Hi friends! MUCH has happened in the course of a week and a half. In a matter of days, Austin, Texas and surrounding cities went from seventy degrees to single digit temperatures, affecting millions of people across the state in unprecedented ways. To learn directly from Austin residents and their first-hand experiences of the blackouts and blatant mismanagement by ERCOT, Abott, Cruz + other Texas govt. “representatives” of the disaster, read some real, publicized accounts HERE. It is important to note, that in direct response to the crises arising from withheld information about the freeze, diverse individuals, families, local businesses, grocery stores, fancy restaurants, and various organizations (even ones that are financially struggling, too from COVID and other socioeconomic factors, etc.) have stepped up in incredibly noble ways to efficiently provide supplies, food, water, rides, assistance, and shelter to everyone and anyone affected by the storm. Despite the welcome warm weather and sense of ‘normalcy’, there is still much work to be done. Being well aware of the overwhelming and immediate need for different types of aid, my lovely friend Elsa Iris Reyes from The Latinx Identity Project and I realized that the long term matters, too. The most vulnerable members of our communities are the people who suffer first, whether it is due to missing a payment on a bill, displaced status, the ineptitude of government ‘leaders’, or, as the world witnessed last week, a “once in a generation” uncontrollable ice storm.

Within hours of the first signs of ice melting, Elsa and I established the $ATXUTILITYFUND to provide direct cash assistance to the most vulnerable members of our community in Austin, Texas. What began as a seed of an idea, germinated into a donation-based fundraiser, and has evolved into an exciting raffle featuring a diverse array of artists, herbalists, and creatives + their unique offerings.

IN A NUTSHELL:

send donations via CashApp to: $ATXUTILITYFUND
or via PayPal: paypal.me/insituartisans
or HERE. no matter where you donate through, your funds are all going to —-> ATXUTILITYFUND
to donate only, and NOT enter the raffle, please include “Donation Only” in the description of your donation
to enter the raffle, include one or as many categories as you wish in the description of your raffle entry. Each raffle entry/ticket is $5 a piece. In the purchase description, please include to the best of your ability, the following information so we may enter you in the right category(ies):
- “RAFFLE ENTRY - YOUR NAME - YOUR EMAIL (or other best way to reach you) - CATEGORY + desired number of entries to each corresponding category”
  * (CHOOSE FROM THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES:
  - MUSIC >>>music category available in AUSTIN, TX ONLY<<< , ART, PLANT, BEAUTY, or ANY"
- IF PURCHASINGENTRIES TO DIFFERENT CATEGORIES, PLEASE SPECIFY “CATEGORY + (# of desired entries)”
- *** DISCLAIMER*** IF YOU DO NOT SPECIFY CLEARLY, YOU WILL BE ENTERED IN “ANY” AT OUR DISCRETION (please note ‘any’ does not include ‘music’)

Some of the talented, caring humans graciously making offerings towards this cause are:

Thor Harris
Nancy Kwon
Contrabando
The Medicinal Melange
Wild Hearth and Home
Corazon Verde Yerbas
Scented Suds Soaperie
meso moderno
Terrastoma
Ritual Union
IN SITU
Soon Foods
Zanny Adornments
xingaderas
FORTUNA Chocolate

+more tba+

More details will be unfolding in the coming days and weeks, in the meantime, check out the infographic below for more details on the $ATXUTILITYFUND.

::: UPCOMING MARKETS - FEB 27+28 2021 :::

The work I will be featuring at CraftHER market and Austin Witches Market will be my own jewelry and other work, but very special, select wool pieces that just arrived directly from Teotitlan del Valle, Oaxaca from the loveliest Esmirna and her family. Every purchase supports real people directly, especially since IN SITU does not take any sort of commission or fee from the artisans.Also, thank you to my wonderful partner, Henry, who made it possible for us to order gorgeous tags from Raw Paw, wow, I feel so much gratitude for all of this support and community effort coming forth from so many good souls.

Thank you.

ICH BAIL TA’MUK

andrea

$ATXUTILITYFUND + craftHER rescheduled + Austin Witches Market

MUSIC >>>music category available in AUSTIN, TX ONLY<<< , ART, PLANT, BEAUTY, or ANY"

::: UPCOMING MARKETS - FEB 27+28 2021 :::