Christmas has come and gone. The new year approaches. What a year it has been. Judging by what I am seeing on social media the entire world is ready for this year to be over. I don't blame them. My husband and I were both lucky to keep our jobs during the pandemic. We were able to pay all of our bills and continue to put food on the table in our home. I don't take that lightly when I know many were struggling in much more physical and financial ways than we did this year. But we have also struggled. I have struggled with loneliness and isolation. I have struggled with anxiety and at times depression. I've been concerned and worried for myself and then concerned and worried for others. Isolation is a breeding ground for overthinking. I've had struggles due to this that have never been an issue in my life. It has been a hard year for everyone even if our hard looked different.
So... yeah. I am kind of glad for this year to be over too. I don't know what 2021 will hold. I honestly don't know that I think it will be a better year than this one. But I look forward to the opportunity to start fresh and the hope that it WILL be a better year for so many who have struggled endlessly this year.
But I also like to think back on the things that were good about this year to find the silver lining. In my first year of business I posted a year end review. My idea was to document the history of my little business for myself and to share the impact that WE have had. My purpose in doing this is not to boast about myself but to encourage others and keep myself accountable. I am very thankful for my 9-5 job. CherryWood Boutique was partially started as a way to use my passion for fashion ( see what I did there, haha!) to give back to others. It is easy to start seeing orders coming in and money being deposited into your bank account and think of all the things you want to use it on for yourself. I believe in full transparency so I won't lie to you and say that I never will use my earnings from this venture on myself. But I will say that I am the last one to benefit from this business financially. I want my earnings to be invested back into the business and then into others. Posting a year end review helps you see that I am sticking to my original purpose and what YOU were a part of this year. You guys and this venture did a lot of good in a very dull year.
Small Business Relief Fund
Purse Auction | May 23, 2020
May of 2020 was still a peak time for business closures. A stimulus package was available but it was not enough to keep a staggering amount of businesses from having to close their doors. I learned of an organization called The Community Foundation of West Kentucky. They were accepting donations and distributing them to small businesses in the area. I knew I wanted to join but I wasn't sure how much I would be able to raise with jewelry that costs approximately $10-$15 at the most. So I came up with a purse auction event. I stuffed 4 CWB purses with goodies from my shop and other local businesses and then you bid on them. CWB was able to donate $400 to this organization to go to a small business! That may not sound like much but I guarantee you all of those struggling business appreciated every single dollar if it helped keep their shop in business for one more day.
Spread Kindness Like Confetti Event
Acts of Kindness | August 15, 2020
As the year progressed I sensed the general attitude of the population getting darker. I think the loneliness and general outlook of the year were starting to get to people. A book I read inspired me to do a random acts of kindness day. I have never participated in one before. Hosting it required me to not only plan it but actually follow through. I am so glad I did. I came up with 10 activities to do throughout the day that would bring happiness to others. I wasn't able to make a huge impact by myself but if you did even one activity that day or in the days following, then you were also part of a healthy change in the world. Maybe you restored hope for someone that was about to give up. Maybe your quarters at the laundromat brought tears to the eyes of a single mom struggling to get by. You don't always know how your acts of kindness affect others. But they do. And once you begin spreading, it is contagious.
CASA & Child Watch
Stocking Stuffers | November 2020
CASA and Child Watch work with children that have been victims of domestic violence. When adults find themselves in difficult situations it definitely hurts my heart. But when children find themselves in difficult situations it truly breaks my heart as they have no means to get themselves out of the situation and are not the ones who got themselves into it. So I am always willing to do whatever I can to help a child in need. When I saw the opportunity to provide stocking stuffers for these children I couldn't resist. I was shopping with my mom at the time. When she saw what I was doing through CWB she matched my donation! So CWB and my mother were able to give 12 kids stocking stuffers that were partially fun and cute but also necessary.
Starfish Orphan Ministry
Angel Tree Gift | December 2020
Again with the kids. My heart hurts! Starfish Orphan Ministry usually benefits from a toy drive but due to Covid-19 the toys were given to school children. I am not sure if any of those kids might have overlapped, but I know Starfish was not able to provide the number of gifts they usually do. I was so excited to see a teenage girl asking for jewelry for Christmas. That was a gift I knew I could deliver. You guys helped me choose what to give and CWB did the honors. Hopefully some child is smiling today in her new pieces.
Women's Sock Drive
November & December 2020
I am going to be totally and completely honest with you. Last year I donated some Christmas socks because they were left over at the end of the season and it felt like the right thing to do with them. I ordered another bundle this year and assumed I would have some left over again. I thought it would be fun to do a sock drive. Buy one, give one. For every pair you buy I give one to a women's shelter. I was thinking that the sock drive would mean no left over socks. Guys. I sold 17 socks. Again, it doesn't sound like much, but it is a lot for a little business like mine. I am actually going to have to buy socks to donate!! That is awesome.
So thank you from the bottom of my heart for continuing to support me. Thank you for thinking of me when you are shopping for accessories. And thank you for the good that you allow me to do.
Here's to 2021! May it be a year of hope, prosperity, peace and joy.
XO,
Monica
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