CornerstoneLAE, also an Etsy seller, made the above piece which depicts Burrus Hall on the Virginia Tech campus. She uses the technique of burning an image into a wooden panel.

Also of note, Sojournquilts has been working on raising awareness about sexual abuse issues and has been involved in raising money during April (Rape Awareness month) for Rape Response Services. Sojournquilts has been helping us Admins develop the ways we’ll be covering charities and other social issue causes in the coming Storque newspaper. There, we’ll have a Craftivism section. If you’re interested in the RRS project, please do a search for tag hopeandhealing.

NOTE:

This was originally posted on the Etsy Garden blog.

Etsy Labs: Make a Donation. Use a Donation.

2007-03-25T20:00:00Z

Mary is overwhelmed.

Note: This was originally posted in the Etsy Garden.

UPDATE: We received so many donations...that we don't really need more. Please email Julie@etsy.com to inquire about donations.