Sometimes a single phone call puts everything in perspective

We have raised nearly €1,500 for Stichting Met je Hart.

When I started this campaign, I honestly had no idea how much would be donated. Of course I hoped for a nice amount, but I didn't expect us to reach this goal so quickly. That's why I've decided to raise the target to €3,000.

And I'd like to tell you why this particular foundation is so special to me: I'm busy working in my studio. Processing orders, designing, answering emails… as always, time flies.

Then the phone rings.To be honest? In moments like that, I often think: not now. The phone sometimes feels like an interruption when I'm in the flow.

I pick up.

On the other end of the line I hear a friendly, somewhat older woman. She wants to place an order, but she's not very handy with her iPad anymore. No problem of course. I place the order for her, explain how it works and we have a nice chat.

I actually want to end the conversation. There's so much work waiting. But then she says something that stops me. "I'm so happy that I can still embroider."

She tells me that every day she reads the messages in the Soed Idee Facebook group with great pleasure. That she always looks forward to my newsletters. And that embroidery is one of the few things she can really still enjoy.

Because she uses a wheelchair, she hardly leaves the house anymore. "Apart from home care, sometimes I don't speak to anyone all day," she says. "The children have their own lives and are busy too."

That hits home.

We talk a bit longer. It happens naturally, because she's been embroidering almost her whole life. We talk about old samplers, beautiful threads and projects she's working on. It's a warm conversation.

When we hang up, it stays with me.Not just because of her story. But especially because this is far from the first time I've heard something like this.

Over the years, I've spoken to several customers for whom embroidery is much more than just a hobby. It gives structure to the day. It brings calm. It makes sure they remain part of a community of people with the same passion, even if only online.

And yet loneliness remains a huge problem. That's why I knew right away which foundation I wanted to connect to my 15-year anniversary.
 

Stichting Met je Hart

Stichting Met je Hart stands up for lonely elderly people in the Netherlands. The foundation brings elderly people who feel alone back together with each other and with committed volunteers. They do this by organizing small-scale gatherings, such as shared lunches, dinners, cultural outings and other activities where personal attention is central.

Their goal is simple, but enormously valuable: to make sure that elderly people are truly seen again. That they build new contacts, have something to look forward to again and experience that they belong.

Because a good conversation, a listening ear or sitting together at a table can make a world of difference to someone.

Over the past fifteen years, I have received so much from you. Your trust, enthusiasm, beautiful photos of completed embroidery and involvement in everything Soed Idee does.

I give back with love. Free SALs, inspiration, newsletters, tutorials and everything that makes our hobby even more enjoyable. I do it gladly, because ultimately I get so much back from it.

But if you value that…then I want to ask you not to give me something. Pass it on.

With a donation to Stichting Met je Hart you help give lonely elderly people beautiful meetings, conversations and new memories again. That seemed to me a much nicer anniversary gift than flowers or gifts for myself.

We have together already raised nearly €1,500. Let's see if we can also reach that €3,000.

For all those people for whom a bit of attention might just be the most precious gift that exists.

❤️ Thank you, on behalf of myself and Stichting Met je Hart.