What We’ve Been Up To
It’s update time!
I know you have all been dying to know what we’ve been doing here at Light of Mine. Well you’re in luck because a ton of exciting things have been happening!
1) First off you have to check out our new Logo H2O bottles. They are awesome, made in the USA, help get seeds to those who need them most, and help reduce plastic waste. Bundle it with a tee and get it for $5 by entering the coupons code, “bundle” at check out. Buy one now at www.lightofminetees.com!
2) We are finishing the final touches on a very exciting contest opportunity! Light of Mine is hosting its very first video contest for our high school fans to showcase their cinematic talent while helping us fight hunger worldwide. More details will be posted on both our website and Facebook page in the coming days. Spread the info with every high schooler you know!
3) New designs are coming!!!!! I know this is the news most of you have really been hoping for so get ready. We have two new designs at the printers as I type. As soon as they are finished we’ll get pictures posted so you can buy asap!
4) Thank you! We are so proud of our community of Hunger Fighters and your willingness to continually share our story and support our company. Knowing we have such an amazing group of do gooders helping us provide sustainable relief for the billion hungry people in the world today is what keeps us motivated. Thanks!
Light of Mine
Remembering Our Heros
I spent this holiday weekend traveling from our little island in the sea to the mainland for a little bit of business and a lot of fun. Being a proud Navy wife and an avid traveler, I find myself constantly “stuck” in limbo waiting for a connection whilst trying to entertain a very busy, toddling travel companion. Luckily, I have had the opportunity to utilize many of the outstanding USOs around the country.
This trip was no different with an 18 hour (yes you read that right!) layover in San Francisco. Not only did I have some major time to kill, but I needed it to be uber convenient as I was traveling alone with our Tiny Seed Eater. That’s a lot of baggage and toddler toys to manage with one hand as I corral her with the other. So I made my way to the USO in SFO and settled in for the night. It was wonderful.
As I sat in the specially provided nursery trying to get some late night work done, I began to reflect on Memorial Day and the scale of sacrifice that has been demonstrated so selflessly by our sailors, marines, airmen, and soldiers. Surrounded by military memorabilia, the realization began to resonate and I paused, taking a moment to just be, remember, and give thanks.
So with a humbleness I hope to maintain, a note of thanks:
“The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree.”
Thomas Campbell
On this day after Memorial Day we’d like to say thank you to all the brave men and women who have served and are still serving in the Armed Forces. It is because of you that we are able to enjoy so many absolute freedoms today.
As a company we have strong ties to the military and know first hand the daily sacrifices our uniformed heroes make in order to maintain the freedoms we all to often take for granted. So from the very bottom of our being we thank you all and remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
Kimberly Chief Seed Sower
Light of Mine Seeds of Hope
Friends with Benefits
Light of Mine has a new friend with tons of benefits! Scandalous? No. Exciting? Very!
LoM is excited to introduce our new giving partner, GAiN. The Global Aid Network works hard to transform lives through compassion and we couldn’t be happier to donate to their existing seed program!
What to learn more about GAiN and their work?
Check out www.gainusa.org to find more information like this:
Global Aid Network® (GAiN®) is helping to alleviate malnutrition and starvation by providing relief assistance through food distribution around the world. In addition, the Global Aid Network Seed Program provides seeds for orphans and families in countries where we work.
What is The Seed Program?
We ship a Harvester Pack overseas to provide a variety of seeds to plant crops that will yield 4 to 6 month’s worth of food. Once the harvest begins, the food will provide meals to save a life and the surplus food can be sold to provide income for education and healthcare.
Watch their YouTube video too!
This partnership enables us to get our seed into the hands of people who need it most in an efficient and successful way. We are empowering people to change their lives and are excited to see the impact of our Seeds of Hope.
Thank you all!
Kimberly
Chief Seed Sower
Light of Mine
Seeds of Hope
www.lightofminetees.com
My, How Far We’ve Come
Happy Holidays!
Everyone here at the LoM camp hopes you each had a fabulous weekend filled with love, laughter, and hopefully you squeezed in some extra relaxation. We had a wonderful Christmas but are very excited for everything the new year will bring for LoM and our seed recipients. Our first Seeding (our special word for seed donations) is scheduled for early this year, our website is launching soon, and we have a new design coming out. 2012 is going to be exciting for sure!
When seeing our accomplishments simply listed as such it is easier for me to relax a little and celebrate where we are, where we came from, and where we are heading. However, I am usually very concerned with the seemingly slow pace of the start-up stage of the business. I continually worry for the people we haven’t been able to help due to the logistics of creating a business from the ground up. I was ready to change lives on day one and have had to continually alter my expectations of LoM’s timeline. In my head, setting up a website was as easy as updating your Facebook status, finding American companies to work with would be simple, building relationships with giving partners would require a couple of emails, and setting up the business paperwork with the government should be standardized and a breeze. How naive!
Having unplugged for a few days to celebrate Christmas with my family I awoke with some much needed perspective. Light of Mine was officially registered as an LLC in October 2011, we’re just a baby. Starting something with so much potential takes time, the excitement wears thin and the boring paperwork drags on. However, we are making progress, we are on our way, and we will change lives (just wish we were currently at the changing lives stage 
). Although several of our company goals have not been met yet, its important to celebrate the ones that have. So let the celebration begin!
Thank you all for supporting us on this incredible journey. Without your constant encouragement, sharing our story with everyone you know, and of course all of your shirt purchases, this dream would have fizzled awhile ago. We have a long road ahead of us, people are hungry which around here is unacceptable. One seed at a time, day by day.
Kimberly Chief Seed Sower
Light Of Mine Seeds of Hope
Attached are the samples from our very first photo shoot! The logo tee wears well and is organically made here in America. How can you not love that?
Aid effectiveness: are lives actually being saved?
The past couple of days Korea has hosted a summit concerning aid effectiveness. To be honest, I know very little about exactly what has transpired during the summit, but the subject is nonetheless intriguing-is the aid currently being provided effective? Are lives being saved and therefore changed? Is there any hope that the aid being provided is creating lasting change or is it disabling the recipients from developing solutions on their own, creating the proverbial “learned helplessness?”
As an optimist and a passionate believer that everyone can make a difference, even with the slightest of effort, I would like to believe that this aid is not only effective but is changing lives, inspiring communities and shaping local leaders. Light of Mine was created with this belief as its foundation. But does it truly? Do the people being helped merely survive or do they thrive once aid has been received?
“We must work with common purpose to reduce inequities, improve lives, and secure a better future for all.” taken from the United Nations Development Group’s Call to Action. Read more at www.aideffectiveness.org
The purpose of the summit is to have top officials from established aid organizations come together and strategize solutions for the challenges of our time and I sincerely hope they had a very successful and effective week. But what does the average person think of aid effectiveness? What prevents or causes hesitation when the general population is asked to donate? Do I think aid is effective as is? Do you?
What are we doing right and where are we failing? A billion people are still starving so there is obviously a serious and urgent need to make tremendous changes.
Our stance-to empower people. To create sustainable change so that the need for aid is phased out into oblivion. Optimistic? Maybe. Impossible? Absolutely not.
Kimberly Chief Seed Sower
Light of Mine Seeds of Hope
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a time filled with food, family and fun. Its one of my favorite holidays because we all take a moment, however short, and truly celebrate all there is to be thankful for in our lives. The chaos of our daily routine is put on hold and we have the chance to breathe deeper, laugh louder, and indulge innocently. Regardless of the food served or the traditions being passed down we are all happily conscience of the wonders this life has gifted.
Since the birth of Light of Mine, thanksgiving takes on a whole new meaning for me. I’m still eternally grateful for the blessings I counted in years past, my family, my husband, our daughter, our friends, etc., but this year I am deeply thankful for each of those mentioned for their support of this dream and the crazy ride that’s just starting. This is a poor attempt at expressing the tremendous gratitude I feel for being tasked to start this company and the revolution that is to follow!
In no particular order:
I am thankful for our “Seed Money” and my husband, Steven. When I first approached him with the idea to start a business with a purpose he was supportively skeptic saying “Great Kimberly! Just don’t force us into bankruptcy.” He never tried to discourage me from taking the ginormous leap into entrepreneurship, although it’s probably because he knew he’d lose that battle, and was willing to financially back LoM up until bankruptcy . As the concept developed and the company’s potential to alter the course of history became more apparent he developed a sincere passion for Light of Mine and continually lifts me up with his encouragement and faith in this venture.
I am thankful for our “Tiny Seed Eater” and our daughter LC. She is an inspiration every day for me to help create a better world for her generation. I look at her shoveling fistfuls of ketchup and noodles into her mouth and I could my blessings. I mourn for the mother’s who can’t enjoy knowing their children are feed, much less happily thriving. I know when I look at her that I must continue on this journey no matter where it takes me. And while she is constantly keeping me entertained and motivated, I am very, very, thankful for nap/bed time! Most of the backend work, well work in general, gets done when she’s fast asleep. Every minute she’s dreaming is another uninterrupted minute I can devote to spreadsheets, web design, social media, giving partners, or to just enjoy a drink without having to share.
I am thankful for our very talented “Seed Cultivator.” Carol is an amazing woman who is always one step ahead of me and literally thinks of everything. She is the most eager and passionate person I could possibly imagine working for Light of Mine and a perfect fit. She lives and breathes our mission in everything she does and tells everyone she meets. She is my springboard, my eternal motivator, my right hand woman, and my friend. I couldn’t be more blessed to have her on our team. Watch out hunger, she’s coming for you!
I am thankful for my family. They have witnessed my raise and fall on numerous occasions and still back up every idea honestly (a little too honestly, actually) and wholeheartedly. They try their hardest to understand why I take on seemingly impossible tasks and why I do it in the most unorganized way. They know where I come from and shaped me into the person I am today. I could write a book dedicated solely to my gratitude for them but I’ll keep it short. They are wonderful and hands down the best family ever, your’s don’t even come close.
I am thankful for the social businesses that have paved the way before us. It is amazing what other businesses are doing to change the world. I am of the sound belief that if every business took on a giving platform, the world would know no deficiency. You have inspired me and I’m thrilled to be working alongside these social businesses in creating a better world.
I am thankful for the ability to make a difference and the lives we will undoubtedly save through our Seeds of Hope initiative. It is amazing that we have this opportunity and I can’t wait to deliver our first pound of seeds to an organization, farmer, or family in need. I want constant updates of the plowing, sowing, and harvesting of these seeds and hope that their reach is far beyond the limits of my imagination. Empowering people is indescribable.
I am thankful for our community of fans, customers, vendors, and supporters. Regardless if you ever buy a shirt from Light of Mine, knowing that you support what we stand for and what our goal is provides me with the strength to make it to nap time 
. Our community is unlike any other, you are passionate for this company and believe we are changing lives. You have shared our mission, encouraged our staff, “liked’ our statuses, and provided the motivation to turn this startup from a nice idea to a bona-fide company. Though we are in our infancy, we are thinking big, planning bigger, and dreaming as if nothing can stop us. By telling Light of Mine’s story you have spread our mission and impacted our future in ways we simply couldn’t have. Thank you!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! May we have an even longer list of people to thank next year!
Kimberly Chief Seed Sower
Light of Mine Seeds of Hope
