Help Save Ivan

 Please take a minute to visit the blog below.  The story of Ivan is included there as well as pictures of this sweet little boy.  Ivan is loved by a family and they would like to adopt him and save him from being in an institution for the rest of his young life.  You won't soon forget his story.

http://saveivan.blogspot.com/

One Million Pillowcase Challenge

The One Million Pillowcase Challenge is another wonderful example of "Being the Difference".  The information is below - check it out.

make a pillowcase
make a difference

Calling all quilters, sewers and crafters! American Patchwork & Quilting is challenging you to join our efforts to Make a Pillowcase, Make a Difference. Every pillowcase can make a difference in your community. A pillowcase can provide comfort for a cancer patient, hope for a foster child, encouragement for a battered woman, or beauty for a nursing home resident.

To participate, find a shop hosting One Million Pillowcase Challenge events in your area. Once your pillowcases are complete and donated locally, log on below to enter how many pillowcases you made. Help us reach our goal of ONE MILLION Pillowcases.

God's Tiny Angels

This is a group that I interact with personally and it is run by a wonderful lady - Danette Lemaster.  She does all the work of cleaning, packaging, coordinating and shipping of the items donated for the babies.  She is aided by a wonderful army of ladies and one gentleman who craft for her and enthusiastically create everything from hats to blankets and booties as well as burial items and more.  Below is information about this wonderful group.

Every day across the world there are babies born ill or in need. Some of God's babies have little more than a tiny diaper. Imagine what you could do to make their new lives a little warmer!

Our home on the web has been blessed by others that have sewn, crocheted, quilted, knitted and even went out to yard sales for the little ones.

Gods Tiny Angels is an all volunteer group that provides items to Cabell Huntington Hospital in WV and elsewhere across the country, free, to the parents.

Help make a difference today. Tomorrow will bring more of God's Tiny Angels.

" Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."
"God took care of yesterday, why not let Him take care of tomorrow?"

You can find them on the web at  http://danettesangels.tripod.com/home.html

 

Heartmade Blessings

Heartmade Blessings

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This is another wonderful group I found online that is working to make a difference in the lives of those who have suffered a loss or crisis.

Heartmade Blessings is a world-wide group of volunteers dedicated to providing hand-crafted items to those people suffering a loss, tragedy, or going through a rough time that need to be reminded of the simple fact that people care.  Our organization was founded in March, 2001.

Heartmade Blessings come from all the wonderful people who donate squares for afghans and bearghans. They are also made possible through the efforts of the warm, caring people who donate their time in assembling and organizing the distribution of these items to those in need. We truly believe these people are nothing short of a "blessing" themselves.

Heartmade Blessings does not accept monetary donations.  However, our members provide their own yarn and mail squares and Comfort Afghans, Bearghans at their own expense.  With this in mind we do accept postage stamps and yarn donations.
In addition, our supply of crocheted squares is always low due to the number of Comfort Afghans sent to various people and organizations. We are always in need of volunteers to send us squares, to assemble the afghans for us, and to donate their time and love in whatever way possible for each person.
For more information or questions, go to
Heartmade Blessings does not accept monetary donations.  However, our members provide their own yarn and mail squares and Comfort Afghans, Bearghans at their own expense.  With this in mind we do accept postage stamps and yarn donations.
In addition, our supply of crocheted squares is always low due to the number of Comfort Afghans sent to various people and organizations. We are always in need of volunteers to send us squares, to assemble the afghans for us, and to donate their time and love in whatever way possible for each person.  If you are interested in helping this group you can find them at http://www.heartmadeblessings.org/Aboutus/Aboutus.php

Stitch A Wish Program

Stitch a Wish is another great program for those who like to craft for a cause.  The link is below and a blurb about they do is also below.  Check it out if you are looking for a place for your handmade goods.

Stitch-A-Wish volunteers sew for hospitalized children. The program provides the patients with colorful, child friendly pillowcases that brighten their rooms; medical play therapy dolls that help patients learn about and understand the medical procedures they undergo; telemetry bibs that allow toddlers mobility even while attached to heart monitoring equipment; saddle bags that give bed ridden children a sense of independence by providing them with easy access to their favorite things; preemie clothing for the tiniest infants to wear for their long awaited first trip home. These items, and many others, are utilized daily throughout the medical center for comfort, therapeutic play, arts and crafts, and safety.


http://www.dfwstitchawish.com/stitch/default.aspx

Dolly Donations

I found this wonderful site today and it is well worth taking a look.  Sarah has a passion to help others and if you are looking for a wonderful crafting cause, this is a great one!!!  Free patterns are available and lots of other information.  See what Sarah has to say below:

"My names Sarah. I’m a mother to a beautiful daughter, a wife to a brave fireman, and an artist who has a passion for sewing.

My mission is to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate, especially orphaned children around the world ....... to provide them with a source of comfort ...... to send them love, one dolly at a time!"

DollyDonations at gmail dot com
http://dollydonations.blogspot.com/2010/01/adorable-knit-dollies.html  

Binky Patrol - Making Blankets for Children

Binky Patrol in South Carolina

In late February, I came across a wonderful group and I knew I had to join as soon as I saw it.  Their tag line is "We make blankets and give them away to children in need of comfort. It's as simple as that."  I was so excited to find there was a need for a chapter in South Carolina and so I applied to start a chapter here in West Columbia, SC!!!  How exciting - but no matter where you are, you can help by going to their web site at http://www.binkypatrol.org

Check out what we are doing here in West Columbia, South Carolina on our Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Binky-Patrol-South-Carolina/353948326581?ref=mf

Even if you don't sew or have never made a think - you can help this group.  The wonderful thing about working with a chapter in your area is that you get to decide where your donations go and work with groups where you know there is a need.  Short of starting my own non-profit, this is the most exciting thing I have found.  This way there are others in charge who know all about what to do and how to do it and all we have to do is follow their lead and find the need.  Here in South Carolina we are starting with a battered women's shelter where children are displaced and have been through some pretty rough times.  I just can't wait to make my first delivery!!!  Check it out and you might find this is a wonderful match for you or someone you know.  They also take donations to the national organization!
Crafting for a cause to help children!!! 

We Must Try To Contribute Joy To the World!

Roger Ebert - "I believe, that if at the end of it all, according to our abilities we have done something to make others a little happier and something to make ourselves a little happier, that is about the best we can do. To make others less happy is a crime, to make ourselves unhappy is where all crime starts. We mu...st try to contribute joy to the world. That is true no matter what our problems, health or circumstances. We must try. I didn't always know this and I am happy that I lived long enough to find it out."

http://twitter.com/ebertchicago

Sew to Serve

I found the greatest links today while looking around on FaceBook.  I already knew about the We All Sew Blog at weallsew.com but they have another wonderful page called Sew-To-Serve and it is full of links that will give you all sorts of ideas and ways to utilize what you make in wonderful giving ways!!!  I have a huge stash of things I have made and I am so excited to find these wonderful opportunities to share them.  Check it out at the link below - you will be glad you did!!

http://www.weallsew.com/sew-to-serve/

Sewing for the Homeless

I found the site below today when I was surfing around.  This is a wonderful opportunity to give back and use your sewing skills for the good of others!!  If you love to sew and would like to help others, please check this out.  If you know of other ways to contribute sewing skills, please let us all know.  I love sewing but don't always have a home for what I make.  What a wonderful way to use something you enjoy to help others!!

http://nikkishell.typepad.com/wardroberefashion/2009/12/sewing-for-the-homeless.html 

 

The Traveling Book at Quiet Angel Publishing

Regina Savage is a Breast Cancer Suvivor and she has written a book called "Mirror Makeovers" - this wonderful book is now traveling around the world to help raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.  You can check it out at the following link and also see the video.  This is a wonderful uplifting book and I would recommend it to not only Breast Cancer patients, but to anyone with a chronic illness.

Check it out and...become a fan at the Traveling Book Blog spot! This book is traveling the world for cancer survivors and their supporters signatures! It is very exciting. It has already been around the US, Egypt, England and will be on its way to France and Canada! And all the while raising money for a wonderful cause!

The blogspot is

http://www.mirrormakeoverstravelingcancerbook.blogspot.com/

and the video is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9choRJAmoYA

Don't miss this opportunity to get to know someone who really is "Being the Difference"!

Hugs Made a Difference.....

My name is Nora Stockman and I have been a Distributor for Vicki Riley with DinkyBaby.com for around 4 years, I have always made dolls but I searched the internet one lucky day and found Dinky Baby. Sometimes it is a miracle what a small thing can do, or even an unexpected turn in life. HUGS was one of these small things that made a difference.

The HUGS Project for my daughter started in such an unselfish way, and due to a chronic illness of her own. It helped her come to realize that sometimes it’s the small things that comfort the most.
In May of 2008 she had started feeling badly, her side hurt; she had no appetite as before and felt tired all the time. Yes, she was working at Self Regional Hospital thirty two hours a week and going to Lander University part time to get a degree in Psychology and raising a 10 year old little girl as a divorced parent, but when I noticed her skin looking sallow and the whites of her eyes were yellowed I knew she was going to the hospital on her own two feet or whatever way it took, her best friend Ann agreed, who was a Nursing student at the same University.

That week after tests she was diagnosed and hospitalized with Hepatitis C which not many people get. We had now the challenge to find out where she contracted it, by blood, it could have been at a Restaurant she had eaten and an employee cut themselves and it got into her food, a big chance it wasn’t the cause…a needle, which dictates you are a drug user, she doesn’t do that so it was ruled out, the boyfriend she had at the time was checked and he was negative also. So now what other events took place to put her in a situation to contract this? She had gone to Wal-Mart for a quick run in Pedicure and it had been done with tools she says were already on a table when she went in, most likely the culprit. So this was the most likely way but the food industry wasn’t ruled out.

Needless to say she was on Chemo medications administered by shots each week by her, along with tablets for six months that made her deathly sick but if she could overcome this she was a survivor.

During this time she thought of how children must feel to be as sick as she was and scared. Knowing that hospitals take care of a child’s physical needs she thought that a baby doll or a bear would help a child emotionally to have a new best friend there at the time they were sick…to hold when they were sad or to help dry the tears. She asked me about the Dinky Baby Dolls by Vicki since she had come to my summer show and saw how wonderfully children and grownups reacted to these cute babies.
As sick as she was, she needed this unselfish act to bring her through this hard time by giving to others and not feeling sorry for herself and she asked if I would help her make HUGS happen for the children at our local hospital. I put out an SOS to Vicki and the ladies on our group that make the dolls and got some volunteers that were willing to make and send the babies and bears, Vicki, Joann, Sandy, Lynne and Louise made Chloe’s and Dinky Bears and Jingles along with hats, booties and blankets from some other willing ladies to be handed out to our children. We ended up giving 70 combined dolls out in 2008 for the month of December at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina as a result of all our combined hard work.

My daughter Haven saw the project through and delivered the babies each week as needed. She feels that this was a kindness her 10 year old daughter, Marissa needed to be a part of to know that it is sometimes better to give than receive. She has many requests to take on other places that need a service like this and hopes HUGS will grow in the future. These sweet babies and bears have made an impact on many little lives as well as parents of these children in our community and Haven was so proud when a parent walked up to her this summer at my doll show and asked “Are you the lady that gave my child that wonderful gift in the hospital?” and went on to tell her how much it was appreciated.

She has since had tests and her tests came back wonderful. HUGS was her strength in this tragic illness and will continue to be strength to as many children as we can reach.

Haven as well as the ladies that helped make this dream come true for her, are all my Heroines. I will be your biggest Fan Club because many of you like Haven, struggle with health issues and still find time to give freely to others in need. She is a strong young woman and has made something wonderful happen through her HUGS project and made these babies the “Star of the Show” here in South Carolina. You may go to this link to see the newspaper article and read more.
http://www.myspace.com/hugsnow2008 is one of her ways of getting this out to the public, please go here and read about her and this wonderful cause and how Dinky Babies are a blessing for our community.

Be the One to Shine the Light.......

We can all take a moment from our lives and use it to "Be the Difference!"
My Dad died after a two year bout with Lung Cancer - it happened when I was only 17.  He died on a cold December day - the exact day I got out of school for Christmas vacation.  I remember it well - it was a Tuesday, December 18th, 1973.  He had been unresponsive for a couple of weeks prior to that and we kept him at home and cared for him there.  He was very afraid of dying alone in a hospital room.  He was a frail thin 85 pound version of his former self.  He rarely knew who I was and when he was awake, he gave me orders to do things regarding his long defunct sign business.  He would be worried about a delivery or a phone call from a customer when in fact he had not done any real work for over a year.

Being a senior in high school, the day to day care and frustration was unbearable for me.  I would attempt a good mood and enter his room with a chipper attitude and he would quickly tell my Mother to get me out of the room.  I just did not understand ---- now I do.  I remember an incident when we had to call an ambulance to take him in to the hospital - he was getting very week and they were going to put him on IV fluids.  As he made the short walk from the hall bathroom to his bedroom, he uttered under his breath, "Go ahead and get the dead man out of here!"  I was in close enough ear shot to hear this whisper of desperation and it broke my heart.  I knew he was tired, tired of the pain, tired of the confusion, and just plain tired of living.

When my Dad drew his last breath and I heard rumblings and tears from his room, I felt a deep heart striking pierce of relief - I just could not stand to watch his suffering any longer.  In my young life, I just did not have the capacity to take it in another day.  To some it was unfathomable that I could be relieved but for me he had died many times over the past couple of years and this meant I would not have to go through it ever again - it was finally over.

While I have grown and learned and moved on from this event, it still breaks my heart when I hear of another child that has to go through this with a parent or other loved one.  Cancer is a formidable enemy and it will take the strength of us all to take it down, but if we believe--we can do it.  If you know of someone who has been through cancer or has a loved one who has, or have yourself, pass the word - help fight the fight.  Each one of us can Be the Difference in finding a cure for Cancer!