History

I began making the Clothesline Pins© in 1991 when I was the Clinical Director of Ithaca Rape Crisis in Ithaca, NY. We wanted to offer women in our community the opportunity to make t-shirts but needed the funds to buy materials. After supplies were bought we realized that we also wanted to add support to the other services offered by the agency. I came up with the idea for the pins, consulted a friend on the materials, and have been making them ever since.

Visitors to Ithaca bought pins in local shops or at a Clothesline display, and took them back to their city. Before long I was getting calls from rape crisis and domestic violence program workers from all over the country requesting pins for their agencies. Clothesline Pins have been bought by not-for-profit agencies throughout the United States, Canada and Australia, and the numbers are growing every day!

I no longer work for Ithaca Rape Crisis but still remember how difficult it is to raise the funds needed to run an agency. I am happy to stay connected to the work that I believe in and to be able to help agencies around the country raise funds in a hassle-free way. The pins are beginning to be recognized as a symbol representing the sexual assault and domestic violence movement. This makes them a very powerful educational tool. Some programs are selling the plastic Clothesline Pins^© for $20.00, and the Silver-plated Pewter for $40.00, so make as much money as you can!!

I hope you decide to purchase pins. If you do, I know you'll love them and agree that it is the easiest fundraising you'll ever do!

If you do not work for a not-for-profit agency and can not find an agency in your area that sells the pins, Order directly from me and proceeds will be donated to the National Clothesline Project.

Bonnie Shelley, CSW

P.S. The plastic pins should not be left in the direct sun or heat - they will melt! Unfortunately, it has happened that a pin has melted onto a jacket when the jacket was left in a car, or left on a piece of clothing that's gone through the washer and dryer. If this happens, peel it off after it hardens and use Simple Green to loosen the remaining plastic.

Clotheline Pins^©
by Bonnie Shelley
Ithaca, NY 14850 . Ph & Fax: (607) 257-1271.http://www.clotheslinepins.com.pins@lightlink.com