As you may be aware, the Covid 19 situation in India is dire. Oxygen is very scarce, among other things like hospital beds, medicines, ventilators, and vaccines. Vision Express has already funded 40 oxygen concentrators to help. Our current goal is to raise $1,000,000 dollars to send oxygen concentrators to 50 different hospitals in India in the next 30 to 45 days. If you care to help you can make a donation of any amount via Paypal, or donate directly at www.visionexpress.org to fund the purchase of a concentrator. We also accept mail-in check donations addressed to Vision Express and mailed to 5 Rocky Ridge Rd. Asheville, NC 28806.
All donations will be 100% used for Oxygen concentrators. This is an opportunity to make a difference in the current crisis in India.
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Dear Rug & Home,
Thank you for your in-kind donation of a hand-knotted 5x8 wool rug from India to the Family Visitation Program, a program of the Mediation Center. Each year, the Family Visitation Program serves more children and families with a history of conflict.
The Family Visitation Programs (FVP) provides supervised visitation and safe exchange services to families with a history of domestic violence, susbstance abuse, child abuse or neglect, mental health concerns, or high-conflict custody disputes. FVP is a child-focused service which provides a safe and comfortable place for parent and child to build positive relationships. Our goal is to assist in arranging continued contact between parent and child in a safe environment. FVP helps families establish and maintain positive parenting relationships with their children and minimize the effects of conflict between parents, without putting children at risk for abuse or neglect.
The mission of the Mediation Center and the Family Visitation Program is to create create opportunity from conflict. Your donation ensures that people in our community have the resources they need to be safer and healthier. Thank you for your generous support.
Thank you so much, Rug & Home! The rug is beautiful!
Sincerely,
Laura Jeffords
We are happy that our 52 Weeks of Giving has already benefited so many in our local community, and we look forward to the future success stories in the upcoming weeks. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for further updates on 52 Weeks of Giving.
]]>Learn more about Hendersonville Community Band
Rug&Home was proud to sponsor the December 2018 concert performed by the Hendersonville Community Band. The "'Tis the Season" concert featured an eclectic list of holiday-themed songs, such as Russian Christmas carols, Dreidel Dance and A Praetorius Hymn, as well as arrangements of more holiday classics like "Away in a Manger", "Winter Wonderland" and "It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". We received the following thank you letter form HCB's John J. Williams:
Dear Rakesh,
On behalf of the entire Hendersonville Community Band, I want to extend our sincere appreciation to you for your generous sponsorship of our Holiday Concert. It was our great pleasure having you and RugandHome represented there.
A recording of our performance is being produced and I will send you a copy as soon as it is completed.
It has been a pleasure being associated with you and I appreciate Carol's introduction and Gaelle's work on your very nice program insert. Looking forward to seeing you and RugandHome again soon.
Best to you and your family in the Holidays!
John J. Williams
HCB currently has two more concerts scheduled this season, one on March 10, 2019 and their next on May 5, 2019.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for further updates on our other sponsorships.
]]>Blue Ridge Health
Learn more about Blue Ridge Health
For our 3rd week of the 52 Weeks of Giving, we donated this 5 x 8 Muragan Embossed rug to Blue Ridge Health. Blue Ridge Health is a health clinic that has been operating for over 50 years throughout Western North Carolina. They provide a wide range of services such as family medicine, dentistry and behavioral health. The rug was donated as a part of their Moving Mountains for Health fundraiser held September 29, 2018. We received this thank you letter from Blue Ridge Health's Chief Executive Officer, Richard Hudspeth, MD:
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Agarwal:
On behalf of Blue Ridge Health, thank you for your in-kind gift of a 5' x 8' Muragan Embossed Rug which was a wonderful item that we were able to offer at our 2018 Moving Mountains for Health event on September 29, 2018. Your gift was an integral part of the process we used to award the prize.
While, according to IRS regulations, we will not be allowed to declare the value of your donation, we can say that, but for your generosity, we likely would have had to expend approximately $1,600.00 for what you gave as an in-kind contribution. These are dollars saved which we are able to apply directly to support the programs and services we provide.
The funds raised at this event exceeded $106,000.00. Based on the average cost of care for a family of four funds will provide all needed medical, dental, pharmacy and behavior health services for over 263 patient visits.
The mission of Blue Ridge Health is to provide quality health care that is accessible affordable for all. You are an essential part of this mission. As we strive to help those most in need, please know that we are truly grateful for your support.
If you have any questions, please call Kathryn McConnell at 828.233.2209. Again, thank you.
Sincerely,
Richard Hudspeth, MD.
We are happy that our 52 Weeks of Giving has already benefited so many in our local community, and we look forward to the future success stories in the upcoming weeks. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for further updates on 52 Weeks of Giving.
]]>Dr. Scott Donaldson was in shock when the "Mountain" was turned around to reveal the rug icon. Later in the evening as he was rolling up his new rug, he was quite excited as it matched the decor in his home office.
The Hope Chest For Women
Learn more about The Hope Chest For Women
For our 8th week of 52 Weeks of Giving, we have donated this 5 x 8 herringbone rug to The Hope Chest for Women. Hope Chest helps support women going through breast or gynecological cancer treatments by providing financial assistance, referrals and other resources. Hope Chest provides these services throughout all 22 counties in Western North Carolina. This rug was donated to their 6th Annual Here's Hope Fashion Show and Luncheon fundraiser. We received this thank you letter from Hope Chest's Executive Director, Terri Bowman:
We are happy that our 52 Weeks of Giving has already benefited so many in our local community, and we look forward to the future success stories in the upcoming weeks. Follow us on Facebook for further updates on 52 Weeks of Giving.]]>Dear Rug and Home,
Thank you for your donation of a 5 x 8 handwoven rug to the 6th Annual Here's Hope Fashion Show and Luncheon to benefit The Hope Chest for Women. Your generous support of this event will help raise the funds needed in 2019 to provide critical financial assistance to women diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer living Western North Carolina.
Hope Chest offers practical support to female cancer patients by helping to pay their rent/mortgage, utility bills, groceries, medicine, lymphedema garments and other needs. Last year, we assisted 109 women throughout our region by paying 283 bills totaling $67,402! Hope Chest also provides social, emotional and educational resources to women. This extraordinary outreach would not be possible without the support of caring businesses and individuals like you!
Here's Hope is shaping up to be our best fundraiser ever! We hope you'll join us on Saturday, October 20th, 2018 from 11am to 2pm at the Asheville Event Centre (291 Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803). There will be live music, beautiful fashions, inspiring stories and an elegant buffet by our friends at Ingle's the Chef's Kitchen. It's sure to be a sell out!
Thank you for extending a compassionate hand in the battle against cancer! It really does make a difference in the lives of so many women and families across Western North Carolina!
Until they find a cure!
-Terri
For our 7th week of 52 Weeks of Giving, we donated this beige 5 x 8 to Thrive for Health. Thrive is a Hendersonville-based nonprofit that helps those with mental illnesses become productive members of the community. Services that they provide include transitional employment opportunities, housing assistance and financial management support. The rug was donated as a part of their 7th Annual Bids & Blues fundraising event. Trive's Development Associate, Dianne Ledbetter, sent us this thank you letter after the event:
Dear friends,
Thanks to your donation of the 9/25 Cluster 10-1081 Biege 5 x 8 rug that you value at $2,599.95, Thrive raised over $40,000 at our 7th Annual Bids and Blues event on Monday, October 15!!! Your help with the Silent Auction items really boosted the interest in our baskets and attracted higher bids! We are so grateful for your help in making this the best Bids & Blues ever!
Many people are fearful of seeking help due to the stigma associated with mental illness and/or homelessness. This can create a larger issue to address and can lead to unsafe situations. Thrive seeks to break down the stigma everyday by helping adults move from surviving a crisis to thriving in their community. Participation in Thrive programs have taught them that the first step towards stability is asking for help.
Thrive staff provide a safe, nonjudgmental community. Our mission is to provide support and opportunities to individuals and families offering community, hope and recovery. We would not be able to achieve our mission without the thoughtful gifts of people & organizations like yours.
(We had 2 pages of bids on your rug! It was quite the hit! Thank you so much!)
-Dianne
We are happy that our 52 Weeks of Giving has already benefited so many in our local community, and we look forward to the future success stories in the upcoming weeks. Follow us on Facebook for further updates on 52 Weeks of Giving.
]]>Starting Semptember 1, 2018, Rug & Home will gift one rug per week for the entire year to fifty-two different charitable organizations in need. The purpose of the giveaway is to help charities and nonprofits raise money for their causes. These rugs can be auctioned off to raise funds for your charity. Rug & Home understands that nonprofits are more important than ever in recent years, and wants to extend a supportive hand to these organizations. We are proud to be able to support the community in this way!
The hand-crafted giveaway rugs will be of the highest quality and will all be 5x8 or larger in size. The rugs will come in various sizes and styles, but all will make excellent prizes for silent auctions, raffles, and other fund-raising events. Click here for more information and the rules to apply. Please pass this information along to any charity that you believe would benefit from this program!
Very few people would argue that receiving or even seeing flowers brings them happiness. Even the most stoic will usually crack a smile when presented with a beautiful bloom! And there's true scientific evidence to support this joy. A study done by Rutgers University found that flowers have an instant impact on a person's happiness, but also have a positive, long-term effect on moods. Participants in the study felt less anxious and depressed after receiving flowers, and their delighted smiles proved it! *
Around Valentine's Day, some of my Rug & Home associates and I graciously delivered flowers to the residents of a local physical rehab and nursing home facility. We could see the effect the flowers were having on both the residents and staff the moment we came through the door. People were drawn to the blooms with delighted smiles on their faces. Several of the residents completely stopped what they were doing to accept their gifts. One associate was graced with a big hug and a kiss on the cheek by a resident who quite simply couldn't contain her happiness! A few days later, we were all extremely pleased and humbled to receive a thank you card in the mail from one of the residents we had visited. You could literally feel her gratitude exuding from the page. What was a relatively simple thing for us to do absolutely made her day!
More recently, some of us visited the local VA hospital to distribute flowers in the common areas. Again, you could see the joy on everyone’s faces the moment they saw them! Later that afternoon, we received a call from a staff member that had several people practically beg her to call and give their thanks for the beautiful flowers! It was a toss-up as to who enjoyed the day more, the recipients or the givers!
The next time you know someone who needs a little pick-me-up, why not send a little bouquet of flowers? Science guarantees it will help make everything better!
Written by: Dawn Linberger
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I believe a mother’s love can be universal. Rug and Home is focused on helping women and children in remote parts of India where our rugs are crafted. A team of people from the USA is chosen every year to create awareness, volunteer and lend a hand with ground floor efforts there. We partner with doctors and schools to help improve the quality of life of the local people. Our goal is to provide more of an opportunity for these amazing people to branch out and create a future for themselves. I was one of four people chosen to attend the 2018 trip and I was excited to travel to one of the wildest places in the world.
The hospitality and warm welcome I received was nothing like what you would expect in the U.S. I was surrounded immediately by lovable children from the slums. They were jovial and persistent in getting my attention. The children were so close to me and in such a number that I could not walk much more than a step. My fellow volunteers were equally surrounded by children. This was my first real experience in India. This was one of many times that I was surrounded by lovable little ones. The children there will always be with me in my heart. It made me aware of how fortunate my children were to be born in a westernized country where clean water and electricity are common place. What I did not expect was the overwhelming love that I felt for the children there. I cried every day during my stay in India, I cried for the poverty that I was witnessing, for the culture that was suffering due to hunger, pollution, and neglect.
For me going to India was spreading my motherly love across continents. I fed slum children lunch, brought children at the school we support toys and sweets, taught them hygiene and gave countless hugs. In addition to children’s care we host a health camp targeted at women’s health. We offer cataract surgeries, gynecological care, and other healthcare we take for granted in the U.S. While at these health camps we treat everyone we possibly can, but we particularly strive to treat women and mother’s who often give up their chance at healthcare to someone else in their family.
To be the mother of a child in one of these places is extremely difficult. I have a great respect for the strong women who venture into motherhood in a place where providing proper medical care or clean water is not possible. I am so grateful that we at Rug and Home are helping these communities become a better place for mothers to raise their babies. These children are the world’s children, my children and yours. Thank you for helping to support them through Rug and Home.
Emily Perrone,
General Manager at Rug & Home Asheville, NC
]]>A little over a year ago on Christmas Day 2015, now 6-year-old Selah Grace Henderson from Hendersonville, NC was a joyful little girl who had just received her dream Christmas gift – a puppy named Nemo. A week later, Selah’s Christmas day joy turned into devastating news for her and her family – a cough that she had woken up with on that December 25th had been diagnosed as stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer. Thus began a year-long battle, first against the cancer, then against the effects of the treatments, and now against the possibility of a relapse.
Selah Grace is thankfully now cancer-free, however, the expenses from visits to numerous hospitals, countless procedures, and a whole host of procedures, many of which are still upcoming, continues to grow. Therefore, the Rug & Home Foundation recently stepped in to raffle off a hand-knotted, sari silk rug, valued at $4,200, with the goal of raising $20,000 and with 100% of ticket sales going to the family.
The owners of Rug & Home, Rakesh and Dolly Agarwal, are strong believers in giving back to the community that has helped them grow and prosper. In recent years, they have been fervent supporters of the Flat Rock Playhouse, Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care, and Believe in Tomorrow Foundation, amongst many other local and national charitable organizations.
Selah Grace and the Henderson family, with their positive outlook and faith, deeply touched the Agarwals, and this fundraiser aims to help alleviate the Henderson family’s mounting medical burden. Raffle tickets are $2 each and can be purchased by visiting or calling Rug & Home Asheville, or by emailing Stephanie Brendell at stephanieb@rugandhome.com. Winner will be drawn on April 9th, 2017.
Read more about Selah Grace’s journey through WLOS’ news story titled “Henderson Co. girl endures year-long battle with cancer with Christmas puppy by her side.”
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Shop Small. We have all heard it before, but do we really realize the impact that shopping small has on our communities? By supporting small businesses you are not only supporting local jobs, which in turn supports local families, you are supporting the entrepreneurs who become strong cornerstones in their communities. This is incredibly important to the founders of Rug & Home. They do not take their successes for granted and they have made it duty to give back to the communities that have supported them in their journey.
Their journey started a little over 30 years ago, when Dolly and Rakesh Agarwal came to this country with a few dollars in their pocket and a dream of a better life for them and their daughter. They were welcomed with generosity from the community through simple acts of kindness. This is something they have vowed never to forget. Extraordinarily hard working and persistent, they took the skills and education they received in India and converted that into a true Rug Empire. Their mission has never wavered:
To be the Ultimate Destination for Area Rugs and Home Furnishings by delivering highly-curated products with fanatical service, and a delightful shopping experience.
To expand on their mission, and what I have grown to respect most about their business, is they sincerely want the best for their customers at the best price possible. We have something for every single person who walks through the doors: we have all price points and qualities, as well as sizes, styles and colors. We make it easy for customers by guiding them through the store and helping pinpoint their need. It is a shopping experience with customer service like no other and their stores have come to be a destination for anyone in the rug market. I am proud to be a part of such an amazing organization.
Spring forward, and today, there are 3 large Rug & Home locations along with our ever growing website. Combined showroom floor space of 200,000 square feet. It’s truly impressive. But what is most impressive this the respect they have gained from their peers in the home furnishings industry. Humbly and graciously Dolly & Rakesh have helped support many organizations in their local community. They also founded and support a mission half way across the world, in India, to help the most vulnerable.
In the Spirit of Thanksgiving – Here is a spotlight on the Goodness that has been spread by Rug & Home:
So shop small, and support those who help support others. It’s a ripple effect that can be felt near and far. This season is all about showing gratitude for the blessings in ones life, and I love how the Agarwals have taken these blessings and converted them into blessings for others. And I know this is what they treasure most about living, what many would see as, the American Dream.
Let me leave you with this video from local news station, WLOS, when Rug & Home's Founder and CEO, Rakesh Agarwal was named 'Person of the Week' back in April 2016.
http://wlos.com/news/person-of-the-week/person-of-the-week-rakesh-agarwal
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Due to the harsh work conditions, women as young as 40 suffer from cataracts. Besides the inability to see, these women are held back from making the most out of their futures. This is why eye surgery plays such a crucial role. The good news is that the surgery can be performed for as little at 25 dollars per eye, making it possible to help many women gain back their sense of pride and putting them on the path to fulfilling their life and business goals.
This year's trip was recognized by many, especially those that are local to Rug & Home, such as the Charlotte Living Magazine. Rug and Home CEO Rakesh Agarwal's mission is clear - to restore sight. While Agarwal is thankful for the opportunities that America and education has given him, he expresses that he will never forget his roots.
By taking part in this annual trip, Agarwal is not only changing the lives of Indian women, he is changing the lives of the people he brings along. To this day, Rug & Home continues to make a difference and bring awareness to an issue that needs it.
More than 2,500 women are treated each year, but with the continuous support from the generous applicants and community, we can only expect the number to increase. For more information on Vision Express and how you can get involved, please visit: visionexpress.net, and be sure to read the full article in Charlotte Living to get a feel of this annual journey.
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Nursing Home Flower Delivery Program
Over the past 10 years we’ve been delivering flowers to area nursing homes in each of the communities we operate within. Rug & Home employees and managers hand-deliver these bouquets personally. We spend all major holidays delivering flowers and often have random drop in’s for no reason at all. It’s an amazing feeling to see the smiles on the faces of the elderly, especially those who have friends and family far away.
Four Seasons Hospice & Palliative Care
Rug & Home has donated over $100,000 to Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care in Hendersonville. Palliative care focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients undergoing treatment for chronic or incurable diseases. Rug & Home founders’ were touched by the work that Four Seasons in Hendersonville engages in and wanted to find a way to help.
Rug & Home gifts one rug per week for fifty-two weeks to fifty-two different charities. The purpose of the giveaway is to help charities and nonprofits raise money for their causes. Thanks to our rug donations, valued at over $80,000 in the past 3 years, these organizations have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for their causes.
“Never forget where you come from.”
The Rug & Home founders haven’t forgotten their roots in India. Each year they organize a humanitarian trip to India for a 3-day health clinic in remote villages in the rug-weaving region of eastern Uttar Pradesh. Through the health clinics, they realized that the population most neglected in terms of health were women. This is why our founders established Vision Express, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, in 2012. Vision Express aims to restore eyesight due to cataract blindness in women and works to one day eradicate curable blindness in the underprivileged population of Indian women
Our greatest hope is to do the most good we can while inspiring others around the world to do likewise.
Gaffney employee and Windsor House Assisted Living resident are all smiles during a recent flower delivery.
A team member from the Kannapolis store prepping flower arrangements before delivery.
Kannapolis Assistant Manager, Ron Owens and 52 weeks of giving recipients smile for the camera.
Gaffney General Manager, Patti McCraw, with some of the many female patients that attended one of the health camp trips in 2013.
For the next 9 weeks we’ll be hosting giveaways via Facebook to give back to all our social media fans. Make sure to follow along so you can join in on the fun and celebrate our 20th anniversary with us.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
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Supporter Since/Project Date: June 2013
Amount Donated: Expected retail value of all rugs donated – over $75,000
Organization or Project Website: www.rugandhome.com/52weeksofgiving.aspx
Description:
Starting June 15, 2013, Rug & Home gifted one rug per week for fifty-two weeks to fifty-two different charitable organizations. The purpose of the giveaway was to help charities and nonprofits raise money for their causes. Rug & Home understands that nonprofits were hardest hit during the economic downturn and wanted to extend a supportive hand to these organizations. We are so proud to be able to support the community in this way!
The hand-crafted, 100% wool giveaway rugs were of the highest quality and are all 5x8 or larger in size. The rugs are in various sizes and styles, but all made excellent prizes for silent auctions, raffles, and other fund-raising events.
We received over two hundred applications from charities from across Western NC, Upstate SC, and the greater Charlotte area. A Rug & Home committee met to make final selections of the nonprofits that will receive one of these area rugs for their fundraising purposes, and we will be giving these to organizations as diverse as the Pardee Foundation, Literacy Council of Buncombe County, Boys & Girls Club of Henderson County, Old Fort Historic Sites Foundation, Children & Family Resource Center, Haywood Spray & Neuter, United Way of Henderson County, Biltmore Church of Christ Food Pantry, National Federation of the Blind, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic School, Children’s Advocacy Center of Spartanburg, Habitat for Humanity Greenville County, SAFE Homes – Rape Crisis Coalition, Meals on Wheels Greenville County, Alzheimer’s Association, Cherokee Historical & Preservation Society, The Junior Charity League of Concord, Communities in Schools of Rowan County, and Friends of the Senior Center. For a complete list of all of the organizations, their mission statements, and money-raised from this donation (if available), please see our 52 Weeks of Giving Program page. See the album above with several rug recipient charities picking up their giveaway rug.
We will be starting this giveaway program again on May 1, 2014 and applications will be accepted until June 30, 2014 at www.rugandhome.com/giving, so we welcome eligible 501c3 organizations to apply for their chance to win 1 of 52 rugs! Winners will be notified by July 15, 2014 and will have the opportunity to win a high quality, hand crafted wool rug in 5x8 or larger size for a fundraising event for their organization. We look forward to being able to help and give back to the community in this way!
Supporter Since/Project Date: January 2003
Amount Donated: Unspecified
Organization or Project Website: Not Applicable
Description:
Our number one community outreach program over the past 10 years has been delivering flowers to area nursing homes in each one of the communities we operate within. Our employees and managers personally hand-deliver bouquets to every resident at different selected nursing homes several times a year for major holidays, like Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and often on a random Wednesday or Thursday for no reason at all.
It has always struck a chord with our founders that the elderly in nursing homes often are far away from their families and may not have anyone to remind them that they are loved and cared for for many weeks. That is why we have made it our mission to make sure that these individuals are reminded that they are not forgotten, and personally placing flowers in each room is our way of bringing a smile to their faces.
We have had residents of these nursing homes often exclaim when they see us “How did you know I was here?” or tell us that they are so happy to see us because they haven’t had a visitor in months. Bringing cheer and joy, even if for a fleeting moment, into these lives is what makes this sort of charitable work so enjoyable. See the album above with pictures from a few of our flower deliveries to local area nursing homes.
Supporter Since/Project Date: April 2007
Amount Donated: $100,000
Organization or Project Website: www.fourseasonscfl.org
Description:
In April 2007, Rug & Home pledged $100,000 to Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care in Hendersonville, which they used to establish an endowment fund for their palliative care program. Palliative care, unlike hospice, focuses on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients undergoing treatment for chronic or curable diseases. Palliative care, similarly to hospice, uses a multidisciplinary approach to patient care to address not only the physical ailments that come with terminal illness, but also the emotional, spiritual and social concerns that patients may be facing.
Due to the Rug & Home founders’ personal experience with hospice and the care they provide at the end of life, and due to the need for support in this newly launched initiative of palliative care, they were touched by the work that Four Seasons in Hendersonville engages in and wanted to find a way to help. The founders felt the endowment fund would be the best way to provide ongoing support for this extraordinary cause.
Additionally, the Rug & Home founders held a benefit to raise awareness for this cause in April 2007 and were able to assist in spreading the word about palliative care and Four Seasons’ need for support. See the album of pictures above from this event.
Supporter Since/Project Date: January 2011
Amount Donated: Unspecified
Organization or Project Website: www.believeintomorrow.org/housing_pinnaclefalls.html
Description:
When the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation, a national nonprofit organization which provides respite housing services for families dealing with critically ill children, approached Rug & Home to get floor coverings for its newest respite homes in the community of Pinnacle Falls just outside of Asheville, NC, we jumped at the chance to help this tremendous cause. The Pinnacle Falls house was to be a part of the Foundation’s Military Initiative, where military families faced with a sick child would be prioritized for their respite housing. Rug & Home donated over a half dozen rugs for the 3,300 square foot home to help make this retreat for military families a cozy getaway. We are so proud to be associated with this wonderful cause. See the album above with pictures of a couple of rooms at the Believe in Tomorrow Foundation’s Pinnacle Falls home with Rug & Home rugs.
Supporter Since/Project Date: August 2008
Amount Donated: $1,000
Organization or Project Website: www.mannafoodbank.org
Description:
Manna Food Bank is a nonprofit in Western North Carolina that pairs the food industry with partner agencies in the region with the aim to end hunger. Rug & Home proudly supports this tremendous cause where every $1 donated can provide enough food for 3 meals.
Supporter Since/Project Date: December 2008
Amount Donated: $1,700
Organization or Project Website: www.gaffneypd.org
Description:
We were so proud to be able to provide the City of Gaffney Police Department with the money for the three vests they desperately needed to ensure the protection of their officers.
Supporter Since/Project Date: March 2010
Amount Donated: $1,800
Organization or Project Website: www.ashevillenc.gov/Departments/ParksRecreation.aspx
Description:
When the Asheville Parks & Recreation was looking for support for their little league team, they approached Rug & Home and we were more than happy to help to ensure that this confidence and team-building program continues.
Supporter Since/Project Date: January 2012
Amount Donated: $20,000
Organization or Project Website: www.visionexpress.net
Description:
While they attribute their success to hard work in the “Land of Opportunity,” the Rug & Home founders have not forgotten their roots in India – each year, they organize a humanitarian trip to India for a 3-day health clinic in remote villages in the rug-weaving region of eastern Uttar Pradesh where there is little to no access to healthcare. Through these health clinics, they realized that the population most neglected in terms of health is women, and the number one ailment facing many of these underprivileged women is cataracts.
That is why the Rug & Home founders established Vision Express, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, in 2012. Vision Express aims to restore eyesight and works to one day eradicate blindness among the underprivileged population of Indian women. It is worth noting that 100% of the donations collected go directly towards performing corrective eye surgeries and helping these women – there are no administrative or operations expenses thanks to the dedication and time that our trustees volunteer. Rug & Home supports this nonprofit organization with $20,000 per year, enough to perform 800 cataract operations, amongst hundreds of other donors. To find out more about Vision Express, please click below. See the album above with pictures from the Vision Express health and eye camps.
Supporter Since/Project Date: September 2009
Amount Donated: $40,875
Organization or Project Website: www.dadawas.org
Description:
The Dadawas Initiative is a rural poverty eradication project by the Society for Excellence in Education. The Dadawas Institute was started by Sagar Jain, a former professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dadawas’ goal is to conquer poverty through education for children living in the rural village of Dadawas in the state of Haryana in India. By providing underprivileged youth with basic health and sanitation services and education, along with a school that fosters learning and enrollment in a rural community where education is secondary to basic needs like food and shelter, Dadawas is hoping to help the poor reach middle class, within the span of one generation.
Rug & Home has supported this cause since 2009 with funding for school laptops, books, and even a school bus, and with scholarships for several exemplary students. With this, Rug & Home hopes to help Dadawas achieve its “goal to increase the income of the rural poor at least ten fold in one generation.”
Supporter Since/Project Date: January 2012
Amount Donated: $40,000
Organization or Project Website: www.flatrockplayhouse.org and www.rugandhome.com/frp
Description:
Rug & Home has proudly sponsored both the 2012 and 2013 seasons of the Music on the Rock series at the Flat Rock Playhouse, the State Theater of NC. We also decorated the Playhouse Downtown’s lobby with Rug & Home rugs and furnishings. We are very proud to be associated with this quality performing arts venue and to support the hard work they put in to bringing arts and entertainment to the Carolinas. Attend any Flat Rock Playhouse Music on the Rock show and bring in your ticket to any Rug & Home location for $48 (the price for two tickets) off of any purchase over $300, no exceptions, exclusive to Flat Rock Playhouse patrons. Ticket must be turned in at time of purchase and only one discount allowed per customer. Cannot be combined with any other offers. See the album above with pictures of the Flat Rock Playhouse’s downtown lobby with Rug & Home rugs and furnishings.
]]>Supporter Since/Project Date: August 2012
Amount Donated: Unspecified
Organization or Project Website: www.litcouncil.org
Description:
Rug & Home is a proud supporter of the Blue Ridge Literacy Council whose mission it is “to provide adults in Henderson County the English communication and literacy skills they need to reach their full potential as individuals, parents, workers and citizens.”
]]>http://www.wcnc.com/charlotte-today/52-weeks-of-giving-207874841.html
]]>The hand-crafted, 100% wool giveaway rugs will be of the highest quality and will all be 5x8 or larger in size. The rugs will come in various sizes and styles, but all will make excellent prizes for silent auctions, raffles, and other fund-raising events. Click here for more information and the rules to apply and to see a small sample of the types of rugs that will be donated to the winning charities. Please pass this information along to any charity that you believe would benefit from this program!
]]>This month also marked another first: our first flower delivery to area children. Gaffney store employees visited the Shriners Hospital for Children in Greenville, SC, and brought them colorful gerber daisies to brighten their day! Of the visit, employee Mary commented, "The children and their families were glad to receive some cheer." She added that she has "heartfelt wishes" that all of the children in the 120-capacity facility see better days.
Check out the gallery below for photos of our recent visits. And be on the lookout here as well as our Facebook page for updates in the future. Know of a place we should visit? Email us your ideas!
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