The purpose of my blog is to (attempt to) inject a bit of social kindness into your week and to showcase what many clever and kind people  are up to helping others.

This post is no exception, but this time it is about a social kindness collaboration of hundreds, if not thousands of people, most of whom have never, and will never meet.  It is called Collaborate for a Cause Charity Auction taking place on Facebook this weekend; kick off is 8pm this Friday 27th July until 8pm on Sunday 29th July – last year they raised an amazing $18,046 for over 70 charities!

Collaborate for Cause is the brainchild of Jen Kennedy of AinsleeFOX Handmade who after the birth of her daughter in 2007 discover a passion (and obvious talent) for sewing.   Jen was mentored by many wonderful businesses when she started out, and Collaborate for a Cause is her way of connecting people for a cause.

So how does it work?  The handmade community have again come together to collaborate on selling bespoke items for charity, using Facebook as their marketplace.  For example, my very clever friend Trina from Gigi&Me in Melbourne, has collaborated with another clever artisan in Queensland (who she didn’t previously know) MumsBubsandGifts.com.au to present auction item number 37, in support of Lilli’s Wish of Hope a support charity for grieving parents who have lost a child.

The 2012 “Collaborate for a Cause’’ event this year, has over 380 Facebook businesses creating over 200 one-of-a-kind handmade items to be auctioned this weekend to raise funds for more than 100 charities.  Some of the other beneficiaries include Mummy’s Wish, ACT for Kids, Cancer Council, Autism Queensland, Redkite and many, many more.

Auction items are all handmade and include gorgeous baby and children’s clothes, bespoke toys, jewellery, bedding, hair accessories and much, much more.

So get shopping this weekend, and find some beautiful handmade treasures that help a charity: www.facebook.com/collaborate4acause.

Happy Shopping!