Business and Economy – Little Known Help Zone

Come out on September 28th at 5:00 PM in the Cloisters for an outdoor yoga class to enjoy the weather as we transition into fall. The class is “Donate What You Can, Leave With a Lifted Heart.” Class is taught by BMC Alum Alexandra Seits ’16.
Rain location is New Dorm Second Common Room!

This is the second time LKHZ has hosted a yoga event on Bryn Mawr’s Campus and the 4th Yoga event ever through LKHZ.
Yoga is an influential aspect of Central American culture, and as we raise awareness for human rights in Central America, we want to embrace positivity and spread the word. Yoga in Central America is not a common association, but through the past twenty years has grown more common and has been adopted for a variety of uses. In addition to yoga bringing in tourism money to provide jobs and resources to local people, yoga has powerful effects in other contexts. Schools, orphanages, and shelters are implementing yoga as an option for students and those facing troubles to relieve troubles, balance energy, and brighten outlooks. Also, free yoga classes are common for Honduran children looking for relief from internal conflicts such as the drug wars. In situations where workers are kept in uncomfortable positions for long periods of time, such as Salvadoran coffee sorters, yoga has been a small step in the fight for better worker’s rights to provide a healthy and positive break from the work. Yoga is an activity in Central America that promotes positivity, peace, and harmony.

Support Little Known Help Zone by visiting us when we table 11:30-3:30 on Thursday in the Campus Center and 5-7 Monday in Erdman selling raffle tickets to win a $25 gift card to Mom’s Organic Market! Tickets are 1/$1, 6/$5, 15/$10. All money will go to human rights causes in Central America.

The event will have healthy snacks, the hour long yoga class, and the raffle drawing!

Event sponsored by BMC SGA.

Fundraising, My Community

Etsy Shop- Wax Melts

July 30, 2016May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

The newest item to be listed in the Etsy shop is wax melts made for a candle wax tart warmer. These melts come in a 6 pack for $5, and are lime scented. Made with soy wax and organic coconut oil, these tarts are great for your wax melter in a dorm or apartment and are fragrant and fresh.

They are packaged in individual cupcake cups for each use, and currently only come in the lime scent. If popular, more scents will come soon!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/455382614/lime-wax-melts-candle-wax-melter-all il_570xN.1016361984_23hw

Fundraising, My Community

Flea Market Fundraiser

July 11, 2016May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Little Known Help Zone will be at the local flea market, 31st Street in Emmaus on Saturday the 16th starting at 8am (weather permitting). This will be a summer fundraiser for the organization to raise money for events and causes.

At this sale, all the items from the Etsy shop will be for sale, as well as books, and a new item that will soon be on the shop, lime wax melts!

If you’re local, stop by, and if not, purchase on Etsy!

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

In Mexico- Book Delivery!

July 9, 2016May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

While in Mexico this past week, LKHZ donated a large bag of books to KKIS, Keeping Kids in School. This organization donates large amounts of school supplies (over 2,000 bags) to students in Mexican schools, as well as a box of supplies for the teachers. These English library books, donated by Salisbury Middle School last year during a trip to El Salvador, will help children practice reading English at school and also serves as a great exposure to younger kids.

Check out KKIS to learn more about their amazing work!

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https://www.facebook.com/The-KKIS-Project-230592130368921/

Fundraising, My Community

Garden Stakes- Etsy Find

June 8, 2016May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Check out the newest Etsy Listing on the LKHZ shop, Clay Garden Stakes. These stakes come in a variety of herbs, and can be custom made if you have others you would like. They are white and hand formed/stamped. A pack of 3 is $9, and the money all goes to support Little Known Help Zone.

Selection is as follows:
Chives
Basil
Parsley
Thyme
Oregano
Sage
Rosemary
Mint
Dill
Cilantro

https://www.etsy.com/listing/281479150/white-clay-stamped-garden-stakes-herbs-3?ref=shop_home_active_1

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Check out these stakes today to support up and coming projects with Little Known Help Zone!

Fundraising, My Community

Little Known Help Zone BMC Bake Sale

March 21, 2016May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

The Little Known Help Zone Bryn Mawr club just completed its first fundraiser!

The preorder bake sale was a success, raising $41 and getting the club’s name out to the entire student body and beyond. For 5 hours, club members worked hard to bake birthday cake cookies and brownies for those who ordered in advance. There were obstacles, but in the end everything worked out perfectly. The extras were sold to student body members who may have not had a chance to submit orders.

This was a wonderful way to start off the club, and now we are hard at work planning our next fundraiser!

Advocacy, My Community

PETE&C Keynote 2016

March 3, 2016May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

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On February 24th, 2016, founder Makenna Lenover gave a closing keynote at the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Exhibit and Conference to academic personnel from all over the state of Pennsylvania. The speech was titled “What do you want to DO? Evoking passion in learning and inspiring students” and the description is as follows.

The center of the presentation is evoking passion in learning using innovation to find the best ways to learn. As a recent high school graduate, Makenna will offer alternatives to a focus on career options by focusing on accomplishing tasks. She will share information about her nonprofit and learning journey and how teachers can inspire students to find their passion and use it to learn, all while making a difference. She will discuss how community service and passion can work together to inspire learning.

The keynote was a big success, and the message truly got across to people attending. Additionally, it was a great experience to gain awareness in for the cause and network for future projects. Most importantly, between speaking and the generosity of conference attendees, Little Known Help Zone raised over $2400 for causes in Central America. After the fundraising season at Bryn Mawr College during the Spring Semester, a comprehensive plan about the funds and where they are going will be released. The response was amazing and beyond what was expected, and LKHZ is incredibly thankful for everyones help.

Thank you for all your support thus far and allowing Little Known Help Zone to grow to new levels.

Children's Education Abroad, My Community

Julio Cesar Received His Bed

January 9, 2016May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

Last night, LKHZ received wonderful news from Mayan Families. Julio received his bed and mattress for Christmas. The bed is beautiful and crafted by the Mayan Families workshop, so there’s a double benefit of employing young boys and helping a family.

This bed was much needed for Julio’s family, 5 people previously shared 2 beds, so this third bed will allow the family to spread out and get better rest.

In addition to sponsoring students, LKHZ contributes to student’s outside needs in hopes of limiting distractions and encouraging more learning at school.

Check out the pictures below!

Fundraising, My Community

LKHZ at the Bryn Mawr College Staff Association Holiday Fair

November 9, 2015May 25, 2018 Makenna Lenover

If you’re in the area, come out and see LKHZ at the Bryn Mawr College staff association craft fair from 10-2 on December 3rd in Thomas Great Hall. As always, all money made will be donated to LKHZ causes, specifically sponsored students needs and a scholarship fund for next year.

This is a really exciting opportunity to raise money for causes and get the word out about the organization and mission amongst staff and alumnae from Bryn Mawr College. This networking will hopefully make fruitful connections for future partnerships.

For sale will be Key Of Knowledge necklaces, tab bracelets, shell rings, crayons, and other jewelry.

Hope to see you there!

Labor Rights, My Community

El Salvador- A New Front for Little Known Help Zone

July 6, 2015May 26, 2018 Makenna Lenover

El Salvador is a country of immense beauty and charm, and also poverty. After visiting and exploring the country, I was enamored by the landscape and culture. In touch with their Mayan roots, Salvadorans are hard working and friendly, full of pride and respect. Many Americans do not travel due to the civil war of the past, but the country now is beautiful and inviting.

El Salvador has impoverished conditions, where most workers make about $7 a day. Agricultural workers have a monthly salary of $90, so clearly El Salvador is a place of need. When exploring the country, I was privy to viewing houses made from metal and tarps, and roads completely washed out by the recent swell. I was inspired to start two projects for El Salvador, both very important causes in the country.

We visited the Remar orphanage in El Tunco and got to tour the facility. With over 100 children and a school to run, this orphanage has high overhead costs. They are working to build houses for older kids and create a bakery to support the orphanage and teach the children skills. All these projects have helped the orphanage grow self sustaining, but there are still needs, mainly financial. The children were adorable and I was blessed by hugs and smiles, pictured below. Little Known Help Zone donated tons of books and toys as well as $50, with more projects to come. With collaboration, there will be attempts to provide a solar system as well as create a website and base in the US to earn more funding for orphanage projects.

When exploring the coffee plantation, I learned the ins and outs of how the coffee we drink and love comes to be. One detail the stuck out to me is the women who hand sort the coffee beans to assure the highest quality. These women work 8 hours a day and have no ear protections due to little funds. Their job is important to the lives of many and they deserve the best in return. Little Known Help Zone is going to work to send ear plugs to these women to protect their hearing and provide a comfortable working environment. Stay tuned for more!