Meet The Broads!!

Three weeks ago today we had a fundraiser at LinX in Orange. All day they contributed 15% of their sales to our fundraising efforts. We had a great turn out – LinX promoted us all week long with flyers and social media. The day of, they were very welcoming and accommodating to The Broads. Some friends and family went to LinX early in the day and some came when The Broads were there in the evening. We met around 5:30 to support our own cause, thank the folks supporting us, and just to hang out with each other. We sat on the patio and chilled out with some of our friends and family. Sara, earlier in the day, had put up flyers all over the Circle of Orange so it was fun to see our flyers everywhere. Shelby hung out in front of LinX for a while with Wendy’s son, Matt, handing out flyers and encouraging people to come in for dinner. Wendy made a great sign to mark our fundraising progress and chatted with all people that would listen to her J. Sara’s brother took pictures of The Broads with his fancy camera and family and friends of each of The Broads met and mingled with each other. It was a great night! We earned $150 and all we had to do was eat delicious food, drink amazing beer, and hang out with people we love, doing random, fun stuff! Fundraising is fun!! Fundraising is fun when you’re doing it with 3 cool cats and you have awesome friends and family to support you. The 3 Broads came together for different reasons in different stages our lives, but with one common goal of raising money to travel to Cuba, delivering medical supplies. We are dedicated and we are determined. And, we are having a blast doing this. We are excited to share in this experience with you and want you to know more about us!

Sara is a Broad, dangerously close to her 30s that lives in Orange, CA with her dad and 2 nephews. About a year ago, her nephews came to live with her at her dad’s and it has been an interesting journey for her to say the least! Taking on the responsibility of her nephews has been an adjustment and shift in perspective and priorities. She went from living her life kid free to being a stay at home “mom”/Auntie. Sara loves the little boys to pieces and clearly would do anything for them! Her dad – Papa Dren, is super supportive and she could not do this without him! The Broads couldn’t do this without him either – he’s a treasure. She also has an amazing boyfriend, Camron, who has been her Superman! They have been together for 5 years and he is her best friend. She loves him so much and we’re all hoping they’ll be engaged soon (hint hint). Even with all the amazing love and support from her family, Sara doesn’t have a lot of time for herself. When the opportunity to volunteer in Cuba came up she jumped at the chance! Sara LOVES to travel and spend quality time with friends and family. Cuba gives her a chance to not only give back to others, but to do something for herself. The trip also means a lot to her because it is a cause that is near and dear to her heart. Sara suffers from Fibromyalgia – a chronic pain illness. She knows how important and necessary it is to have good healthcare with the needed medical supplies! Sara can’t wait to help the doctors, hospitals and patients in need in Cuba and meet wonderful people along the journey.

Shelby is the quintessential bleeding heart or so it would appear. She lives in Long Beach, CA in an area she calls “The Loop” because everything is within a quick few blocks around her – the beach, bars, restaurants, yoga, friends, family… everything! Shelby is a Social Worker. She works with chronic and vulnerable homeless Veterans. Even before she was a professional helper/giver, she has always done it personally. There was one year when she was in junior high when there had been a natural disaster of some sort and Shelby asked her parents to please not give her any Christmas gifts and to give to the emergency response instead. Helping is what she does! When Shelby isn’t working with her Veterans, she probably has the most free time of all The Broads. Shelby doesn’t have children, doesn’t really want them, and really enjoys her free time. She spends most of it either hanging out with friends, doing something fun outdoors or jumping toward a new experience and/or adventure. Fundraising to volunteer in Cuba meets all her interests – new, adventure, and helping. As with the other Broads, Shelby jumped at the chance to volunteer in Cuba.

Wendy, having grown up in the 60s and 70s, instantly though the ideal of traveling to Cuba was intriguing and mysterious so she was all in immediately! She loves to travel because because she loves seeing other cultures, traditions and art. Wendy loves people and is passionate about helping. The adventure of helping in Cuba seemed custom to her. Like Sara, Wendy also has an autoimmune disease and has struggled through difficult times,  without proper care because of lack of health insurance and/or funds. Wendy is passionate about First-Hand Aid because it brings the necessary supplies to people who might also suffer from an autoimmune diseases! Wendy is in a different phase of life than the other two Broads – she has two adult kids and she’s currently living with her aging mom. As Wendy moves further down her path, she’s loving the feeling of knowing herself and what she wants to get out of life. She’s appreciative of her own talents, acquired wisdom, and how she can give that back and share with others.

All 3 Broads have really enjoyed connecting and bonding with each other by joining forces to fundraise and volunteer in Cuba. Wendy has known Shelby since Shelby was in high school and it’s been a blast for each to watch the other travel through life and figure things out. Shelby and Sara have know each other for 5ish years and found each other through dating (and breaking up with) brothers – the brother-boyfriends, as they’re called now. Shelby and Sara agree they dated the brother-boyfriends to find each other. It was kismet that brought The Broads together. Wendy and Sara instantly connect, as Sara shares a name with Wendy’s daughter, as well as her wit, sense of humor, and sense of responsibility; Funny enough, each of Sara and Wendy’s immediate family members also share names (Wendy’s son Mathew and Sara’s brother Mathew; oh and there’s more J). They instantly felt familiar to each other and connected. The 3 Broads were brought together to love and know each other – to combine their passions and interests to volunteer in Cuba. Since each has their financial challenges the only way to make it happen is through fundraising. That too seems like it was meant to be because, though it has its challenges, it’s been a collaborative, smooth process with each other. We, The Broads, are excited to be here and hope you are too!

GARAGE SALE SCREAMING SUCCESS!

Last Saturday was the second epic 3 Broads Abroad Volunteering garage sale and it really was a great success. 
Things started off a little shaky on Friday evening when we realized that Chapman University was holding a 5K and the streets leading to Sara's house would be blocked to traffic!  Saturday morning led to even more frustration...5 AM brought the realization that the traffic blocks were actually set up right in front of the yard!! We didn't let that stop us!  We rearranged the road blocks and carried on!
We were really fortunate to get a very understanding cop standing guard over the road blocks.  She was actually letting cars in to get to us, once the majority of the runners passed. 
There were a few other obstacles to overcome before we were finished setting up.  The sprinklers that are on automatic timers went off as we were setting up tables and then the lock on the gate would not release and the gate was rusted shut!  It was just a little bit crazy making!  But we overcame, like the fabulous broads that we are and had a great day!  I had a table set up for my handcrafted goods and donated the proceeds to our cause as well.  All-in-all, it was a huge success and we are that much closer to our goal! 
We want to give a special shout out to Mark Drenner for all his help and his never failing support.  Thanks Papa Dren!  And to all our friends and family for digging deep into their stuff and donating some great items!  Y'all have been awesome!

Our next Garage Sale is scheduled for December 5 at The Drenner's home in Orange.  It's a great location.  Mark your calendars now!!!

Of course, we won't be waiting until December for more fundraising!  This Tuesday, October 13th we will be meeting at LINX ARTISAN SAUSAGE in Orange for some fun.  15% of your meal will be donated to our cause!  Please come out and share a meal with friends and family.  The event runs all day!

Welcome to our blog!!!

We are 3 broads - Sara, Shelby, and Wendy, on a journey to volunteer abroad (Cuba) with fundraising and fun to get there! We want to share with you all our upcoming events and progress as the months go by. So come back often and check out what we're doing!We'll be traveling with First-hand Aid. You can check out their website here.