Giving Back

Once started, sometimes charities take on lives of their own. One unexpected facet of Helen’s charity was started by Bob, a gentleman in his 70’s and one of her regular store customers. He has a big heart, plays guitar for the local special needs children’s home, is a survivor of polio, and a quick witted chap she lovingly calls “My Man About Town.” Bob stops by for visits, runs store errands for her and they look out for each other.

Bob decided he wanted a flute. When he came to pick it up he proudly took the flute in his hands, and with love and excitement in his eyes, he caressed it, kissed it, and then handed it back to Helen stating: “This flute is named Jennifer, (after his 3 year old daughter he had lost 50+ years ago,) put Jennifer to work in your charity. Anyone who can’t afford a flute, is going through a tough time, a divorce, recovery, or loss, give it to them and let them keep it until they feel whole again.”

A laminated story card about Bob and his daughter is attached to the flute bag that protects her. As Bob instructed, Jennifer has been taken home by many folks. He is given regular updates on where she is, why she is with that anonymous person, how that person is doing, and when Jennifer is returned, ready to go on to another person in need. With each update Bob’s face lights up as he says: “That’s my girl!” and he walks a little taller as he leaves her shop.

Those who have been loaned Jennifer have taken good care of her. They often leave Bob a note expressing how he and Jennifer have been a wonderful light in their darkest times and how much the love and kindness of a stranger touched them and reminded them that there is always good in the world. Bob is reminded that his beloved daughter lives on. This special flute has traveled far and wide to help individuals who have seen hard times.

Squirrel-Eze & Friends Artisans Boutique donates to the Beaver Brook Association, Hollis, NH, an educational non-profit organization that promotes environmental education and land stewardship. It encompasses 2,200 acres of land, 35 miles of mapped trails, 12 themed gardens, and offers meeting rooms, classrooms, and camping facilities to non-profit groups, businesses, and civic organizations for educational nature oriented programs.

Beaver Brook hosts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Use is free for the public, open 365 days per year from dawn to dusk. Hiking, snowshoeing, mountain biking, horseback riding, and dogs on a leash are allowed on designated trails. Educational programs are offered year round for all ages. Their naturalists visit schools, libraries, and other groups.

Beaver Brook is a partner in the Freedom’s Way National Historic Area, and has won many awards:

1. Souhegan Valley Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

2. American Tree Farm of the Year

3. NRWA Conservation Award Best Hiking Trails in Southern NH

4. Best Places to Hike for families in NH

5. National Wildlife Habitat and Butterfly Habitat

6. Best of NH

Website: http://www.beaverbrook.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeaverBrookHollis/

Squirrel-Eze featured animal cam photos: http://www.yogaunfettered.com/NashuaRiverWatershedAssociation.pdf

Squirrel-Eze & Friends Artisans Boutique donates to the auctions for the Nashua River Watershed Association. The NRWA protects our water and land in 32 communities covering 538 square miles in north central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. The NRWA was founded in 1969 on the belief that every individual has the power to make a difference. That belief led to the clean-up of one of the nation’s most polluted rivers, it is an internationally recognized success story.

Website: http://www.nashuariverwatershed.org/what-we-do/overview.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Official-Nashua-River-Watershed-Association-136515686426401/

Wild Bill's Volunteer of the Year Award

Wild Bill’s Volunteer of the Year Award is a fund Helen set up in her late father’s name due to his love of, and long association with, Special Love’s Camp Fantastic. Free camps, for children with cancer, are held throughout the year at fully modernized facilities in the Greater Washington, D.C., area. Cancer knows no boundaries, everyone in the family is affected, check out their programs for Patients & Survivors, Siblings, and Families.

All proceeds go to the camper’s programs, and an annual award is given to the Volunteer of the Year. Donations can made directly to them online, specify it is for the Wild Bill’s Volunteer of the Year Award, or your donation will go into the general operating funds. Squirrel-Eze will match all donations made at our store or shows.

“For more than three decades, Special Love has helped children with cancer to “just be kids,” through camps, emergency financial assistance, college scholarships – and, most important, a community of support that assures these struggling families they’re not alone in their battle.

At Camp Fantastic there is fishing, swimming, painting, riding, singing, dancing, pillow-fighting, and laughter…. A week at camp gives them back their place in life, a foothold, a time of knowing where they stand when so much is uncertain. For a week or weekend, these special campers make unforgettable memories with friends who are struggling with a cancer diagnosis, too.” Dave Smith, CEO

The history: http://specialove.org/about-us/history/

Overview video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1P2Dbx5NY7w

Website: http://specialove.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpecialoveCamps/

Due to man’s audacity, the elephant could become extinct in our lifetime. We find that unacceptable.

For this reason, Squirrel-Eze makes a donation to the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust for each sale of Helen’s piece: Matahba.

“The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust embraces all measures that complement the conservation, preservation, and protection of wildlife. These include anti-poaching, safeguarding the natural environment, enhancing community awareness, addressing animal welfare issues, providing veterinary assistance to animals in need, rescuing and hand rearing elephant and rhino orphans, along with other species that can ultimately enjoy a quality of life in wild terms when grown.

For over 25 years Kenya-born Daphne Sheldrick lived and worked alongside her husband David, during which time they raised and successfully rehabilitated many wild species. Daphne Sheldrick’s involvement with wildlife has spanned a lifetime, and she is now a recognized International authority on the rearing of wild creatures and is the first person to have perfected the milk formula and necessary husbandry for infant milk-dependent Elephants and Rhinos.

Since the death of her husband, Daphne and her family have lived and worked in the Nairobi National Park, where they have built the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and its pioneering Orphans Project, into the global force for wildlife conservation that is today.” -DSWT

There are many programs to get involved in including donations, an affordable Foster an Elephant program, or purchases of original artwork by the founder’s daughter (all proceeds go to the foundation).

Matahba has been featured in magazines, craft shows, exhibitions, and was a national finalist in the Florida Society of Goldsmith’s Storytelling in Metal Competition & Exhibition. Matahba was one of thirty-three pieces selected from across the county.

Website: https://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/about_us.asp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedswt/