The phrase "Mad as a March Hare" refers to a well-known habit of hares at Spring time. At the first hint of warm weather, wild hares can be seen acting rather strangely; leaping and boxing in the fields at moonlight as part of their mating dance.

We here at Full Circle thought we could best start our year off with a little wildness; something to celebrate the Spring time and the young life that we will soon see all around us. To that end, we begin our year with a Full Circle Charity Event we call March Hares, so named in honor of the life affirming hare.

If you go to the March Hares Store section of our website you will see a wonderful collection of toy bunnies, frogs, cows, bears, and chicks. Each toy wears a different outfit. Some have sweaters with different patterns on the front. Some wear fairy or ballet costumes, and some wear sun dresses or jumpers. Bear is dressed up as a hare and Chick is dressed as a flower. The legs on each toy are articulated, so they can stand up and sit down. Some, like frog and bear, carry spring totems like eggs or carrots. Each of these toys is 12" tall from ears to toes and each is special in it's own way.

Full Circle is offering these toys for sale. When you purchase a toy for March Hares, it will then be sent to a child currently housed at a Battered Women's Shelter.

As many of you know, these families leave their homes in terror, often with little more than the clothes on their backs. Even though the children are now safe and surrounded by caring people, it is still a frightening and lonely experience. We hope to lend a land by giving some kids a special toy; one that is easy to carry and fit into a backpack. Each of these toys has been Pagan-Kid tested and approved. Each has been found to be a good hugger and a great listener. These special toys will cuddle their owners in bed a night and guard against monsters. They will eventually travel with each child to their new home.

It is our hope that you will join with us and help send a toy to a child in need. Your real name will not be sent along with the toy unless you request it. If you like, we can use your Craft name or the name of your Circle or no name at all. You can also send a special message along with the toy, if you wish. We will make certain that each Shelter knows that these toys come from Pagans in their community. This is one way we hope to dispel the myths about Pagans. It also allows us to give back to our community in a very direct and very Pagan way.

We have 75 of these toys for sale, beginning March 1st. Each toy costs $5.00. This fee covers the cost of the toy itself and shipping. It also helps to pay for the website and the fee we are charged by our Merchant Bank to take orders. Full Circle is staff entirely by volunteers and they have donated their web building skills and all the time and effort it takes to organize this event, purchase, pack and to ship the toys.

We have to keep this process as simple as possible, so we cannot let you choose a particular toy to send or a shelter to send it to. When you buy a toy for March Hares, we will choose the next toy on the list and put it aside. At the end of each month, the toys will be divided equally among the Shelters in question and then shipped. We will continue with this Charity Event until all the toys in question are sold. The number of toys shipped each month will be announced in our Full Circle newsletter.

Spring is a wonderful time. It makes us all feel a little more hopeful. Let's give a bit of that hope and happiness to some kids who can use it. So while you're out there buying chocolate and jelly beans for your loved ones, colorful plants for your garden and new clothes to wear this season, please also take a moment and send a toy to a child this Spring.

March Hares toys can be purchased via our website using all major credit cards and bank cards, by check or through PayPal. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Blessed Be and Thank you.

The folks at Full Circle

Berkeley:
Women's Refuge P.O. Box 3298 Berkeley CA 94703
Business #: 510-658-7231
Hotline/Crisis: 510-547-4663

Oakland:
A Safe Place P.O. Box 1075 Oakland CA 94604
Business #: 510-636-4747
Hotline/Crisis: 510-536-7233

Marin County:
Marin Abused Women's Services 1717 5th Avenue San Rafael CA 94801
Business #: 415-457-2464
Hotline/Crisis: 415-924-6616

Napa:
Napa Emergency Women's Services P.O. Box 427 Napa CA 94559
Business #: 707-252-3687
Hotline/Crisis: 707-255-6397

Sacramento:
WEAVE, Inc. P.O. Box 161356 Sacramento CA 95816
Business #: 916-448-2321
Hotline/Crisis: 916-920-2952

San Francisco:
WOMAN, Inc. 333 Valencia St. Suite 251 San Francisco CA 94103
Business #: 415-864-4777
Hotline/Crisis: 415-864-4722

Santa Cruz County:
Women's Crisis Support 1025 Center Santa Cruz CA 95060
Business #: 408-425-5525
Hotline/Crisis: 408-429-1478

Silicon Valley:
Support Network For Battered Women 200 Blossom Lane, 3rd Floor Mountain View
CA 94041 Business #: 415-940-7850
Hotline/Crisis: 415-940-7855