Take Action
NewRoot.Take Action
New Roots is always looking for people and businesses to come along side us as partners. Since we are non profit, we of course need donations to continue and grow the work that we are doing (click the donate tab to get more information on how to do that). But in addition to that, we are looking for people to stand with us, shoulder to shoulder, as we tackle things so huge and daunting as poverty alleviation, educational farming, and malnutrition.
What does this look like? We too, often wrestle with this question, so we’ve come up with a list of ideas on how you can get involved and become an advocate for the people we work with here at New Roots.
Believe us when we say, the little things you do and say for the families we work with have a large impact on their ability to not just survive but thrive in Haiti.
How can Individuals or small groups get involved?
- Host a Car wash! Make a New Roots sign and blow up a photo of our farmers learning awesome new things, and explain to people what they are giving to when they choose to get their car washed by you.
- Do you have poker night with the boys? What about the crazy idea of asking the winner, at the end, to donate his winnings? Make it interesting by telling the winner IF they’ll do that, you’ll double the pot and give it all to New Roots!!!
- Have your small group join together to sponsor a New Roots Intern. It costs $750 to sponsor an intern for 3 months, teaching them a skill set that will change their future. If your small group is 12 people, that’s just $20 a month.
- Do you know a local farmer? Or have someone at your farmers market that you love and always buy his or her goods on Saturday mornings? Strike up a conversation. Ask them about farming (We guarantee they are passionate about that topic!) and bring up New Roots. See if maybe they’d be interested in learning about other farmers and what they are doing and how they can work together!)
- Is all the junk lying around your house making you go crazy? Why not host a garage sale. Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors to see if they want to contribute items as well. When the weekend is over donate a portion or all of the sales to New Roots.
- Are you amazing (and slightly nuts?!) and actually enjoy running events? 5ks? Half Marathons? Marathons? Tri-athelons? Because you can ask people to make a pledge that shows their support of your race and New Roots!
- Crowd funding: Do you have a birthday or Christmas coming up? Do you have a Facebook, Instagram, twitter, or another form of social media? What about setting up a fundraiser on your page an encouraging your followers to donate to New Roots in lieu of any gifts this year. Not a social media person, that ok, you can still have people donate directly to New Roots. If you don’t know how to set up an online fundraiser, email Nikki@NewRootsHaiti.org for step by step directions!
How to involve children?
Whether you are a parent, an aunt or uncle, grandma or grandpa, teacher, Sunday school teacher, or a coach, there are special children in your life. So you probably thinking of ways to teach, mold, and shape the character of these children. Especially about the ever-important topics of serving others, caring for those around you and in other countries, and missions.
Here are some fun ideas to get children involved while teaching them about such essential topics as giving to others:
- Kids Saving Bank. If you are a parent, create a cute box or piggy bank with a photo of something you think they’ll love attached to it (a picture of our farm here in Haiti, or the giant pigs, or little baby chicks). Then each time they find or get coins and small money, have them deposit it inside. When it gets full, have them “mail” the money to us! (ie you donate online or mail a check don’t send us your coins!! Haha) Involve them in the process, and clearly explain that their savings bought a family ______ amount of chickens, or _____, or ______. If you are a teacher, follow this same idea but have them create it as a class and keep it somewhere they can see it in your class. You guys could save for a designated farm item/animal for the semester or year!
- Garage sale/yard sale with a twist. If you’re having a garage sale/yard sale type thing ask your children to collect items they’ve outgrown or don’t use as often so they can sell them. Then ask them if they would be willing to give all or half of what they make to New Roots. But make it fun! You can create the same type Kids Saving Bank with a photo, and post it at your garage sale. Depending on the child’s age, they can explain to the person who buys their stuff that they are helping people and farmers in Haiti! So not only are they learning about the joy of giving, but they are becoming little advocates for others at the same time.