Announcing the 2014 Feast of Lights Fundraiser!! Nov. 15-Jan. 2

[Aryawnah Federov]

What is the Feast of Lights?
Annually TarValon.Net, Inc. holds a fundraiser for an internationally focused not-for-profit organization. This fundraiser is known as the Feast of Lights. Unlike our other feasts and festivals- including previous Feast of Lights- this is not a festival where we open up the Faire Grounds and host games and competitions. This is an opportunity for our community to act collectively as Servants of All by donating to an organization doing work we admire. In the past we have raised funds for organizations like Heifer International, Doctors Without Borders, and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.


This year, however, we will be doing things a little differently. Instead of choosing a single charity and collecting funds, we really want our members to don their Servant of All hats and go out in their local communities. We are asking out members to donate food, time, and/or money to their local food banks, pantries, kitchens, or any other local organization that helps to feed those who are less fortunate.

A list of items that are needed can be found Here.

If you are having difficulty finding a local place, here are a few organizations you could donate money or ship goods to: Feeding America, Feed The Children, Trussell Trust,Food Banks in the UK. These are only a few ideas.

Lastly, we are asking for you to take a "selfie" of your good deed! We will put all of your photos on our new Tower Tumblr here: www.tv-netcommunityoutreach.tumblr.com. A selfie is NOT required to participate!

At the end of the fundraiser, we will a random drawing to determine the winner of our Fundraiser.


How to Donate?
Simply donate any of the items on the above list, food, time, or money and snap a selfie. Upload your photo do a hosting site or email it to me Outreach@tarvalon.net, and then fill out this form:

>HERE<​

Don't Forget:
Even if you are unable to donate, helping spread the word that Feast of Lights is going on is a great way to support this fundraiser- and a fantastic way to dress up your signature!


Some Feast of Lights signatures for you to use:

Some Feast of Lights badges for your signatures to use:

Lastly, watch out here throughout the event as myself and the Community Outreach Staff bring you some trivia and scavenger-hunt type challenges. We will also be bringing back the Candle Gifts throughout the month of December, so keep an eye out for that!

Thank you all for your generosity during this season of giving.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

I'm super excited about Feast of Lights this year! :joy I've already got my place of volunteering picked out, I just need to schedule a time to go do it.

 

[Zandera Sommers]

I have not previously done it since I moved, but I'm really hoping to make it out to a local dog shelter in December to walk dogs during the winter. I used to be a huge participant at a local pet rescue building, training dogs to be house-friendly and keeping them exercised when I was in college. Now that I don't own my own dog, I really miss volunteering in this way. Wish me luck in making it out!

 

[Laithean Cor'dazar]

Good luck Zandera! I used to volunteer at the local animal shelter when I was in high school. I hope you are able to find some great fury friends to help

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

So just post pics here and you will move them or?

 

[Aryawnah Federov]

I have a place in the form for you to post a link to the photo if you already have it uploaded, or ask that it be emailed to me.

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

shall email you a couple of me then.

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

Tried to do the form thinger but I has no permissions...

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

I worked for 3 hours at my local food bank and it was actually a lot of fun!

The whole group unpacked a couple tons of food (at least, I've forgotten the actual number), enough for 10000 meals in a six county area.

I encourage everyone to check out what's local to you and go work for an hour or two. No time? Pick up an extra couple of cans of food when you're grocery shopping and drop them in a food donation bin. Every bit helps!

Ahmyra, we'll get the form sorted out asap.

 

[Aryawnah Federov]

D: I'm so sorry!! It should be fixed now.

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

it appears im going to be a real pain... I am a Novice and therefore have no affiliation yet... what would you like me to put there?

 

[Zandera Sommers]

I contacted 2 organizations to volunteer walking dogs! :clap

I've learned that in my particular area, there is a waiting list at many shelters for walking dogs. It seems that these organizations need help in other areas in which I qualify. I still want to walk dogs and may not do so by the deadline for the FoL, but I am starting to get more involved with my local area. (This is especially great because I just moved. It really helps kick-start volunteering here for me!)

 

[Aryawnah Federov]

Sorry! Once again fixed.

 

[Ahmyra al'Ruley]

Thank you!

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Remember, this year we're focusing on food or time donations to food banks, soup kitchens, or other places that help feed the hungry.

 

[Shaerlyn Storna]

This is very cool. Gotta get on it.

 

[Erin al'Denael]

So apparently my local food bank really prefers cash donations to food. They have partnerships with various companies/corporations, and can make a dollar stretch pretty far. If I were to donate canned goods, I'd be going to the store to purchase them because I don't really keep much on hand - that money would be better spent through a cash donation because they can get sooo much more bank for my buck than I can.

Because of this, I can't really take a selfie. :P I'm not really a selfie person anyway. I'll be happy to take a screenshot of my donation, possibly even stick a cat or two in front of my screen, and send that along. If not, I'll just donate and be happy in spirit. :P

 

[Zandera Sommers]

Remember, this year we're focusing on food or time donations to food banks, soup kitchens, or other places that help feed the hungry.

Oops sorry. Nymala Sedai wrote a really nice article on what food pantries often need most. I will see if I can donate some items on the list to the local pantry.

 

[Rhed al'Tere]

Cat pictures! :joy Erin, your reasoning makes perfect sense, and I'm A-OK with it.

 

[Ty al'Djinn]

The soup kitchen/food pantry that Roh and I volunteer at just about every week is frequently inundated with food, and so needs cash to get them through the lean times when they don't have so many donations they can't store it all.

They a ton of bread from bakeries and such- if you work at a restaurant and have the ability, food pantries and soup kitchens can always use that sort of thing.