Pam and Hannah Graves pose with Mary and Hilda from Aggie’s Arts in Uganda. | Special to the Enquirer

A Lacey’s Spring woman has a deep connection to a Ugandan mission and will be holding a trunk show of the mission’s jewelry at her general store April 15.

Pam Graves has been to Africa on two different mission trips with Life’s Journey Church in Huntsville. Her first trip was in 2012, and her second trip was the summer of 2014 less than a year after opening Graves Grocery on Highway 36 in Lacey’s Spring.

Graves was concerned about leaving her store so soon after opening to travel to Africa, but she decided to pray about it and start fundraising. She set out signs and jars around her store in January during her “Make Your Change Count” campaign, which continued until the summer. She held a pancake breakfast fundraiser with a donation jar, and Graves also held two outdoor concerts at her store. One featured the Good family, who are local musicians, and the other featured Nathan Johnson, a Graves family friend.

All the fundraisers together brought in over $6,300. Graves said she was absolutely floored by the results.

“I could never had imagined that we would have collected over $6,000,” Graves said. “I thought it would be a success if we got as much as $1,000, but the community just went above and beyond. I just couldn’t believe how much support we received. Every fundraiser we planned brought in at least $300 because there was so much support. I just can’t thank everyone enough for their help.”

Graves said the fundraising was about more than just money.

“The funds from the store events and individual donors paid for my entire trip, but I didn’t do it just for the money,” Graves said. “I wanted to make the community aware of the Aggie’s Arts mission going on in Uganda. They give people jobs so they can pay to send their kids to school and possibly make improvements to their homes. It’s a really deserving service, and anyone can support them by buying their jewelry or making donations.”

During the mission trips, Graves has been helping give six months’ worth of food to needy families in Kampala, Uganda. In return, they ask that those families attend a weekly Bible study and save the money they would spend on food to put toward creating a sustainable business.

“There are no contracts or anything, and the families are always very grateful,” Graves said. “The ultimate goal would be that someone would eventually want to start a church and they will have a business of some sort that will bring an income to them and possibly other families. Jobs are very hard to come by since many of them are refugees from the north with Kony’s armies. One of the only jobs is in a dangerous rock quarry where they crush rocks for 12-14 hours a day for less than a dollar daily salary.”

While on their missions, they also help out with Aggie’s Arts. They meet the local bead-makers who are paid for their work to be used in jewelry that will be sold all over the world.

Simon and Aggie, the founders of Aggie’s Arts, will be visiting Graves Grocery during a visit to the United States. Aggie, a Uganda native, will have jewelry for sale and be available to meet with customers from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wed., April 15.

“It’s a come and go thing, so Aggie will be available to talk personally with everyone about her mission,” Graves said. “I’m really excited to have her here, and I think it’s great that the community can meet one of the people who they were supporting during the fundraisers. This whole experience has been such a blessing, and I hope everyone knows how appreciative I am for their help.”

Graves Grocery in Lacey’s Spring regularly showcases jewelry from Aggie’s Arts, a Ugandan mission. Aggie will be at the store Wed., April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a trunk show and meet-and-greet. | Joy Haynes

Hannah Graves poses with several Ugandan children while on a mission trip. Hannah is the daughter of Pam Graves, owner of Graves Grocery. | Special to the Enquirer

The Good family poses with Pam Graves, seated center, after their first concert fundraiser for Graves’ mission trip to Uganda. | Special to the Enquirer