As October winds down,most of us are turning our attention towards the holiday season. Give back this season by donating to local charity or community organization! Giving Tuesday is a campaign that launches the season of giving by encouraging donations of time and money using social media channels. As part of Giving Tuesday, Facebook will match any donations made through their platform. This giving starts as early as August, and continues until December 3–the official date of Giving Tuesday. Foxfire is participating in this fundraising movement. We are asking for your help to raise funds for our next cabin renovation. This project will involve converting an existing cabin (currently storage space!) into a weaving studio and classroom. We currently offer heritage skills classes in fiber arts like spinning and weaving, but lack the space to support students who want to continue learning these skills. This cabin will have looms for rent and space for the weaving community to come together and share their experiences. Most importantly, this area will be open to visitors so that the general public can learn more about the tradition and art of weaving.The Weaving Cabin will be an addition to our artisan village, which currently includes our Village Weaver Sharon Grist, our broom maker Carole Morse, our wood stove cooking classroom in the Warwoman Cabin, and our recently-opened herbalism workshop in the Phillips Cabin. These renovated historic spaces allow us to integrate folk practices and heritage traditions with current artists, scholars, and craftspeople for the benefit of the public and local community.

Foxfire’s resident Village Weaver, Sharon Grist, shares some of her experiences teaching and weaving on-site:

As we start our #GivingTuesday campaign this year, we hope that you will help us out. You do not have to wait until December to donate; we will be raising awareness and funds from now until the end of the year. There are many ways that you can help us reach our goal of $5,000. No donation is too small and donations may be submitted on Facebook using the “Donate” button at  the top of the page. We are also encouraging our supporters to create their own personal fundraising page on Facebook, encouraging others to donate. If you would like to create a fundraising page, here is how to proceed: 

1. Click fundraisers on left menu of news feed
2. Click raise money.
3. Select Nonprofit or Charity.
4. Select Charitable organization, choose a cover photo, and fill in fundraiser details.
5. Click Create. 

We are also open to donations of time and labor to assist us in this process. As always, we thank you for your continued support. We look forward to the upcoming project and showing you what your donations can do for our nonprofit and our community!