A shopping spree will be open this Saturday, June 12 at the indoor/outdoor Mission Collective Market at Harvest Collective in Bonita to support Chula Vistan Christine Morris, a 37 year old who has lived with paralysis since a 2006 car accident that resulted in a sever spinal cord injury. In 2007, Morris partnered with the national medical fundraising nonprofit Help Hope Live. All purchases, featuring local small businesses will donate 10% of sales to the Help Hope Live in Christine’s honor event to help with the cost of her extensive physical therapy.
Harvest Collective is an indoor/outdoor venue hosted by Christine’s sister, Sarah Lopez, a local small business owner. Diverse offerings include support for curated local makers and growing brands—find products ranging from artisan apparel, home décor, and plants to eco-friendly and sustainable treasures.
Morris said that with the help of fundraising she has been able to double the number of physical therapy sessions each week, resulting, her recovery process is going well. She can now take steps with assistance and her core and upper body is getting stronger with more voluntary movements.
Morris said shoppers can expect an experience in a warm environment that is focused on her mission to walk again, but also supporting the small businesses and vendors.
“It is a beautiful community, and a sense of community that we are creating,” she said. “Many of the shoppers and the vendors have not experienced an experience like our market. People are there, and they want to be there and are in a pleasant mood. They want to experience being part of something bigger than themselves.”
Morris said shopping small is extremely important, especially with the pandemic.
“Supporting the local community and seeing the money that they spend is reinvested into the community,” she said.
To support Christine’s mission to walk again, shop Mission Collective Market or make a tax-deductible donation online at any time at: https://helphopelive.org/campaign/2647/.
Help Hope Live is a national nonprofit that specializes in engaging communities in secure, tax-deductible fundraising campaigns for people who need a transplant or are affected by a catastrophic injury or illness. Since 1983, campaigns organized by Help Hope Live raised more than $150 million to pay patient expenses.
