Check out this Blog written about Light Gives Heat, from a really awesome couple, Darren and Lindsey, that came by our store and hung out and helped us for a couple days! They are traveling around the nation stopping at many different non-profit organizations, hearing people's stories, and writing about what they find. To learn more about the journey this couple is on and their story go to: OntheGoodRoad.com

It started as a half-joking mention of a faraway possibility in the future for these high school sweethearts, but for Dave and Morgan, the idea of adoption didn’t die away or remain a faraway possibility. After a few years of marriage and the blessing of a beautiful son named Asher, The Hansow family began the pursuit of a precious little Ugandan girl we now know as Jaden. At the time they had no idea who exactly they were pursuing, but only that they needed to become the parents of a child who was orphaned.

After a year and a half of pursuing the international adoption process, Morgan suggested to her husband Dave that maybe they should just up and move to Jinja, Uganda. Sort of a tough thing to consider seeing as how Dave had his dream job with Young Life and they had recently purchased a house….not to mention the fact that they had a 2 year old son that they would have to uproot from his normal surroundings. But after praying about it, Dave agreed that they should leave everything behind and make the move. The problem was that the orphanage in Uganda seemed to be telling the Hansows that there were no children available, but in a country having 2 million orphans, they found that hard to believe. They realized that they had to take the step of faith and just move there to get everything worked out so they could bring their new daughter home.

In the mean time, before they left for Uganda, Dave and Morgan decided to start a non-profit. The funny thing is, they had no idea what the non-profit would do, who it would serve, or what it would be about at all! After living in Uganda for a short time they realized exactly what needed to happen with the 501 (c)(3). Some of the women that worked at the orphanage showed The Hansows the beautiful bead necklaces they made from recycled paper. They tried to sell the necklaces to anyone and everyone, but there never seemed to be many buyers around. The Hansows realized that this was what their organization needed to be about: empowering these women. Providing sustainable income. Giving hope to the Ugandan women and their children. So they aptly named the necklaces SUUBI (meaning hope in the local language).

It is not often that a person gets to meet with the founders of a company or organization that they fully believe in and support. It seems a bit out of reach. But we were so blessed to be able to join them in their busy lives for a couple of days. Dave and Morgan welcomed us into their non-profit, Light Gives Heat, as well as their home. What a lovely treat to be able to see the behind the scenes, real life of people that are a daily inspiration to us and so many others around the country and world. Their life is just like yours and mine in so many ways. They still function under the “daily grind” of work, children, cooking, dishes, laundry, and all of the other life stuff. The difference is that in a place half a world away, The Hansows are redefining life for 100 women and their children. Their goal is to provide a consistent income to these women, every week, same amount, not fluctuating. Light Gives Heat has been present in Uganda and America for 3.5 years and so far, they have met their goal. In 3.5 years they have never missed a week of buying. They buy necklaces each and every Saturday, and the ladies are paid a set amount for each necklace, with a cap on ten necklaces. The volunteers in Uganda check every necklace to make sure each is exactly what it should be because LGH is not a charity, but a business. Both the Hansows and the women know that in order to sell the beautiful necklaces and keep LGH existing, the products have to be very high quality.

Light Gives Heat started with only 50 women selling two necklaces each per week, and currently they are able to buy 10 necklaces a week from 100 women! They pay around 3 times the local amount for each necklace. They also have started a line of purses and bags known as EPOH (so cute!!!) which employs 20 full time men and women on a salary that is 3 or 4 times the average local amount for their work.

So, the question remains, what can YOU do to become involved in this awesome organization? There are so many things! I got involved personally through the SPREAD campaign, which allows you to get 10 necklaces from LGH to sell to your friends and family and then send the money back to them. You don’t even have to front the cost! Another huge help would be more people advocating for their products to be sold in shops around your community. And of course the most obvious thing…BUY their beautiful necklaces and purses and WEAR them!