A GIVEAWAY to Help Our Youth Group

Picture a place that is so hot you sweat immediately when you get out of the shower. The bathroom floor is cracked and you reach to grab a dirty, used towel to dry off. When you get the energy to step outside, you see a neighbor struggling to get his wheelchair up the destroyed pathway to the clinic and on either side of him are rows of decrepit, one bedroom cabins full of your neighbors who, like you, have been out casted because they have HIV/AIDS. This place exists, and this summer a team of students from our youth group accompanied by 2 leaders will join up with another area church to go there and help them rebuild.

On July 3, 2011 - these students will board a plane and head to Nassau, Bahamas for 6 days to team up with Next Step Ministries to help rebuild All Saints Camp. This is a former leper colony turned refuge for patients living with HIV/AIDS that are outcasts from their community. They will demolish the old and rebuild the new, building sidewalks, walls,houses, and engaging in general repair work to give the people of that community the quality of life that they need and deserve. Not only that, but they will get opportunity to get to know the residents of the Camp during down time and hear their stories. The experience of this week for our students is one that can leave them with changed hearts. The trip will change lives - not just those lives that they will touch in Nassau at All Saints Camp, but their own lives will be forever changed as well.



Needless to say, our students have worked their hearts out fundraising to be able to attend this trip. With a goal of paying for all 10 students in mind - the team set out in faith and prayer to raise $12,500. This would include their fees to Next Step Ministries for the trip as well as round-trip airfare from Boston, MA to Nassau, Bahamas. 


As of our last count - the students had raised $9,500. 


With 5 days left in online fundraising, I'm asking you dear reader to help our students reach their goal of $12,500 and am offering a 3-winner giveaway as an incentive for you to donate. 

First things first... the PRIZES!

One winner will receive a batch of Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies made by yours truly (20-24 homemade cookies):

Steve says these are the best cookies he's ever eaten. You should donate so you can win some!

 
A second winner will receive a batch of Homemade Marshmallows made by my dear friend over at Fleur de Lis Catering:

My friend's homemade marshmallows. Her cooking is amazing - donate so you can enter to win these fluffy treats!

And last but not least, a third winner will win a signed copy of the book "Can You Feel My Tears?" and the CD "Body and Soul" from Lauri Merrow. 

 Yes, I'm biased, but these are both great. If you don't believe me, click the links above to find out for yourself. Donate to win them both!!!

HOW TO ENTER AND WIN (Up to 3 entries per person):

Step One: Go to our team's fundraising website and make a donation of $10 or more. Please choose either Elyse Emery or John Emery when making your donation (you have to choose a team member - these are our team leaders, so they'll be able to keep track of who's donating). CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE FUNDRAISING PAGE


Step Two: Leave a comment letting me know that you donated to the team. All donations will be verified with Elyse & John prior to the drawing. YOU MUST ENTER IN THIS FASHION IN ORDER TO GAIN ADDITIONAL ENTRIES IN STEP THREE.

Step Three: To win up to 2 additional entries, tweet about this giveaway or share on Facebook  using the sharing buttons at the bottom of this post. Leave a comment letting me know that you shared the giveaway.


The giveaway will run until Midnight on April 30, 2011 which is when the donations will close on the site. Three winners will be drawn and notified and I will post the results no later than Midnight on May 2, 2011. 


Remember - even if you don't win a prize, you win anyways because you're helping a fantastic cause! Please consider donating to our team and helping them reach our goal - and if you can't donate, please share this page to get the word out! 

AND ONE MORE TIME - CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE FUNDRAISING PAGE!