Giving Bowls to Charities/Fund Drives/. . .

[Don Stephan]

A good friend is developing bowl turning skills very quickly and his wife already has said he can't bring any more home. I've suggested Empty Bowls and Beads of Courage.

He has made segmented bowls with all the lumber he owned, and will begin using his chain saw on downed trees to make twice turned bowls. If there is anyone on the forum who has given all family members a couple bowls, and has exceeded his limit of bowls in the house, can one suggest additional charities, fund raisers, et cetera for finished bowls, so my friend can keep turning? Thanks.

 

[Beth Lockamy]

I would suggest contacting your local American Heart Association. Ours had an annual silent auction and donations are always very much appreciated. Since a research funding grant given to a local doctor from the proceeds of said auction 22 years ago saved my newborn son’s life less than a year after he received the grant, I’m also partial to that charity!

 

[Lou Jacobs]

Keep your ears open and you’ll hear of lots of local organizations that do silent and online auctions as fundraisers. I’ve donated locally to a couple of PTA’s, Bach Society, and college alumni groups for auctions. Churches, synagogues, etc., do this all the time.

 

[David Wyke]

I turn a lot of bowls and currently have 175 waiting on the second turning. My goal has always been selling just enough to fund the hobby and donating the rest for charities.
1. I have advertised and sold bowls to pay for school lunches for kids who “ fall through the cracks” in the system. I would post the receipt for the donation so people could see 100% was donated to the school. This changed when all kids received free lunches so I found other ways to donate.
2. Found a local church that send bags of food home with needy kids on the weekend. Sold, donated, and posted the receipt online. This has also changed and found other areas to donate.
3. Currently donating to a place called Options, it provides needs, temporary shelter for battered women and children. My last donation was 3 bowls that raised $500.
4. Currently getting setup to donate to a group that assist mentally challenged adults and children with life skills. They also provide support with social skills including group art projects. I have not had an opportunity to to complete all the details for how we plan on making this possible.

If you check with you town or county you should be able to find nonprofit organizations that could use the donation.

 

[Michael Nathal]

Our club is working with the The Gathering Place in Cleveland. This organization offers free wigs and supportive services to individuals and families impacted by cancer. We are providing wig stands.

 

[Beth Lockamy]

I turn a lot of bowls and currently have 175 waiting on the second turning. My goal has always been selling just enough to fund the hobby and donating the rest for charities.
1. I have advertised and sold bowls to pay for school lunches for kids woh “ fall through the cracks” in the system. I would post the receipt for the donation so people could see 100% was donated to the school. This changed when all kids received free lunches so I found other ways to donate.
2. Found a local church that send bags of food home with needy kids on the weekend. Sold, donated, and posted the receipt online. This has also changed and found other areas to donate.
3. Currently donating to a place called Options, it provides needs, temporary shelter for battered women and children. My last donation was 3 bowls that raised $500.
4. Currently getting setup to donate to a group that assist mentally challenged adults and children with life skills. They also provide support with social skills including group art projects. I have not had an opportunity to to complete all the details for how we plan on making this possible.

If you check with you town or county you should be able to find nonprofit organizations that could use the donation.

I love the idea of “doing the work” and selling the bowl FOR the charity and donating the proceeds directly! I will have to look into that myself!

 

[Richard Coers]

The club I used to be active in has donated over 1,700 wig stands to the Susan G Komen charity if he ever wants to make something besides bowls. They are thrilled to receive them and send them all around Illinois. Unfortunately, there is no end to the need for wig stands for breast cancer patients.

 

[Ron Solfest]

I started having the same problem a number of years ago. Cabinets in the house were full, had given lots to friends and neighbors. I was asked to turn some for money but didn’t want to turn my hobby into a job.

So I held a couple of ‘garage events’ where I invited the community we live in to come buy bowls with all receipts going to the local food shelf. Then I found a local shop that would take my products and sell for me sending a check directly to the food shelf after deducting a minimal commission. That worked great for me, especially with our travel schedule (RV ~half-time). I also carry a dozen bowls or so along on our travels to give out as host gifts etc.

Unfortunately the local shop that provided me with this service has changed their business model so I expect I won’t be able to “dispose” of as many turnings through them in the future. I need to start looking for another outlet like the OP

 

[Mike Selser]

Our local Habit for Humanity has a fund raiser that we donate turnings to.

 

[John K Jordan]

The Fantasy of Trees in Knoxville benefits the Children's hospital. They used to sell entire trees loaded with ornaments - some with our wooden ornaments have sold for $4000 each.



I've sent ornaments for these three, usually handbell ornaments.


Then, they started selling the ornaments separately and I think they make more money for the charity that way.
Then they started accepting other turned things besides ornaments, bowls as well, I think.

If you want to keep it local, you might check for a similar charity in your area to see if they do the same thing.

Another thing I've done with bowls is donate them to assisted living places. They can always uses some on tables in hallways and if not to big, in rooms of people who can't get out. Brighten up their day a bit.

For things like this, small bowls may be more desirable. For those who turn only big bowls, maybe consider making some smaller ones.

What ever the friend does, I hope he doesn't end up like a guy I knew. Every surface of his house and every space on the walls was covered with big bowls an and platters. He fell in love with every turning and couldn't part with any. I think his wife was about ready to part with him.

JKJ

 

[Fred Hargis]

We have a local thrift store that supports a food bank. While I'm not skilled enough to make bowls suitable to give to them, I've done some flatwork stuff and given that to them.

 

[Alan Weinberg]

I turn a lot of bowls and currently have 175 waiting on the second turning. My goal has always been selling just enough to fund the hobby and donating the rest for charities.
1. I have advertised and sold bowls to pay for school lunches for kids who “ fall through the cracks” in the system. I would post the receipt for the donation so people could see 100% was donated to the school. This changed when all kids received free lunches so I found other ways to donate.
2. Found a local church that send bags of food home with needy kids on the weekend. Sold, donated, and posted the receipt online. This has also changed and found other areas to donate.
3. Currently donating to a place called Options, it provides needs, temporary shelter for battered women and children. My last donation was 3 bowls that raised $500.
4. Currently getting setup to donate to a group that assist mentally challenged adults and children with life skills. They also provide support with social skills including group art projects. I have not had an opportunity to to complete all the details for how we plan on making this possible.

If you check with you town or county you should be able to find nonprofit organizations that could use the donation.

Kudos to you! I donate to a local charity from the hospital I used to work at, Walk Among the Stars, related to people who have survived cancer. Donated a couple hollow forms—they got good prices for them!

 

[robo hippy]

A lot of "alternative" schools will have benefit auctions. Our club does a bowl drive for the local food bank's Empty Bowls auction. Ask around and you will probably get more requests than you can deal with....

robo hippy