Makeovers for Mercy

As I mentioned in my previous post - one of my many reasons for starting a home-based business is to raise money for giving...aka philanthropy. Mercy Ministries has become a focus of this effort with events my business partner, Teresa and I call "Makeovers for Mercy".

First a bit about Mercy Ministries - from their website:

We operate unique residential facilities free of charge designed to address the whole person: spiritual, physical and emotional. Our facilities are located throughout the nation and adhere to our core values of excellence, unconditional love and accountability. Our program is free-of-charge and lasts approximately six months. Services include individualized programs, biblically-based counseling, nutrition education, fitness instruction, life-skills training and educational opportunities. Our goal is to have each young woman not only complete the program, but also discover the purpose for her life and bring value to her community as a productive citizen.

Teresa and I hold makeover events for "ordinary" women. 100% of profits from the events are used to purchase products for girls at Mercy. Prior to graduation at Mercy the girls participate in Life Skills classes. We do a makeover class for the girls, just like we did for the women in the fund raising events. We teach makeup and skin care - we refer to it as "icing on the cake"! These girls have worked hard for months at healing from the inside out - we get the FUN part of teaching them to dress up the outside - all the while building confidence!

At graduation the girls are BLESSED with gifts of products - skin care AND personalized makeup. No strings attached - only blessings for them as they begin the new phase of their lives. It has been amazing to me how appreciative the girls are of their gifts - quite honestly, during the first graduation that I attended, I felt very "small" in the back of the room. Listening to the girls give their testimonies, which brought tears to my eyes, I wondered "why" I was there with skin care and makeup. How insignificant I felt. Boy was I wrong!! The girls LOVE the products and look forward to receiving their gifts.

I am honored and blessed to be able to play such a small role in their recovery. Their stories, their hugs, Mercy Ministries - it's all blessing ME much more than I can find the words to describe. I am indeed blessed to help spread the word of Mercy Ministries through our fundraising events. In fact, we have one tomorrow night in Murfreesboro - the good people at Keller Williams Murfreesboro are hosting us - I can't wait for the opportunity to share the Mercy Ministries story - along with fabulous skin care products, makeup and new makeup techniques!