Your invitation to simple living
This September, for one month, we are inviting you to take up a simple living habit or action. Something set aside. Something done differently. Something noticed that usually is not. On your own, as a family, as a school, as an organisation or workplace.
Friends and family sponsor the effort, and what is raised supports Palms placements.
The idea was inspired by returned volunteers. They keep telling us the same thing: living more simply overseas changed what they wanted when they came home – and it stayed changed.
As we are not funded by government, Palms has traditionally relied on our returnees to support us. But this campaign is seeking to go beyond our usual donors – in order to invite others into our family. This is an opportunity to be part of the Palms mission even if you haven’t gone overseas as a volunteer. It is a chance to learn some of the lessons of a volunteer from the comfort of one’s own home!
So what we are asking is this:
- If you belong to a parish – volunteer to make the Announcement at Mass to invite everyone to go to the website (simplicityseptember.org.au) and sign up for their own personal or family challenge – and hopefully raise some money: every little bit counts
- If you teach in a school – speak to your RE or Year coordinator and let them know that there are draft curriculum-based learning resources available for any teacher interested in involving their class in the project – and then, hopefully sign up yourself !
- If you work in an organisation – big or small – and you think your team could benefit from some TLC – then offer them the opportunity to get involved by selecting a self care activity involving simplifying their day or caring for their body. Show them the website and see if they might be interested in getting involved as individuals or as a team.
Yes, it’s fundraiser: we’re not shying away from that. But it is also very much a gift to everyone who participates.
We have 2 weeks til it starts. So please act now – go onto the website and sign up for your Simplicity September challenge – then email or text the link to your network. Encourage them to come on board – not just to support you, but to take up a challenge themselves.
And let’s do this together. It’s the first year of the campaign – so we need stories from you on how it’s going – send us anecdotes, pictures, phone video messages,… anything you are willing to share. Truly, it is your stories that will make the difference.