Ronan’s Bake Sale, Compassion Kits for LLUMC, and Come Join Us on Thursday!

Thanks for helping to make the Benefit Concert for Ronan a SUCCESS!  The Baked goods were a hit!

This event was extra special because Ronan’s mom and dad and baby brother were able to come! A friend stayed at the hospital  with Ronan so they could get away for their first fun evening together since New Year’s Eve!  We were able to visit with Rachel and Nick and feel of their strength and spirit.   Although they, with Ronan, have endured some very difficult times, Ronan is progressing.  

A friend of Ronan’s parents wrote in an email on the day after the benefit:

“We couldn't have done it without your help and Women of Faith's hard work and generosity.  Rachel and Nick had a wonderful evening.  I'm not sure who was with Ronan at the hospital during the concert, but he played happily all evening, and was asleep for the night before Rachel and Nick left the hospital for the concert.  So, this was the first time Rachel and Nick have had a chance to relax and enjoy themselves in a long time.

They talked a lot about you, and your church [I would add all ‘Women of Faith’ participants], and it means so much to them - your prayers and caring about Ronan, even more than the financial support.”

Another close friend of the family and organizer of the event wrote this just before the fundraiser which expresses all of our sentiments:

“It's so amazing when we focus on the parts of life and faith that we have in common - certainly helping a family make it through this tough time is a place where God calls us. I am blessed to be working with you on this!”

Here are a few shots from Saturday night.  We’ll share more pictures later.

Ronan’s family: Rachel, baby Callum, and Nick Godfrey

Look at this spread of yummy baked goods!

And more!

Rachel made a request that we would like to pass along.  She said that another child they have met at City of Hope is five years old and received his transplant two years ago.  His mother is from Belize and his father is African-American.  There was no match for him in the registry, so the best they could do was from his mother with a 5 or 6 out of 12 match.  (Remember that Ronan’s is a 12/12 match.)  He is having a really hard time.  The problem is that only 14% of all matches in the registry are for anything other than Caucasian.  So those of other ethnicities have little chance of having a good match.  So, Rachel asked that we spread the word to everyone, but especially to anyone who is non-Caucasian, of the need to join the registry.  So let’s do it!   And continue to remember Ronan in our prayers. 

 

“The smallest gestures clumped together and piled one on top of each other can make a world of difference.”                               Deanna Cogdon

 

We’re starting a new project this month.  It’s for LLUMC, but may extend to other Hospitals

We have been asked to make items for and put together ‘compassion kits’ for the hospital’s NICU Bereavement Program.   It is a specially designed program to assist families who have experienced the loss of a baby during pregnancy or after birth.

A Memory Box includes the following (we’ll be providing the items that are listed below in blue):

• Heart Necklace
• Stuffed animal
• Baby Powder Pillow
• Shell with clay footprint
• Heart with Forget-me-not seeds
• 3D Hand mold
• Envelope for hair swatch
• Blanket
• Baby’s bedside belongings

We will also make:

• blankets in several sizes, crocheted, knitted, and flannel
• baby gowns in several sizes, some white and some in soft baby prints
• very small and even tiny hats
• cards – specifically designed (details to come)

We have very specific instructions for each of these items.  If you’d like to help, come to workday to get the details.  Some of these projects will work very well for those wanting to work from home, so if you want to help in that way, give us a call for details.  We will especially be looking for those who would like to crochet very tiny hats and crochet around tiny blankets.  Watch for more details. 

Thursday,July 14th, is another workday.  Please join us anytime between 11am – 8pm.

You can choose from the following (more to come):

1. sew wheelchair/walker caddies (we have some improvements to make after having an ‘expert’ try it out for us.)

2. crochet hats

3. cut out, sew, and/or tie quilts

4. fold origami peace cranes

5. make greeting cards for the pediatric wing of LLUCH

6. assemble hygiene kits for local parolees through Step by Step and the Police and Corrections Team

7. mark copies of the Book of Mormon to go to county jails

8. combine granny squares to make afghans

NOTE:  **We are trying to gather a list of  names of “Women of Faith Supporters” who work in local hospitals or nursing homes, etc.  If you are one, please let your humanitarian representative know or email jeanarnott@gmail.com with your name, the name of the hospital or facility, and area where you work.

Current Requests for Donations:

• Soft white flannel
• Flannel in soft colors and gentle prints
• Press-on interfacing
• Gallon size Ziploc bags
• Yarn, particularly soft baby yarn in white, baby blue, and baby pink
• Used greeting cards (we’re cutting them up to make new cards)
• Card stock and paper in a variety of colors
• Scrapbooking paper – even scraps from other projects
• Hygiene items: full size or samples, especially toothpaste, shaving cream, men’s deodorant
• Quilt batting or donations of $$ to purchase it. (We can get it by the bolt for ½ price.)
• Origami paper, mostly 6” x 6”  (use your JoAnn’s or Michael’s coupons)
• Velcro (not the kind with adhesive; use your coupons for this too)
• Your time at workday or at home

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“Everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”    Martin Luther King Jr.