Sunshine & Sweet Treats: Ohio Community Shows Up for Schools of Africa
On September 13th, the Ohio skies delivered perfection: bright sunshine, a gentle breeze, and the kind of crisp open air that makes nobody want to go back indoors. Immediately following an outdoor service, the Ohio chapter of Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) gathered on the lawn to host a fundraiser for Schools of Africa (SOA) and the turn-out was nothing short of heartwarming.
Over 100 people joined us, bringing together a lively mix of familiar faces and warm new ones. As it turned out, hosting under the open sky was a complete winning formula; the fresh air had everyone lingering, laughing, and catching up far longer than usual.
Of course, behind every smooth afternoon is a little behind-the-scenes chaos.
Getting there was a lesson in flexibility. Between venue adjustments and community schedule shifts, we had to move our event time not once, but twice. By the second change, with no time left to update and reprint the promotional flyers, there was only one thing left to do: breathe out, let go of the logistics, and trust that the community would find their way there regardless.
And did they ever.
The star of the show was our volunteer-powered bake sale table, stacked high with homemade goodies. People brought their appetites and open hearts, powering us tantalizingly close to our $1,000 goal!
Looking around at the bustling crowd, seeing people connect over good cause and great treats, was a vivid reminder of what makes this work so meaningful. Pulling off an event takes planning, but rolling with the unpredictable bumps along the way takes real trust and community spirit.
To everyone who baked, bought, donated, adapted, and showed up: thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We truly couldn't ask for a better community to walk this journey with.
