06.25.06
Helping People in Need
The other day one of my email/AA friends from Australia shared with me a really neat idea. In her spare time she knits squares to donate to charities. She said that way you don’t have to make a whole blanket. The people to whom you send the knitted or crocheted squares connect the squares to make full blankets which in turn are sent to people in various countries that need them. I looked it up on the net and found that this is a common thing! And this website www.interweave.com/knit/charities.asp has a list of different charitable organizations that provide blankets, booties, hats, and clothing to little babies and others who otherwise can’t afford it. Since I love crafts and have all this excess supply, I thought it was a wonderful idea! So I have found an organization close to me here in Los Angeles called Stitches from the Heart. I’ll see how it goes with them. Otherwise there are so many other organizations that I can join.
Helen, if you get the chance to comment here, maybe you can share which organization it is for whom you stitch. (And any other nice ideas you have!)
Helen has also gotten me more interested in scrapbooking and we even share photos from different places we’ve visited. Which I think is another fun idea since I may never have the chance to go to Australia. She has sent me pictures of places there with explanations. That’s so much more personal than just looking places up on the net. If anybody wants to share in that way, too, I’d love to see more pics!
Okay, that’s it for now. Have a nice Sunday!
Marlakins 
Administrator said,
June 30, 2006 at 10:10 pm
Yesterday, I received my packet from Stitches from the Heart, which gave me a better understanding of who they help and what services they provide. The organization is non-profit, and none of their employees/volunteers get paid. It’s all donation.
I was informed that they shipped over 250,000 handmade items to needy babies and are now sending items to over 570 hospitals across the U.S. According to their findings, there are 436,000 premature and needy babies born in America every year! Wow, that means lots of hats, booties, sweaters, blankets, and quilts are needed! Hospitals put little hats on all babies to hold in their body heat. I’d better hop to it! LOL
Marlakins!
helen ryan said,
July 9, 2006 at 6:10 am
Hi Marla
Congratulations on your new blog. What a great idea!! I hope all you AA people will get in touch because Marla really has the power to brighten your day…….as she does mine.
As for the knitting I do this every year for a charity called Wrap of Love who make rugs to send to people in the Andes in South America. The knitted squares are collected by the local radio station. Unless we are really sick I think we could all do some little thing like this.
Keep up the good work
Helen from Australia