John Grabish was a young lad of only 60+ years when a necklace made of beads changed his life and set him on a path of fulfillment and making a difference.
It started one day in 2005 at Saalem church, after a presentation by a missionary couple who were working in Uganda. The couple, Hannu and Mila, had brought handcrafted necklaces, bracelets and earrings that a group of women from Uganda had made to raise funding for an orphanage in their community. John was amazed at not only how beautiful the beads were but was taken aback when he learned they were simply made from coloured paper and shellac.
Something so eye-catching was bound to be easy to sell. He stepped in, sold the hand made items at various craft fairs and the sales went through the roof. He was hooked.
Shortly after, John travelled to Uganda and visited the women who were responsible for creating this paper jewellery, and listened to their stories.
“I never cried so much in my life,” John said. “One woman had survived the Rwandan genocide and was still looking for her children. She had been attacked and when she woke up, her village had been burned to the ground and her children were nowhere to be found.
You can’t hear a story like that and not be moved.”
But it is one thing to be moved and another to be moved to action.
John purchased the materials, including the coloured paper, string and smaller manufactured beads, for the women so they could make more jewelry and limit their expenses. He booked more venues, sold more, and sent the proceeds to the women and the orphanage they were selflessly supporting.
In 2008, John began helping Pastor Grace of My People’s Ministry Orphanage in Entebbe, Uganda.
“There was so much that they needed there,” John said. “Schools, food, clothing, homes … and Pastor Grace was so dedicated to helping these street children that I knew we could be great partners and make things happen.”
John visited the markets in Uganda and when he saw the statues, artwork and crafts created by men and women who were trying to make a living, he had an idea. Why not support these artisans and then sell their wares in Canada at a slightly marked up price and send the proceeds to the orphanage? Before the end of his trip, John had his suitcases filled with every African craft imaginable and was already planning which venues he was going to book when he returned to Thunder Bay.
He wasn’t wrong. The Ugandan crafts were a great success, and he was able to send funds to the orphanage every month; enough to build two schools and provide food, medical assistance and clothing for the 200+ children at the orphanage.
When Covid hit, there were no venues to book and sales stopped. Shortly after the covid scare was over, another set back hit John. He developed heart problems and his wife, Carol, was diagnosed with an inoperable tumor. “It was a tough time. Carol was my support. I relied on her intuition immensely.”
When Carol passed away in January 2024, John needed to find something to fill his life again. It came in the form of a return trip to Uganda.
“The people at the orphanage invited my daughter and I to attend the dedication of a building to my late wife, Carol. And one of the boys from the orphanage, who had graduated as a nurse, wanted me to be a guest of honour at his wedding. We couldn’t refuse.”
The whole trip was a whirlwind of visits, seeing the progress of the orphanage and welcoming the many smiles and hugs from the children who aptly called John, “Pappa John.”
John was inspired to help – again.
A high school that was started several years ago had not been completed due to lack of funds. They still needed doors, windows, cement for the floors, and a ceiling to put under the tin roof. It would cost at least $16,000 Canadian. John visited more artisans, purchased their wares, filled his suitcases, and several boxes – that were later mailed to his home address – and he set out to help – again.
So, if you see John at any of the craft markets like at the Waterfront, Canada Day, the Hymers and Murillo Fairs, the Folklore Festival in Red Rock, Teddy Bear Picnic and various street fairs, you now know what drives his passion. Stop by, check out his tables and pick up an item or two. Maybe you’ll get a hand sewn shirt or dress made with colourful African cotton, or a hand carved statue of a bird or giraffe or gorilla, or a wooden wineglass or African mask, or … Whatever you purchase, remember 100% of the proceeds will help build a school, change a child’s life and break the poverty cycle. A purchase for you, a win for them.
For more information about John’s cause and to see the many items he has for sale, visit him on Facebook at Caring Hands Uganda – Africa Matters Too.
