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 starting making the pins.

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 haven't worked for Ithaca Rape Crisis for a long time but still remember how difficult it was to raise 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 recognized as a symbol of the sexual assault and domestic violence movement. This makes them a very powerful educational tool. Some programs are selling the pins 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!

Bonnie Shelley, MSW