Thanks to community, No More Safety Pins 2017 was a huge success! Liberty Church Birmingham provided a fabulous space, Veal Convention Services, Inc. loaned us 48 clothing racks, CMIC shared 5 double stacked racks, Purpose Place Thrift Market donated clothing, Liberty Church members gave of their time to sort and hang clothing, and 100+ volunteers served to make this event possible. Our pampering was provided, free of charge, by Joy Hopson Hulsey with Young Living Essential Oils, Kinisha Britton with MARY KAY, Karen Pack with Premier Designs Jewelry, Krissy Santiago with Lilla Rose, Jalice Marie Klein with Chloe and Isabel, Mallory Austin with Scentsy, Cynthia Wilson Smith with Plumeria and Country Scents, Amber Colvin with Usborne Books & More, Erin Hudson with Norwex, Michele Christian with Organo Gold, and childcare provided by Liberty Church. Thanks to many local businesses, food, drinks, paper products and over 200 door prizes were distributed throughout the event!

Here are a few reasons why it is a privilege to serve with No More Safety Pins:

• The mama who was leaving, turned around, looked me in the eye, and said, “God had to have given y’all this idea!!” You got that right sister!!! To God be the glory.
• Another mama saying, “My mama always told me that when you become a mama you become last, and I didn’t believe her, but it’s true. I shop for everyone else first, but today I got some clothing for me. I never do that!”
• “Yesterday I won a $150 certificate to Christian Brothers Automotive. Last night my husband’s check engine light came on.” God is always ahead of us.
• The look on that mama’s face when we can share zucchini, bread, cookies and a cup of cherries with her. The excessive generosity confuses people. Our culture struggles to receive without cost, with no strings attached, as a free gift, and the event represents that this is who Jesus is!
• “Can I use my trades to get new gift items for Sav-a-Life mamas?” Why of course dear!
• That moment the little girl squealed because we were giving away salads. Her smile y’all and that hug she wrapped around me.
• “At first I wanted to use all my trades on my family, but then I realized I had so many left there was no way I could use them all. So, I’m thinking of who I can bless.”
• The piles of loot all over the ground, more than anyone needed, and sitting on the floor, right beside a mama, listening to her story, sharing mine and knowing Jesus’ love was so secret and intentional for her in the five new rolls of contact paper she needed.
• The mamas who came to trade so that they could serve families in need, watching them text pictures to friends, hearing how a grandmother takes care of eight children, and listening as so many said “I cannot wait to go give this to her!”
• The moment a friend sponsors another friend who is recently pregnant and being able to walk around with her to select maternity clothes and baby stuff.
• “Thank you for everything. I found lotion and shampoo. I got a toothbrush!”
• A couple coming back the next day and explaining, “God is using y’all something big in our lives. We gathered together as family last night and processed what happened. He asked us to bring our best. Here’s everything new we could find in our house to bless the families that come today. Then, they held up a toy gun and a tattered book – our kids picked their very favorites.” They gave 65 new items.
• A mama texted that she processed with her girls what happened and how much they learned about gratitude by watching another child delight in being able to select four things.
• Listening to the vendors minister to one another, encourage each other’s hearts and even plan a get together to see each other again. God builds community when we step into the open spaces and share our vulnerability.
• Realizing two of our vendors drove over 3 hours to come love on mamas they have never met.
• A mama sharing, “I almost gave up on God because of all that’s going on in my life, but I am leaving a changed person.
• Asking a mama if she had time to be pampered and her saying, “I did that first! Can’t you see how awesome my makeup looks?! I came in without any on.”
• “We will buy you 1000 hangers and pray for the event the entire weekend.” The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective and accomplish much!
• “You have childcare? And pampering? And food? I’m staying until 4pm!!”
• Watching the volunteers generously share their time to hang clothing, organize racks, listen to one another’s stories, and make everything look beautiful.
• “Thought I would bring pizza for everyone.”
• “This was church. People were actually doing what the Bible says. Praying for one another. Feeding and clothing each other. Sharing. Ministering in Jesus’ name. Loving one another.”

Life isn’t slowing down, its only speeding up! Ask a mama and they will often describe their days shuttling kids from point A to point B to point C, a taxi service to the grand adventure. Play dates, volleyball practice, swim team, ballroom dancing, guitar lessons, summer camps, friend’s houses, youth group, baseball, the snocone place, tutoring, the art store, and Chick-fil-a. That’s summer, imagine when school starts.

How are the mamas feeling? Tired. Sleepy. Exhausted. Overwhelmed. Scattered. Distracted. Busy. So busy.

The frazzle has become a natural state of today’s mama. They barely get a home cooked meal on the table. The laundry always finds itself somewhere between the basket, dryer and a pile at the end of her bed. The toilets need to be cleaned again and she’s sweeping the floor while calling out math facts. She may be the homeschool teacher too. Staying up late, she’s researching and organizing curriculum for the next school year, reading her bible and falling asleep in the middle of her midnight prayers.

Somewhere in the mix of jumping on the trampoline with her five year old, nursing the baby and promoting the summer reading program, she’s balancing a cup of coffee and listening to a friend’s troubles on her cellphone. Nothing is easy about being a mama.

As her kids run outside to ride their bike or sit on the couch to play a video game, she realizes their pants are too short and the shirts too tight. Oh yea, the kids keep growing. What about the next round of clothes? She’s trying to be resourceful, using a coupon that time at the store, recycling the milk jug, growing rosemary in the front porch flower pot, and participating in consignment sales.

Those sales are amazing, but she starts to hyperventilate a little thinking about it… find hangers, cut tags, make up prices and empty the junk drawer (ok, drawers) for safety pins.

What if?!!

A weekend of “No More Safety Pins” (and maybe a little surprise mama pampering to go with it!)

Here’s the scenario…

“Frazzled mama has no time for hangers, tags and safety pins. She participates in “No More Safety Pins” by bringing 50 excellent quality items and paying $25 on a “drop off date.” She trades in the 50 items to receive 50 new items on the shopping weekend. If she wants 20 more items, she pays in another $25. Frazzled mama’s friend comes with her without trading any items, so she pays $25 for every 20 items she selects.”

$25 to participate. There is no limitation on how many items you can bring to trade. Bring 20 items, trade for 20 items. Bring 100 items, trade for 100 items.

Don’t want to trade? No worries! Contribute $25 per every 20 items.

Let us know you’re coming via the following link: “No More Safety Pins”

Trade Days:

• August 17, 2017 from 5pm til 9pm (Early Shoppers Only)
  
• August 18, 2017 from 10am til 6pm
• August 19, 2017 from 8am til 4pm

Drop Off Days:

• August 1, 2017: Tuesday: 9am – 2pm
• August 2, 2017: Wednesday: 3pm – 8pm
• August 8, 2017: Tuesday: 9am – 2pm
• August 9, 2017: Wednesday: 3pm – 8pm
• August 15, 2017: Tuesday: 9am – 2pm
• August 16, 2017: Wednesday: 3pm – 8pm

Drop Off Location: Liberty Church, 2732 Old Rocky Ridge Rd, Birmingham, AL 35216. Main Entrance.

Remember to bring your $25 entry fee when bringing your items. Checks can be made out to “Liberty United Appeal Fund, Inc. Please write “No More Safety Pins” in the memo line.

* Keep in mind, your participation fee is not tax-deductible as you are receiving items.

How to be an Early Shopper:

* Shoppers can pay their $25 participation fee, trade in clothing early, sign up for a volunteer shift (minimum of 4 hours,) and be allowed to shop early on Thursday night, August 17, 2017. Sign up to volunteer by emailing natalie@gracekleincommunity.com the date and times you’re available to volunteer.

* Small group ladies who help us sort through the high quality items will get a shop early pass too. Sign up for your small group to help sort through donated clothing and separate the fall/winter from summer/spring. All items must be in excellent quality and not damaged. Email [email protected] to get involved.

* Secure businesses to be a business sponsor of the event and you will earn vouchers for free shopping. Email natalie@gracekleincommunity.com for details.

* Promote the event through social media by following our specific guidelines and secure 10 friends to trade in early for promotional and coordination shopping perks. Email natalie@gracekleincommunity.com for details.

**All kids clothing, baby gear, toys and games must be in excellent condition.**

Trade reminders:

1. No summer clothing, accepting winter/fall clothing only * Short sleeve shirts allowed (welcome to the South)
2. Bag your clothing (babies, kids and maternity) and sort by size. No pricing. No safety pins.
3. Educational games, baby gear and excellent condition shoes will also be accepted.
4. Accepting new gift items for all ages
5. Invite all your friends to join in.

Grace Klein Community strives to build authentic community by serving and loving like Jesus. We wholeheartedly believe that meaningful, long-term relationships are a key factor in alleviating poverty. All funds raised through No More Safety Pins will benefit our local food delivery outreach program, currently serving over 230 families on a monthly basis, meeting a basic necessity by providing a healthy and nutritious food box, shared in love, resulting in lasting friendships.

*Volunteer Opportunities:

We need your help! Complete the volunteer sign up form below and let us know what days and times you are available to help serve.

[tfuse_contactform tf_cf_formid=”15″]