I woke up yesterday feeling anxious. I was grumpy, funky, snappy, surly. It felt like the last thing I wanted to do but I know better, so I dressed for a run and heaved myself out the door.
It was cold and windy. I pushed the stroller up hill, barely moving, breathing hard. It immediately felt good. I love that I am always surprised by that. I thought about the explosions at the Boston marathon and how much it sucks. I thought about how stuff like that happens every day all over the world that I don’t know much about. It’s hard to know what to do when unimaginable tragedy happens. And yet, I do always want to *do* something. I dedicated my run to Boston, pushing love out toward everyone and everything with my every step. I meditated on love, while talking to Ruby about deer, clouds and pizza. With every step I thought about hugging pain and grief. I pushed loved into the universe with every breath. Because, that I CAN DO.
My business donates items and makes charitable contributions to important organizations. But, I want to do more. I’ve been waiting for something to snap into focus, something that dig this chick can give to regularly, meaningfully and tangibly. On my run, it occurred to me. Love it when that happens.
Here at dig, we lovingly craft items, for the love of place. Places break. Places like Columbine, Haiti, New Orleans, Indonesia, Manhattan, Iraq, Newtown. These places and their people rely on our love – yours and mine – to rebuild, to mend. We are all in this together.
Today, we are beginning our Geo For Love campaign. We will regularly craft a limited edition item featuring a place that needs our love, a place that we love. We will sew a heart on the hurting place, stitching slowly and thoughtfully. We will sell the item as a fundraising tool, donating profits, combined with all of the purchasers letters of support to a cause. We will begin today, with Boston.
You can buy this Massachusetts shirt with a love heart on Boston and profit will go to the One Fund Boston, a relief organization in place to help the Boston Marathon explosion victims and victims’ families.
We are making sizes 2T-2XL. The kid shirts are gray, the adult shirts are blue (see listing). They are $36 each. We (“we” being Andy, Ruby, Margot and me!) will donate $18 of each sale to One Fund Boston. And, for every 10 shirts sold, we will donate one. I don’t know exactly how the shirt donation will work yet but I know it will happen. I welcome your suggestions.
Here, Margot asked what the heart was for. I told her Boston. She wanted to know more and I told her people were sad and hurting in a city called Boston in a state called Massachusetts. She said, “Oh and the heart is for love?” Our kids get it.
As this is a new initiative and one that I hope grows and grows to support places all over our big (little) world, I am anticipating some kinks, some ways to give better, love more. I appreciate any thoughts you might have on how to facilitate giving better and loving more. Thanks in advance for your smart ideas.
When you wear this shirt: feel love, share love, show love. We will.
