Happy New Year!

I need to say a big end of the year THANK YOU to all of my amazing customers and supporters for a fantastic and FUN year! I hope that this posting finds you happy, healthy and looking forward to a new year. I also wanted to take some time to let you know what your purchases from Rylee's Collection have made possible. PLEASE READ ON!

I believe that we all have a calling to give from whatever means we have to help the poor, the needy, and the broken. This calling can look different for every person, sometimes it is monetary, and sometimes it is giving of our time. As part of this calling, it is my personal commitment that as I close out each calendar year of business, I will prayerfully choose a mission or charity to donate a portion of all sales to directly impact those in need. This year, I have chosen the mission of 20liters.org. In giving to this mission, all donations are used in helping families in Rwanda build and maintain water filtration systems that either filter rainwater or water collected from ponds and rivers. To learn more about their mission please visit: www.20liters.org/why.

Did you know that 1 in 8 people lack access to clean water?
Did you know that dirty water kills more people each year than all forms of violence (including war) combined?

It is hard to imagine what life would be like without access to clean water. Every day we take luxuriously hot showers, and drink, cook, and clean from our always-on-hand tap water.

This stat made me think:
• In just one day, more than 200 million hours of women’s time is consumed for the most basic of human needs — collecting water for domestic use. This lost productivity is greater than the combined number of hours worked in a week by employees at Wal*Mart, United Parcel Service, McDonald’s, IBM, Target, and Kroger, according to Gary White, co-founder of Water.org.
As a mother and woman who mostly stays at home to take care of my family, I am humbled as I think about all of the times I wish I could just get “some time to myself!” How crazy to think that many, many women around the globe are spending so many hours of their precious time COLLECTING WATER. This is such a basic need they are providing for their family, and for many it takes SOO much time. Not to mention that often this water is not even safe to drink. I am unable to fully comprehend this, but it does make me very thankful for all of the many resources God has made so readily available to me and my family.

FINALLY FOR THE GOOD NEWS: Together, we were able to provide access to clean water to 140 people for up to 10 YEARS!

If you feel prompted to give, please visit the website www.20liters.org and make your contribution!

Thank you for a wonderful year and many blessings to you!
Kara