UJAMAA GRANDMAS

 
 

UJAMAA GRANDMAS raises funds through a variety of events throughout the year. Proceeds from our fundraising events and direct donations generated as a result of the events have enabled us to contribute more than $290,000 over the last five years to the Stephen Lewis Foundation, Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign.

Annual Fall Sale - Bags, Babies & Beyond Sale

Our annual Fall Sale - Bags, Babies & Beyond - takes place each year in the middle of October at the South Calgary Community Association in Marda Loop and is our largest single fund raising event.

At the sale we offer member-created, high-quality, handcrafted goods such as:

  1. BulletOur famous felted bags

  2. BulletQuilted and cloth bags

  3. BulletBook bags

  4. BulletBabies’ and children's items

  5. BulletSweaters

  6. BulletShawls and shawl pins

  7. BulletPet products

  8. BulletHousehold items

  9. BulletAccessories - hats, scarves, jewelry, jackets, mittens, socks, slippers, hairsticks


In addition to the financial support that goes to the Foundation, we also support the work of local charities by donating a portion of our unsold items. In the past we have been able to significantly impact the following organizations:

  1. BulletInn from the Cold - Helping Calgary's homeless families/Emergency family shelter and temporary emergency shelter program.

  2. BulletCalgary Urban Project Society (CUPS) - Helping people overcome challenges of poverty and expectant mothers in need of baby items

  3. BulletLouise Dean School - Schooling program for pregnant and parenting teens.

  4. BulletBuchanan School and other Inner city schools

  5. BulletSheriff King


October 2011 UPDATE:

Our 2011 Annual Fall Sale - Bags, Babies & Beyond - took place on October 14 and 15. Thanks to all the handcrafters both near and far, volunteers and shoppers, this year we raised over $30,000 for the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. There is still some accounting to do but it is clear that this year we exceeded our previous earnings.

Click HERE for photos of the sale

The 2012 sale is scheduled for October 19 and 20 at the South Calgary Community Association.

If you are a hand crafter interested in more information go to Handcrafts.

Annual Raffle at Bags, Babies & Beyond
2011 marked the second annual UJAMAA GRANDMAS Raffle which was a sold-out event. Only 500 tickets were printed, selling for $2 each, and tickets were sold out by 2:00 PM on the second day of the sale. The prize was comprised of a selection of UJAMAA GRANDMAS hand-made items and represented the range of items available at the sale.

Our lucky winner was  Eleanor Landry who returned to the sale to claim her prize and to do more shopping.

Many thanks to all who bought tickets.

Plans are already in the works for the 2012 UJAMAA GRANDMAS Raffle.



Kazuri Jewelry sales - by request
The Grandmother Connection Chapter in Ottawa co-ordinates the importing of ’Made in Kenya’ Kazuri necklaces, bracelets and earrings which are offered for sale by many of our Chapters in Canada. Women across Canada purchase beautiful handmade jewelry at good prices, including us! Over 40% of the sale price flows to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

The sale of Kazuri jewelry provides employment for over 300 grandmothers and single mothers in Nairobi in a fair-trade workshop that pays above-average wages and provides medical benefits to its workers and their children.

In 2010, $146,000 was donated to the Foundation from all Kazuri sales across Canada; this included $3900 sent in by UJAMAA GRANDMAS. 

We encourage our UJAMAA GRANDMAS Members and Friends to host home parties or to offer the jewelry for sale at events in your community. If you are interested in hosting a Kazuri event contact Hilda Hunter at hihunter@shaw.ca or Yvonne Way at way.yvonne@gmail.com

To learn more about this project and to see samples of the jewelry, go to http://www.kazuriamerica.com/


Annual Bake Sale
Each year at the Justice Film Festival, UJAMAA GRANDMAS offers samples of their kitchen skills for sale.

Sells out every year so plan to come early.

October 2011 UPDATE:

At the 2011 Bake Sale held November 18th - 20th, $1503.35 was raised after expenses and this will be sent to the Stephen Lewis Foundation. 

The organizers would like to thank all who contributed to the success of the Sale whether through baking or working a shift at the Film Festival. The variety of baking and the care put into presentation was, as always, amazing. It was gratifying to hear that there are those who come to the Film Festival not to see a movie but for our baking! It was amusing that we couldn't unpack the pies before they were sold, and heartening that eager purchasers made several visits to see if we had any new loaves.

It's also good to hear how many people are fully aware of the SLF and the work they do. We know that we're getting the word out!

Thank you to all of you who contributed in every way. 


Annual Fabric Sale
Each year UJAMAA GRANDMAS puts out a call for stash raids of unused fabric, yarn, notions, patterns, books and machines for our annual Fabric Sale held at Woodcliffe United Church, 5010 Spruce Drive S.W. This sale has proven to be such a success that other area Grandmother groups are following our lead in 2012.

October 2011 UPDATE:

In the months following the sale, some of our businesses and other donors have connected with us about donations for the Fabric and Yarn Sale coming up on April 14th, 2012.  We will be taking donations on April 11th and 12th, the Wednesday and Thursday leading up to the Saturday sale.

We have also been in contact with the Red Deer, AB grandmothers who will have their fabric sale Saturday, April 21st. Grandmothers to  Grandmothers in Saskatoon are interested in holding a sale as well. We are helping these groups by sharing our experiences.

Message from the organizers of 2011 sale: HERE

Message from the organizers of 2012 sale: HERE

 

HOW DO WE RAISE FUNDS?