Wednesday, August 10, 2011

I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy. Rabindranath Tagore

This post is coming in under the wire, but we just have to tell you of the new projects we need your help with!  Specifically, we’ll be working tomorrow, (August 11, 11am – 8pm) on:

1.  LLUCH NICU Bereavement Program

  • Crocheting around 8” x 8” and 34” x 34” flannel blankets. If you’d like to learn how to use a wing needle on the sewing machine to make the holes, and then learn how to crochet a ‘hugs and kisses’ stitch around the edge, come between 11 am and 2pm.  Nola Hallen (R2) will be there to teach you how.  (She may also be back in the evening.)  You will need a size 1.25 to 1.50 crochet hook and white cotton crochet thread.  
  • Sewing small fabric envelopes.
  • Cutting out and sewing tiny gowns made of flannel and micro-fleece. 
  • Making beautiful cards (all materials will be provided).
  • Crocheting or knitting 8” x 8”, 12” x 12”, and 34” x 34” blankets.  Some must be white, others can be pastel blue and pink. We have samples you can look at.  Bring your crochet hook and we’ll find a blanket size to fit.  If knitting, bring size 8 needles.  We’ll have someone available to teach knitting. 
  • Crocheting tiny hats of varying sizes.  We have patterns available.  Kathy Philbin (R1) will be there in the afternoon to help. 
  • Preparing ‘memory boxes’ by applying vinyl lettering to white photo boxes.

These are only a few of the items we’ll be making for this program.  We have fairly strict specifications for the different items, so before you get started, be sure we share with you what is needed.  Then go for it.  This will be an ongoing project and much of it can be done from home.  We especially need crocheters and knitters!  Please let us know if you would like to help from home. 

Donations needed for NICU Bereavement Project:

  • White cotton crochet thread
  • Crochet hooks and knitting needles (do you have a collection gathering dust?)
  • New white photo boxes
  • Baby yarn in white, pastel pink, pastel blue
  • Flannel in soft baby prints and pastel solids (no solid yellow)
  • Small stuffed animals: bears and lambs (beanie babies okay)

We have a power point describing the “Empty Arms, Aching Hearts” program at LLUCH.  If you would like to see it, let me know and I’ll email it directly to you. 

 

2. Housewarming Kits for families at Inland Temporary Homes

These gifts are for families who are moving from ITH shelters into transitional housing.  We delivered our first two kits recently and they were warmly received.  We’ll be putting together two more for families scheduled to move into ‘their own’ home during the month of August.   The kits include the following:

  • laundry basket
  • bucket filled with cleaning products such as spray cleaners, Ajax, dishwashing detergent, cleaning rags, toilet bowl cleaner, toilet brush, dust pan, laundry detergent etc.
  • hygiene items such as family size shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shaving cream, lotion, shaving kit, etc.
  • household items such as towels, wash cloths, a tablecloth
  • a quilt for each baby
  • a book and toy for each child
  • anything special we might have for mom and dad

 

There is also an opportunity to provide activities for these children during the time that their parents are in Life Skills classes. These classes take place on Monday evenings. If you think your family would like to have a Family Home Evening activity (perhaps combining with another family), and have a fun hour or two with these kids, let me know.  We have a few activities that are ready to go (remember the Barton Elementary School project?), if you need some ideas of things you could do.  

Donations needed for housewarming kits:

We are collecting the above items and anything else you come across that you think would fit this purpose.  (The Dollar Store, 99 cent Store, and Pic ‘n Save are good sources for many of these items.)  We’ll also be signing a card of encouragement to include with our gifts, so be sure to add your name when you come to workday!

**ITH has a few projects they really need to have done that may be the perfect Eagle Project.  If you have a Life Scout looking for a project, let us know. 

Learn more about Inland Temporary Homes by checking http://www.ithomes.org/

 

3.  Packing warm clothing for the women and children of Afghanistan

Tomorrow, we'll be packing this mostly new clothing from Colorado which will be added to our shipment which is scheduled for an October 2nd flight from March ARB to Kabul.  In the next few weeks, we’ll finish preparing our pallets according to the requirements of the Denton Program (USAID).  If you would like to help, let me know and I’ll let you know what our plans are.  This unique and highly unusual opportunity to get our goods to Afghanistan in 48 hours and in time for distribution before winter is a miracle for which we are very grateful!  

Other continuing projects:

4. Origami peace cranes

5. assembling hygiene kits for parolees

6. Greeting cards for pediatrics at LLUMC

7. Making and tying quilts, including lap quilts

8. Wheelchair/walker caddies

9. Crocheting hats for the homeless, children served by the Inland Burn Institute, and others.

 

Donations Needed:

  • origami paper
  • hygiene items, especially shampoo, shaving cream, & toothpaste

 

9.  Robertson Memorial Boys Home

**Thanks to all who continue to ensure that our boys at the Robertson Memorial Boys’ Home look forward to their birthday and other holidays!  Halloween is our next big holiday.  If you have a group that would like to help provide a Happy Halloween for our boys, let us know!

That’s it for now.  Will try to add some photos next time.

 

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