Archive for Donations
Do we need supplies? YES!!!!! Batting, fabric, yarn…
Posted by: | Comments
Your left over scrap yarn makes wonderful afghans for sick and needy patients in the hospital. Our volunteers love to work with your yarn.
It really makes a big difference to the volunteers when they come to work meetings to have nice supplies for them to work with. The saddest thing I see is folks standing around because there are limited supplies to work with and only so many machines to work on. That’s when I grab a handful of knitting needles or crochet hooks and start encouraging folks to do hand work while they wait their turn on the sergers.
We were out in the garage inventory tonight getting ready for tomorrow’s work meeting and folks even tracked me down out there to get help for a little 4 month old baby. I had toys and formula bottles to give but no clothing for her as she takes 3 to 6 mo size and will be in 6 to 9 soon – she is a big baby 
I am going to have to see what I can do to get some clothes made for her tomorrow in between working on baby burial layette sets, quilts, blankets, afghans, etc. We only work at the work rooms from 10 to 2 so there is a lot of work crammed into the day. I may just have to see what I can get sold on ebay to get her some clothes. She is okay for a few weeks and that will allow me time to sell something and find some sales.
I love this work, I love helping others and it’s fun to have the challenges of finding the need, organizing the work, working with the volunteers and seeing the fruits of our labors bless the sweet babies and their families. I am so grateful to volunteers for their donations of supplies.
We are washing a bunch of used toys to go to the hospital tomorrow in cocoons. The babies get a warm cocoon and a toy, too – mostly teddy bears and dollies
I get asked all the time what the most urgent needs are. The simple answer is:
FABRIC – flannel, flannelette, soft, minky, chenille, velour, cotton, cotton blends, PUL, muslin, broadcloth, kids print, decorator fabric, felt, sherpa, polar fleece, micro fleece, corderoy, quilters cotton, any kind of fabric.
YARN – wool, cotton, acrylic, blends, all weights and colors, eyelash, fancy, solid colors, variegated – we use everything
SEWING SUPPLIES – serger and sewing thread, scissors, pins, needles, machines – serger and sewing machines, books, patterns, sewing tools, sewing birds
KNITTING & CROCHET SUPPLIES: knitting needles (we use circulars the most), crochet hooks, stitch markers, spinning wheels, yarn winders, swifts, felting supplies and tools,
SMOCKING SUPPLIES – pleaters, thread, patterns, pleater needles, batiste, etc
TATTING SUPPLIES – shuttles, needles, winders, thread, patterns.
BATTING – oh yes, please. We are always running out of batting. Queen size is best and we also need baby quilt batting and twin size, too.
Donations are tax deductible and can be sent to:
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714
Please be sure to include your address so we can send you your thank you letter and tax receipt. If you want to help us save money on postage, include your email address and we can email you the letter We are also happy to mail you your letter if you would like a hard copy on file.
Thanks for being part of our Relief Share family. You are an important family member to help this old world be a better place!
Hugs
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Blessings abound when hearts are knit together in love – and love is put into action.
Posted by: | Comments
Sewing for charity is a rewarding activity - both for the volunteers and the ones who receive the needed items.
Tomorrow is a big day. I was a bit worried about it but now everything is going to be just fine.
I have two big work meetings tomorrow and one of them needed more sewing machines than are available. It is frustrating to me to see ladies waiting in line for a chance to help sew what is needed but not enough machines to go around. The Lord knows what we need, who has it and who is willing to help his sick and needy children and take action.
Just in the nick of time, two sewing machines were delivered and will be taken to the morning work meeting so there will be enough machines. I am so relieved and VERY happy. When I let the other volunteers know that two more machines arrived, they were so excited and now instead of not getting any sleep trying to figure out how to cycle the volunteers around on the machines better, I am happily looking forward to seeing the huge auditorium filled with hustle and bustle making all kinds of marvelous things tomorrow at the LDS Stake Humanitarian work meeting.
A huge thank you to our Relief Share guardian angel – I know the angels in heaven are doing high fives over her love and support for God’s most helpless children. The morning work meeting is only once a month and now we have machines that the ladies can take home during the month to keep working.
The afternoon work meeting is going to be pretty thrilling, too. When I went to the service room on Tuesday we had a serious shortage of fabric and yarn and NO batting for quilts. One of the directors on the Relief Share board and myself worked hard last night to get a van load full of fabric and yarn ready for other LDS Humanitarian volunteers to pick up this morning and take over to the service room ready for tomorrow. It cleaned out pretty much everything I had, even all the reserves, but its going to be awesome tomorrow to see the room bustling with activity and lots of warm hats, scarves, mittens, quilts, knitted balls, clothing and bedding being made. We also have volunteers with cars and trucks ready to do donation runs as the boxes fill up with finished goods. The boxes that are shipped to Relief Share are distributed immediately to the most urgent needs.
I have to say that I am exhausted. It’s been full steam ahead since I hit the ground running when I arrived in Boise, ID less than a week ago after being in Misssouri for 4 1/2 months, and I am hoping for a wee break on Sunday as I sit in church quietly knitting and listening to more direction from God from the pulpit. I love getting my batteries recharged. The little baby hat I knitted in church is already on a baby’s head being used LOL.
Charity work is marvelous and I am so grateful for all the wonderful donors and volunteers that make this world a better place.
One of the reasons why Relief Share is so effective is we work with other charities and the synergism is amazing – so many more sick and needy receive the help they need. One of our very favorite organizations we love to work with is LDS Humanitarian Services. If you have activities in your area going on at the LDS Church, get involved. It’s amazing what hearts bound in the same charitable service can do – miracles happen.
If you want to help –
- donate to ReliefShare.org by sending a paypal donation to info@ReliefShare.org
– send a box of gently used or new items for babies, children and adults to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr, C208, Boise, Idaho 83714 OR 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225
- send a box of supplies for our volunteers to make what is needed. Fabric, yarn, sewing, serging, quilting, knitting, crochet, tatting, embroidery and other supplies are needed.
All donations are acknowledged with a thank you letter and tax deductible receipt.
President Carol Green,
ReliefShare.org charity
We’ve been busy – more Relief Share donations out for January 2012!
Posted by: | Comments
2012 is going to be a banner year. Relief Share volunteers have rolled up their sleeves, opened their wallets, filled their schedules with charity work and the results of dedicated love for the babies is showing up in a plethora of donations to where it counts the most!
Donation out to Texas County Food Pantry and Crisis Center, January 12, 2012 delivered in person by Relief Share Vice President
1 receiving blanket
3 pair mens pajamas
4 baby bibs
7 baby sleepers
4 coats
4 pants
1 roll masking tape
4 tops
2 baby onesies
1 pr mittens
1 dress
2 pr socks
1 dog bed and pillow
Donation to Newborns in Need, Springfield Chapter (run by a very lovely lady, President Judy McDuffie) Mailed Jan 10, 2012
4 baby afghans
8 baby bibs
5 shirts
10 crocheted children’s soft balls
16 knitted woven children’s soft balls
3 knitted hats
6 crocheted hats
2 pr pants
1 baby sleeper
1 pr baby shoes
1 toddler blue jean jacket
12 preemie hats
1 toy
7 baby onesies
1 baby jacket
Donation to local Church for needy in area.
2 large shelves full of warm adult sweaters – many large garbage size bags full. Thank you to Susan and Phil for delivering those items to where they are needed the most.
Donations to individuals needing items the first two weeks in January 2012:
Baby cocoon for little girl
Baby clothing and accessories for little baby boy
Warm hats to needy family
Sewing supplies for grandmother to make items for grandchildren
Sewing supplies to make items for chemo patients
Toys for needy family
Donations out – Texas County Memorial Hospital, Houston, MO
Posted by: | Comments
Donation for the babies in Texas County, Missouri
Thank you letter for our Relief Share donation to Children’s Mercy Hospital, KC, MO
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve been donating to Children’s Mercy Hospital for 20 years now. It is wonderful to know our donations are very much appreciated and used to help the sick and needy children that are patients. Here is their thank you letter – it really belongs to everyone – all the donors, the volunteers and those who offer up their prayers for the children – synergism at it’s best!
- Thank you from Children’s Mercy Hospital to Relief Share
Donations in and out today – a nice balanced ebb and flow!
Posted by: | Comments
Snuggly, cuddly receiving blankets for baby.
Today was a wonderful day here at Relief Share. We were very busy in the morning getting a donation ready to go to the hospital made from the gorgeous flannel that arrived in a donation box from our Relief Share guardian angel (who wishes to remain anonymous, but is very much loved by everyone).
The flannel is darling – little dalmations romping over soft fuzzy flannel in pink and yellow, cute ducks that make you smile when you look at it. Other flannel from our inventory room was also used – in fact, we just used up ALL the flannel on hand so the hospital will have enough receiving blankets this chilly winter for the precious babies. Firemen puppies, cute green dinosaurs, pink check, white and orange polka dot, pastel plaids, cute kids prints – all cut out to 36 x 45 with rounded corners and carefully serged.
We love using the wooly nylon to make the flannel receiving blankets look more store bought and professional when we have it. So much love sewn into the baby blankets….
A large box came in to the office of baby clothing and accessories and it’s already been delivered to the crisis center, along with another box that came in from a wonderful reborner, Kimiko Stallard, who sends boxes of books, childrens clothing and accessories regularly. She also donates part of her ebay auctions to Relief Share and we appreciate her.
This afternoon we took the donation to the hospital and they were so pleased with everything in it. Thank you to all who help us help the sick and needy
Thank you letter from Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis
Posted by: | CommentsIts so nice to be able to help. Here is the thank you letter for a donation we took to Shriners Childrens Hospital right before Christmas.
They were very appreciative.
Thank you letter from Shriners
Donation went out to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis
Posted by: | Comments
Precious child of God.
You know, it is always a wonderful experience to take donations to where they are needed. We love to go to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis as there is a good feeling at the hospital and it feels marvelous to know that the children there get the help they need at no cost to them.
This time we thought that perhaps the hospital would be inundated with donations because of Christmas. Surprise, surprise – not so. When we took our donation, the bags were immediately gone through as personnel searched for warm clothing and blankets for children in ‘same day’ surgery needed them. Families who had very little needed warm blankets to take their children home in the cold weather. It really made us appreciate the need for our donations and glad we were there to help.
Here is what we took this week – personally delivered by the President – who loves to be knee deep in all the charity work with the volunteers!
SHRINERS CHILDRENS HOSPITAL – ST LOUIS donation
Baby quilts – 5
Baby blankets – 7
Full size Quilts – 2
Games and toys – 2
Children’s pants – 7
Baby bibs – 2
Baby washcloths – new in packages 52
Socks – 1
Little girls hairbands/bows – 15
totebags/diaper bags – 2
receiving blankets – 2
fleece throw blankets – 2
soft stuffed animals – new with tags – 26
children’s shirts – 2
baby lotion – 3
doll pillows – 3
hand knitted hat – 1
baby powder – 1
body wash – 1
shampoo – 1
musical pull toy – 1
We strongly encourage folks to donate to Shriners. You can find their address by typing it in google. Simply put what you want to donate to them in a box and ship it. Items should be NEW. Their most urgents needs are for quilts – all sizes – and blankets or afghans.
Thank you to everyone who sent donations and made this gift to the sick and needy children possible. If you would like to help with donations to Shriners and other hospital and centers, please send your donations of new or gently used clean items to:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 64583-2225
OR
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, ID 83714
All donations are acknowledged with a thank you letter/tax receipt mailed out to donors, so please include your name and address in the boxes you are shipping
Donations going out and feeling the Christmas spirit due to angels among us..
Posted by: | Comments
Lots of love and hard work going out in this donation
When you want to talk to God, pray. When you want God to talk to you, read your scriptures….well, most of the time. Actually God can come in loud and clear just when you need him through friends and good neighbors from all over the world.
Today, God reached out and blessed us at Relief Share in a very good very welcome way. Funds are a bit tight (that is the polite way of saying non-existant) and we were getting pretty frantic about how to get donations out to where they were needed the most.
We always try to use volunteers, or ourselves at the Relief Share offices, to personally deliver the beautiful items our donors and volunteers have been working on and sent for the sick and needy. Most of the time, we are pretty effective at doing just that, however, this wonderful *cough,cough* economy has put a damper on donations this Christmas season. Folks hearts are in the right place but their money tree has had salt poured on the roots and many family’s money trees just not might make it much longer.
Relief Share is mainly funded by public donations, our Ebay auctions, flea market booth, personal donations from the Founders, and picking up quarters in the Wal Mart parking lot if we happen to see them lying there (no kidding).
Today as we realized that the winter cold is getting colder and the Relief Share bank account wasn’t matching the need to get the warm clothing, bedding and essentials to where they were needed, an angel dropped a text message in on our cell phone and asked if we had checked our account recently.
Our hearts were full of gratitude as we saw she had put a sizable amount in our paypal account so we could start shipping the waiting donations immediately. What a marvelous blessing she is to the babies and families we serve. What a wonderful boost of Christmas cheer she has given us to enable us to do what God has called us to do.
God loves everyone and encourages, through a still small voice, our action to help the sick and needy, our love in action is very much needed. There was one more donation that came through later that day from another sweet angel with enough to ship more packages to where they need to go.
Donation going out
Thank you so much for ALL of your help. It takes donors, volunteers, nurses, doctors, crisis center managers, and very precious sweet angels who continue to support this work in a myriad of ways to make miracles happen.
So, what are we sending out?
Here is a small sampling! We would post more, but are busy packing boxes and putting finishing touches on items to go!
Donation 1: (hospital donation for the obstetrical unit):
preemie baby blankets with crocheted edgings – 7 blue, 4 light pink, 1 camo pink, 2 green, 1 blue print, 21 bottles, 1 baby book, 4 baby afghans, 20 baby hats (preemie to newborn sizing), 9 baby booties, baby cocoons, hygiene items, and baby clothing
Donation 2: (County Crisis center):
Large amount of – Shoes, craft supplies for residents, toys, blankets, baby powder, pants, shirts, sweaters.
Donation 3: (Pregnancy Crisis Center)
Boxes of blankets, hats, booties/shoes, receiving blankets, pillows, socks, heart and scratch mitt sets, onesies/tshirts, baby vest for NICU, baby cocoons.
May God bless you this wonderful Christmas season and may he allow miracles to happen in your life.
Merry Christmas to you from Relief Share!
Relief Share – love in action
6078 Lundy Rd,
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Wonderful donation of baby items went out to the hospital today!
Posted by: | Comments
Hospital donation
It always warms the heart to see the gorgeous donations of handmade and purchased items flood in for the sick and needy babies we serve.
Today it was my great privilege to assemble the donations together and personally take them to the obstetrical unit of the Texas County Memorial Hospital. In the donation were beautiful scarves made for the mothers of the babies to keep the cold out, soft plush blankets to snuggle new tiny babies in, hand knit stretchy baby cocoons in pretty colors to swaddle baby, gorgeous crocheted baby booties for the babies (some of them to be used for the burial layettes that are unfortunately, needed), bottles, rattles, baby books, toys, and lots of luscious plush soft sleepers in preemie and newborn sizes.
Donation to Texas County Memorial Hospital:
Donation for TCMHospital
6 baby booties
1 sweater
12 hats
4 blankets
1 bottle
3 nipples
1 cocoon
3 buntings
8 sleepers
1 outfit
2 rattles
1 toy
3 books
4 scarves
We have been donating to that particular hospital since 1992. There have been nursing supervisors and nurses come and go but the hospital is still welcomes us and is grateful for the donations we bring. In the past we have provided free pictures of babies to new families who can’t afford baby pictures and quickly sewn up layettes overnight for tiny preemie babies. We provide them with everything for baby as we have it available – diapers – cloth and disposable, bottles, nursing pillows, blankets, afghans, socks, booties, buntings, cocoons, hats, onesies, t-shirts, diaper bags, pacifiers, baby lotion, shampoo, baby wash, diaper ointment, baby quilts and a lot more.
If you want to help the babies, please send your donation of either purchased, handmade or gently used items to:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
OR
ReliefShare
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, ID 83714
Carol Green
President/Founder
ReliefShare.org
Relief Share Director Richard Green loading up a much needed donation - everyone at home office is directly involved with helping.
The weather has turned colder and the need for warm clothing and bedding, especially for babies and children is urgent. Thanks to the hard work of volunteers and donations of supplies and finished items, Relief Share was able to make a donation of a large box of essential items for families in the Ozarks who would otherwise go with out and suffer with the cold.
The donation for the Crisis Center contained:
BABY & TODDLER ITEMS
shirts – 3
pants/overalls – 13
outfits – 13
socks – 11 pair
shoes/booties – 13 pair
receiving blankets – 16
baby blankets – 6
bottles – 5
tops – 11
rattle – 1
onesies/undershirts – 6
pjs/sleepers – 9
snowsuits – 1
crib sheet – 1
jacket – 1
1 ladies sweater as well.
A huge thank you to the donors and volunteers that made this donation possible. It is everyone working together that makes miracles happen.
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org
What floats your boat? (I hope it’s not sinking…)
Posted by: | Comments
Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven.
Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in Heaven.
In today’s world it is hard to keep your nose above water. What floats your boat? What makes you do what you do and think what you think?
Well, the short answer is ‘decisions’. Decisions are affected by two forces, and two forces only. Faith and fear. If you think you can, you can, if you think you can’t you can’t. It really is that simple. Decisions made with faith can be empowering and beneficial to everyone – those are the kind of decisions that lead to volunteering to help charities, offering to give assistance to a neighbor, smiling at strangers out of sheer happiness and wanting to share joy.
There are many many children who don’t have decent parents and many without any parents at all. I see a lot of the sad side of life because of the two national charities my husband and I founded.
It is good to always seek for happy productive people to have in your circle of friends. The sad and bad is out there, but life is a choice and reaching for peace, joy, love and happiness is always the way to find more. What we think about and seek is what we will find as our thoughts become actions and actions create our environment.
Want to be happy and have a seaworthy boat that floats? Volunteer or donate today to a charity of your choice!
If you choose to help us, our address to send donations to is:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
and
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208,
Boise, Idaho 83714
Urgent needs:
Baby items: recieving blankets, baby quilts, clothing, diapers, pacifiers, lotion, etc
sewing and crafting supplies – yarn, fabric, thread, knitting needles, crochet hooks, etc.
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org
Gorgeous hand knit cocoons to snuggle new babies – can you help?
Posted by: | Comments
Baby cocoons also make wonderful gifts for 'little mothers'. This is our youngest ReliefShare volunteer helping us with pictures of the latest cocoon we made.
This week has been fun with darling hand knit baby cocoons donated out to sweet new babies. One cotton/acrylic blend solid pink cocoon with a flower was donated out to a darling new little girl. Another cocoon in purple and blue swirl was donated out to a precious little baby soon to be born. Three hand knit stripe cocoons in blue and brown were donated out to the hospital in Gilbert, Arizona for babies born to families in need.
The most urgent needs right now are for baby items - quilts, receiving blankets, knitted baby cocoons, booties, baby afghans and baby clothing. These smallest of God’s children are helpless and have no way of providing essentials for themselves.
Baby cocoons are requested by the hospitals. One hospital, alone, has asked for 300 baby cocoons. We have been able to knit and donate 100 of the baby cocoons for them thus far for them and another hospital just asked for 100 more. Cocoons are a great item to knit while you are on the go or using spare moments during the day as they are done on size 7 – 16″ circular needles and is very quick and easy. For preemie/newborn sizes, cast on 70 stitches and knit for 16″ then decrease. For newborn size cocoons, cast on 80 stitches, knit for 18″ and decrease. The matching hats for the cocoons are done by casting on 60 stitches, knitting for 4″ and decreasing. Here is a link to the pattern http://www.reliefshare.org/
Relief Share could also really use help with making burial layettes. These are very precious layettes that have a burial gown, bonnet, blanket, and memorial item. The sewing on these special layettes need to be paid special attention to as this is the last little gown that baby will be snuggled in before returning home to Heavenly Father. Here is the pattern: http://www.reliefshare.org/
When the Lord touches your heart to help, many times he guides you to what is most important and will bless your life as you create the items needed. Finding joy in service brings many blessings to the giver as well as the receiver.
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org
Lots of love hidden inside our woven knitted balls…a fun way to help a little bit more!
Posted by: | Comments
Soft woven knitted balls
One of the items that we love to make and donate is our knitted woven balls. These soft fun balls are loved by children and adults alike. Hospitals can use them to help patients who are in rehabilitation from eye surgery, burns or need hand to eye coordination activities to toss and catch the soft knitted ball without getting hurt.
The re-purposed function of the knitted woven balls are that the centers are hollow and you can put things in them without them falling out. We use the plastic containers that the knee high pantihose come in from Wal Mart – we put a jingle bell inside the round plastic containers, permanently glue the small container shut and insert it inside the ball. This makes a baby rattle that moms and babies love. The old folks love to use our balls for their animals to play with, providing hours of entertainment for shut ins.
Relief Share donates to locations all across America, we also donate internationally through other organizations as our combined efforts saves us on shipping and helps them to help others.We like to wind a ball of yarn (you can get whole skeins of yarn wound and fitting inside the balls) and insert them in the balls. When the balls are sent out, particularly to regions of the world who are in short supply of essential materials for necessary goods, the yarn can be taken out and used to knit or crochet mittens, hats, baby layettes, crib blankets, etc and the balls use for play or children, babies and curious adults.
Warning: making the balls is fun and addicting. They are like potato chips, you can’t just eat one. The first one you make will seem frustrating and complicated, but once you get the first one done, they are quick, easy and a pleasure to make. The pattern is free and so are the smiles.
If you would like to help by knitting or crocheting soft balls for the sick and needy, please email info@ReliefShare.org for the pattern. You’ll have fun and will bless the lives of others as well.
- Carol Green
- President
ReliefShare.org - 6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225 - also
- Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, Idaho 83714
How Do I Love Thee, Let Me Count The Ways….re-purposing items for other needs.
Posted by: | Comments
Warn knitted hat - one size fits children and adult
This entry in our blog is bringing attention to the needs of those who are dealing with lack. When we think that an item will be used for a specific purpose, those who have not may use it for our intended purposes, but also have the creativity and inventiveness to re-purpose it for other needs.
We were charmed to see what our knitted hat wound up being used for by a sweet little girl who innocently showed us that there are different ways to look at and use the same things. Thinking outside the box allowed her to spend happy hours caring for her baby doll in a soft cuddly bunting pod, and when it gets cold, she can immediately pop the baby dolls ‘bed’ on her head for a cute warm hat to protect her head from the chilly weather. I guess you could look at it this way – warm weather, it’s a dolly bed – cold weather, it’s a hat.
Attention to detail makes the hat fit better and look nicer
Cute soft baby doll bed, re-purposed hat by a little girl - smart thinking.
Just a few extra minutes with a crochet hook and adding a button really puts that 'touch of love' message to recipients.
If you would like to donate knitted or crocheted hats to help the sick and needy, feel free to use your own patterns or email us at info@ReliefShare.org for our pattern shown above.
Hugs to you – may your heart always be warm, your tummy full and you be willing to help others when the spirit of God touches you to do so.
Carol Green
President
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
or
ReliefShare
6200 N River Pointe Dr c208
Boise, Idaho 83714
Announcing the birth of Cherie Blessings born at Heaven’s Little Gems Nursery!
Posted by: | Comments
Cherie Blessing by Vivian Woolum of Heaven's Little Gems Nursery Boutique
This sweet baby is truly a work of love. Created by Vivian Woolum of Heavens Little Gems Nursery Boutique, she was lovingly created and “born on 9-25-1022 at 12″45 pm. Cherie Blessings weighed in at 5 lbs, 4 oz and is 18 3/4″ long. Vivian donated Cherie to help Relief Share with our charitable efforts.
Reborn babies have blessed the lives of many – collectors, mothers, hospital workers and patients. Holding Cherie in your arms, you wonder at how real she is. Every little hair on her head was hand rooted, as was her eyelashes. She has a ‘real’ baby skin complexion that takes your breath away and any second you expect her eyelashes to flutter and her eyes to open.
Vivian packaged Cherie with a beautiful hand chosen rosebud soft blanket and dressed her with love in a gorgeous one piece outfit. Cherie is wearing a lovely sweater and booties that keep her snuggly warm.
Included with Cherie is pacifiers, a Birth Certificate, darling shoes, a tummy plate, diaper, beautiful smocked bonnet, precious little polka dot knit outfit trimmed with tiny mini pink bows, a hooded sweater and sweet pink booties, and a lovely cream Early Birds one piece outfit over a tiny onesie that is just perfect for her size.
This sweet baby will be used for a visual aid in lectures, work meetings, seminars and presentations. She will also be used to test sizing for the hospital and new mothers baby items as Vivian has made her just the perfect size, weighted like a real baby. The nurses at the hospital enjoy visits with the ‘real’ babies and can use them to help education young mothers on baby care and even help ease the suffering of parents who have had to say goodbye to their little one before even saying a proper hello.
In honor of Vivian Woolum, and with gratitude for her generous donation of Cherie Blessing and her accessories – also the wonderful trims for the little burial gowns that we make for the hospital for infant demise, we have added an name on the birth certificate for Cherie Blessing. She is now ‘Vivian Cherie Blessing’.
The name she shall be called by henceforth will be “Vivian”. Each time we say her name and allow her to be used for charitable purposes, we will express our gratitude through using her name for the lovely lady who saw the need, filled the need and blessed many hearts through using her God given gift as a master reborn artist to help others.
Many times we are asked for the source of our donations, as folks want to purchase a similar item. We are pleased to share with you Vivian Woolum’s contact information so you will be able to have a reborn baby doll of your very own, made by an expert in the field.
Heaven's Little Gems Nursery Boutique
Donations out – families and individuals getting help they need through generous donors.
Posted by: | Comments
Unconditional love in action - charity work.
Relief Share has been very busy week this week.. It is wonderful to see donations like the tide, flowing in and out with a beautiful rhythm of love.
Donations out -
Donation 1 (organization that helps sick and needy)- 260 sweaters and t-shirts, 60 preemie afghans, 600 items of baby clothing, 100 bottles and nipples, 200 pounds of fabric, afghans, blankets, hats, booties, burial layettes, buntings, gowns, washcloths, cocoons, toys, 6 baby quilts and sewing supplies.
Donation 2 (for a family) – barrel of wheat, toys, puzzles, books, office supplies, clothing, suitcase, books, figurines, blankets, sweaters, t-shirts, fabric, yarn, sewing supplies, tapes
Donation 3 (for a family) – 2 large bags of sweaters, 3 boxes of food, toys, books, household items
Donation 4 (hospital) – burial layettes, 15 preemie afghans, hats, booties, baby clothing, diapers, bottles, wet wipes
Donation 5 (for a family) – food, clothing, bean bag chair
Donation 6 (for a family) – donation out, boxes of food, cases of honey
Donation 7 (for an individual) – fabric and sweaters
Donation 8 (for an individual) – fabric, food, sweaters
Donation 9 (for a family) – baby clothing and accessories
Donation 10 (for an individual) -baby clothing and blankets
It is through the generous donations from donors and volunteers of their time, talents, goods, money and love that makes miracles possible. May everyone feel hope, peace, light and love this week as we are blessed and in turn bless others.
All donations are accepted to bless the lives of the sick and needy. Items should be new or nearly new and in good condition. Our volunteers do their best to clean and repair donations but it is nice when they arrive already tidy, in working condition and clean 
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org
417-260-2500
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, ID 83714
Baby donations. With your help, there are soft cuddly snuggly fed babies!
Posted by: | Comments
.
A much needed donation went out to the hospital. It was only possible through our wonderful donors and volunteers. Thank you so much.
13 crocheted afghans – 3 pink, 2 blue, 4 white, 2 cream, 1 yellow, 1 green
6 receiving blankets
15 fleece blankets with crocheted edges
2 packages of pampers disposable diapers
1 package of wet wipes for baby
4 large bottles – baby lotion, 2 baby oil, 1 wash/shampoo
1 pair of pacifiers – blue , 6 hats
The hospital is in need of pacifiers for the babies. If you have new, sealed in the package pacifiers you would like to donate to help soothe the babies, it is greatly appreciated. We also donated out the last of the diapers, baby lotion, baby oil, shampoo and wet wipes and baby quilts. A trip to the dollar store or other shopping center and putting in a box to ship to us would be a huge blessing to frightened young mothers worried because they have nothing for their babies. If you could see the looks of relief on their faces as they sit in the homeless shelters or crisis centers when given donations of love from strangers who care, you would know how much your efforts are needed and appreciated.
God answers many prayers through those who serve him here below. A gift of sleepers, onesies and a soft afghan brought huge smiles and bright happy tears from a mom who really didn’t know what she was going to do. Her little one is so beautiful – a precious gift of a son from Heavenly Father, and we can be partners with God as we help bless a new baby’s life in the beginning of his journey here on earth.
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Donations through paypal help us purchase items that we can’t sew, knit or crochet. Bottles, wipes, pacifiers, formula – all these things need to be provided. Our paypal address is info@ReliefShare.org if you would care to send a donation, and all donations are tax deductible. Simply click the button below and donate whatever amount your heart tells you to. A baby is helpless and pure – you can make sure baby’s start in life is a good one with warm clothing and blankets, food and hygiene supplies. Thank you for caring.
The windows of heaven open and donations pour down for the sick and needy!
Posted by: | Comments
Sewing cloth mama pads
What a wonderful time we are having at Relief Share to take care of the sick and needy. In under a week we have donated out 15 lap afghans to the wheelchair bound, boxes and bags of clothing and bedding to the sick and needy, and toys to the children who need them. Donations going out this week is a truckload of sweaters and t-shirts to Missouri residents (some of them survivors of the Joplin tornado), boppies to nursing mothers, baby cocoons to the hospital and new mothers in the area, baby clothing to 3 soon to be babies, pacifiers to the hospital, afghans, blankets, infant burial layettes, dolls and toys, books for the homebound to read and more.
Relief Share has been blessed with very generous donations of fabrics that just came in. The boxes are filled with the most delicious scrumptious high quality fabric that our volunteers are over the moon with. One of the directors kept exclaiming, “Do you know what fabric this is? It’s the very best! Oh my gosh, I LOVE this designer…come see the fabric colors! WOW, this fabric is so soft and dreamy, I can’t wait to get it sewn up for the hospital, it’s perfect for the preemie babies.”
Yes, I listed to nearly an hour of folks thrilled with the fabric sent for our sick and needy. I can’t thank the wonderful donor enough. Everyone is so grateful for her knowledge of fabric and willingness to share it with us to help those who desperately need the items that will be made.
May God bless her as plentifully and generously as she has blessed the most helpless and needy of His children. She is truly his hands and feet here on the earth answering fervent prayers for needed essentials for the babies and their families.
Donations arriving
Boxes of much needed new baby clothing has also arrived from a wonderful long time donor, Terry W. The timing was perfect, as usual, as requests for help had just been documented when her boxes showed up with everything in them for the babies. Marianne C. has sent beautiful preemie afghans for the little ones in the hospital and Shirley B made the most beautiful little burial gowns that are so precious and appreciated. Roberta M. always sends the prettiest blankets with gorgeous crocheted trim and lovely crocheted afghans along with dollies for the little ones in the hospital that love a dolly to snuggle with. Her donations are carefully and lovingly packed with the greatest of care. J. W. blesses us with lovely fabrics that are just perfect for the quilts we make for families to snuggle under. Our volunteers love working with them.
We were also blessed by a sweet lady who was willing to trade some of her yarn stash with us for supplies we didn’t need so we would have the yarn needed to knit baby cocoons, hats, booties and chemo hats and prayer shawls. Yarn is always in short supply and we are so grateful for donations of yarn of any kind and color. It’s fun when white or cream wool yarn is donated and we can color it with koolaide in the microwave for permanent coloring to make fun kids print colors.
It takes all of us working together to help answer God’s call to serve his most helpless and needy children. Great blessings are in store for those who answer the spirit’s whisperings.
All donations can be sent to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, ID 83714 or 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225. Do you know this is the same address we have had for 2 decades now? In a world that is constantly changing, it is nice to know some things don’t change. Our love for God’s children will never change and our efforts on their behalf will never cease. Your efforts combined with ours create miracles. Thank you so much.
unraveling sweaters to get yarn to knit into baby cocoons
What kind of donations are needed?
Supplies:
Sewing – fabric, thread, scissors, rotary cutters, blades, rulers, snaps, pins, needles, patterns, templates, sergers, sewing machines, etc
Knitting and crocheting – yarn (all kinds all colors), knitting needles (circular 16″ size 7 the most but all circular and straight needles, dpns) stitch counters, yarn winders, swifts, spinning wheels, patterns, books, crochet hooks, etc
Tatting – tatting shuttles, patterns, books, threads
Quilting – fabric, templates, quilters basting gun, batting (a huge need), books, patterns, etc
Embroidery – thread, hoops, patterns, books, fabric
Smocking – pleater, pleating needles, batiste, quilting thread, embroidery and kreinik thread
Office supplies – paper, envelopes, cards, pens, TP, wet wipes, canon ink. digital camera (a huge need).
new and gently used baby and childrens clothing.
basic essentials – hygiene items, shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner, combs, brushes, toothpaste, underwear (all sizes) etc.
Baby items: diaper bags, bottles, pacifiers (a huge need – all kinds for the hospital), baby oil, shampoo, lotion, diaper rash, wet ones, cloth and disposable diapers, toys, cribs, bassinets, monitors, sheets, blankets, afghans, hats.
We address a great deal of needs. Any donation that is sent is used to bless the lives of the sick and needy. All donations are accepted with a tax deductible receipt when requested.
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org
Infant demise burial layette sets – so important.
Posted by: | Comments
Burial layettes
It is an honor and a privilege to be able to provide God’s tiniest children with a much needed last layette set to ‘go home to Heavenly Father’ in. It is also one of the most difficult and emotional activities for volunteers to work on. Relief Share is grateful to the small handful of volunteers who dedicate their time and efforts to preparing and providing infant demise gowns, hats, booties, blankets, TY beanie baby lambs, bears and deer, momento items and more. We have many volunteers, but the ones who are involved in our infant demise program are few in number. It takes a special love for God’s tiniest children and a knowledge of what the families are going through to – and this usually comes from sad experience.
Burial layettes
A humble thank you to those who have made this current donation to the St Alphonsus Foundation for the hospital possible. This particular donation to the hospital was a combination of efforts from LDS Humanitarian Services and Relief Share. Networking with other charities brings a synergy to our charitable efforts so that the number of intended burial layettes wound up being 3 times as many. Also included were gorgeous machine embroidered burp cloths and beautiful baby diaper bags made by Sara J. – one of our generous donors who just blessed us with a very large donation of gorgeous fabric to work with for the sick and needy. She is very talented as well as generous!
May God comfort the broken hearts of the families who have to say goodbye to their little ones before they have had a chance to say a proper hello. Our prayers go out for those suffering from infant death and our love for them is in every stitch sewn in these beautiful tiny layettes.
Burial layettes
If you would like to help with the supplies for these layettes, we are in need of more TY Beanie Baby lambs, deer, and bears to include in the sets, we also need knitted, crocheted, serged and sewn layette items such as newborn and preemie hats, bonnets, gowns, booties, blankets, afghans and more. It is also wonderful to receive finished items to be included in the burial layette sets.
Burial layettes
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org
Log Cabin ‘strip piecing’ ‘rotary cutter’ ‘serger friendly’ quilt pattern – FREE
Posted by: | Comments
log cabin quilt
How does the title for this blog post hit you? That tells you how long and hard I have been searching the net to find a very simple quick log cabin quilt block pattern – one that beginners and experts alike will love.
This is a very fast and easy pattern to do. The two best websites I found tutorial patterns on are these:
http://www.quiltingassistant.com/logcabinblock.html
http://www.cabins-r-us.com/log-cabin-quilt-block-pattern.html
This quilt can be made very easily with strips of fabric. If you want to do a quilt-as-you-go quilt, sew the block on a backing of muslin with batting on top and use binding to put the squares together. This method is used in the Quilt in a Day quilt books that can be bought on half.com – one of my all time favorite quilting books by Eleanor Burns, a marvelous expert quilter:
http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ972661
Use a jelly roll (strips of fabric you can purchase at Wal Mart or other fabric stores) or use up the left over fabric you have from other projects. Your serger and rotary cutter can make sewing this quilt even faster and easier.
Relief Share has been blessed with very generous donations of fabric and supplies this past week. Ray Cox has sent many boxes of bolts of quilting fabric that are already being made up into quilts for the sick and needy. Books and a rotary rulers were also included in his boxes of love honoring his sweet wife, Debra. Her legacy of love for the sick and needy goes on through Ray’s continuing efforts to answer God’s call to help the helpless and lift up the hearts and hands that hang down from trial and adversity. The smiles on the faces of mothers who now have warm quilts and clothing for their precious bundles are the badges of honor shining brightly to mark Debra and Ray’s hard work and dedication to alleviate suffering and bless the lives of the sick and and needy.
Our Relief Share angel, who wishes to remain anonymous, sent a lovely box of orange and red quilters fabric that our volunteers fell in love with. This sweet angel seems to have a direct pipeline to heaven and manages to time her donations perfectly depending on what the most urgent need is. A box of yarn arrived from Placentia, California that is just perfect for our baby hats, cocoons, and layettes. Other donations of lace, ribbon, and sewing, knitting, crochet and serging tools also arrived to help us move forward faster with our charity work.
If you would like to help the sick and needy, please send donations to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr., C208, Boise, Idaho 83714, also 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225. The greatest need is in Boise at this time so that is the preferred address to ship to. Most of the need in Houston is for baby items and hygiene goods, in Boise we are helping families and a larger number of people. All times of any kind – new or gently used is gratefully accepted. Clean out your closets for a good cause. All donations are tax deductible as Relief Share is a 501 (c) 3 non profit charity registered with the IRS.
May God bless you as you bless others
Carol C Green
President
info@ReliefShare.org
U-nitt.com -
Posted by: | Comments
Thanks to Julie at U-nitt.com, Relief Share will be able to help more sick and needy babies in the hospital with hats, baby cocoons, blankets, layette items and booties. We will also be able to make more hats for chemo patients, lap afghans for the wheelchair bound, knitted and crocheted blankets for Shriners Childrens Hospital and many other hospitals and keep little ones and their families snuggled in hand made items knitted or crocheted for them with love by Relief Share volunteers.
A huge thank you to U-nitt.com for your recent generous gift of discounted jumbo high speed yarn winders and donated knitting needles (circulars, straights and double pointed) and crochet hooks to the Relief Share. Your commitment to helping the sick and needy we serve weather the crises in their lives is appreciated by those who help them and, most importantly, by the most helpless who benefit from our services.
yarn winder
With the use of the yarn winders and knitting and crochet tools, our volunteers can spend more time actually working on the items needed instead of winding the yarn by a slower method or waiting for their turn to use the tools needed to create blankets, booties, hats and other items desperately needed. With the cold weather approaching, the need for warm clothing and bedding escalates as a warm blanket can mean the difference to a tiny baby of shivering in the cold and dealing with illness, even death or thriving, with their energy going for healing and growing instead of just trying to stay warm. Time is of the essence when the need is so great, and U-nitt.com is providing a very important donation to help our volunteers fill the need faster and more efficiently.
Thanks to donors like U-nitt.com, the Relief Share has provided many children and families needed items to stay warm, cuddled and happy to thrive and not just survive and now will continue to do so in a more efficient, effective and timely manner.
If you haven’t already visited U-nitt.com you need to do so – it is a wonderful site filled with quality merchandise and the customer service is second to none. U-nitt bamboo knitting needles are made of Moso bamboo, the tallest and biggest bamboo species in the world. Their selection process allows them to use only the part right under the skin of the bamboo, which is the hardest. Bamboo is a fast renewable resource and their craftsmen make it possible for knitters to enjoy the smooth, warm touch and the effortless knitting experience while contributing to our environment.
U-nitt.com bamboo knitting needles are produced with zero chemicals and are hand-crafted and polished to a nice and velvety patina finish that lasts for years. Each needle is laser printed with US and metric sizes, and each pack is in a resealable vinyl sleeve. You will enjoy using these fine products for years to come.
Bamboo needles and hooks - a dream to work with.
All U-nitt.com needles are covered under a one-year warranty against any breakage during normal use.
They also have a valuable selection of wool/ball/yarn winders. You can check them out on the yarn winders page. We LOVE our high speed jumbo yarn winder – it was very busy yesterday at the work meeting! We got a lot of yarn wound into center pull balls for the volunteers to use and it was so much fun to do.
Again, thank you U-nitt.com for all you do for our organization.
Carol C Green
President
ReliefShare.org
Info@ReliefShare.org
Relief Share infant demise burial gown.
Posted by: | Comments
Relief Share infant demise burial gown
This is a simple, quick and easy pattern for infant demise burial gowns that are in short supply right now and very much needed.
The pattern is easy to size down to micro preemie and up all the way to newborn or even toddler. A casing at the neck with narrow elastic inside is what allows the gowns to be used for multiple sizing. The gown closure can be a snap, ties, velcro or buttons. Only one or two are needed down the back, which is completely open for easy dressing of the baby.
Lace or trim can be added. For little girls we use lace and rosebuds with ribbon and for the little boys, rick rack is added.
Material such as flannel, soft minky, cotton or other soft cuddly fabrics are used to create the little gowns. A bonnet, booties, blanket or cocoon is added to create the baby’s layette. When available, we add a soft toy such as a Ty Fleece Beanie Baby for a momento for mom and dad.
These beautiful little gowns are an honor to sew for these sweet babies who only need one last layette for them to be snuggled in. The pattern can be downloaded here: http://www.smocking.org/files/nt7n_weecare_program1.pdf IMPORTANT NOTICE: SAGA provides this Wee Care Program free of charge for your use for the donations of gowns to hospitals for the express purpose of bereavement. Any other use is a violation of the Copyright.
Instead of smocking the gown, simply gather it. You can use less fabric for a gown that is not as gathered. The hospitals are always very grateful for these burial gowns. If you would like to make and donate burial gowns to Relief Share, please send them to:
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, Idaho 83714
Summer is a great time to look around and see how you can help!
Posted by: | Comments
Volunteer kindness - it's love in action!
Summertime tends to be a more relaxed time when we can enjoy the sunshine and take a look around to see how we can make a difference in the world. We always try to leave a place better than we found it and the earth is very much in need of those who care and do what they can to alleviate suffering and help those in need and in crisis.
Everyone has gifts and talents. We all have something we can offer each other to make life gentler, easier, more precious and kinder. What is your gift? Sewing? Crochet or knitting? Embroidery? Quilting? Tending children? Writing? Baking? Organizing? Leadership? Making others feel better about themselves? You see, there are as many wonderful gifts from God to each of us as there are God’s children here in our earthly family. Take some time today to think about how you can share your special gift with others.
Volunteers have been working hard to help others. This week boxes of much needed donations have come in filled with finished items, supplies, and love. Many donations have gone out to those who are sick and needy and they express gratitude for the help. Thank you so much to those who share from the heart what they have with those who so desperately need it.
Current projects:
- queen and baby size quilts – for the hospital and shelters
- wool dryer balls (these can save the average family approx $240 a year)
- knit hairbands for refugee children
- baby cocoons and hats for the hospital
- soft toys for refugee and homeless children
- infant burial layettes
- baby items such as diaper bags, totes, layettes, booties, hats, sweaters, onesies, cloth diapers, hygiene items (soap, lotion, rash ointment, conditioner), bottles, feeding pillows
- baby ribbon taggie blankets and toys
- backpacks with school supplies
- tote bags for foster children
- baby afghans
- prayer shawls for cancer patients
- knitted and crocheted hats for chemo patients
Some of the supplies most needed right now are: a Kam Snap press, Kam Snaps (all colors), PUL fabric for diaper covers, fabric (flannel, cotton, knit, woven, any kind, kids print), elastic for diapers, velcro, thread, sewing tools, quilting tools, crochet and knitting supplies and needles and hooks, yarn – any kind, smocking supplies, trim, lace, ribbon roses (burial layettes), ribbon (we need lots of washable ribbon of all widths, colors and patterns for the taggie blankets), USM knitting machine, claw weights, swift for making skeins into center pull balls of yarn, yarn winders, wool yarn for dryer balls, baby longies and hats and blankets.
May your summer be a fun and wonderful one, filled with friends and family and may you bless others as you enjoy all that God has given you. You may want to donate supplies to help volunteers make what is needed, or make items yourself and send them to us to distribute. You may want to help by sending funds to help us ship items to where they are needed to go or purchase needed items. You can donate through paypal by sending your donation to info@reliefshare.org or send a check or money order as well as boxes of donations to:
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208,
Boise, Idaho 83714
or
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
All donations are tax deductible. We are grateful for everyone doing what they can to help us help others
God bless you,
Carol C Green
President
www.ReliefShare.org
info@ReliefShare.org
Summer charity work at Relief Share – join in the fun!
Posted by: | Comments
Love in action - working together.
We are all enjoying the summer and being very productive. Lots of full size quilts, baby cocoons, dryer balls, soft toys, baby layettes, burial layettes, afghans, baby quilts, hats, booties, taggie blankets and more have been made and donated out to the sick and needy.
Volunteers are asking for easier access to our patterns online so we will be working on making a pattern section for folks to use in our charity work. Input is welcomed so we can make it easy, fun and quick to find the patterns you are looking for.
Thank you letters have come in from various hospitals, organizations and individuals for donations received, expressing gratitude to the volunteers for all our hard work. It’s so nice to be appreciated and know what we are doing is wanted and needed.
A big thank you to our wonderful donors who have sent and delivered fabric, batting, yarn, sewing supplies, finished items and quilting books. With everyone working together, miracles happen.
Carol Green
President
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208,
Boise, Idaho 83714
Donations in – receiving blankets, stuffed toys, toothbrushes…
Posted by: | CommentsWhat a relief – we LOVE getting the donations in for the sick and needy. When our shelves get bare as donations are all distributed, we take a deep breath in and say a heartfelt prayer that before the next request for help comes in there will be donations to fill them…and then we hit the work room and start sewing, knitting, quilting and crocheting like mad!
Receiving blankets donated by Sylvia Gonzales of Angel Cover Ministry
Sweet stuffed toys, toothbrushes and floss from Jan & Butch
This weekend we received beautiful receiving blankets, stuffed toys, toothbrushes, floss, burial gowns, household goods, baby clothing, toys, books, yarn, fabric, sewing supplies, batting, baby cocoons, totes and waterbottles.
We are delighted to share that the donations are already distributed and the sewing supplies used to make more.
Thank you so much for your love and sharing. God has commanded us to be a blessing to each other and we joyfully obey his will in bringing relief to the sick and needy through sharing our time, talents, love and funds.
Think about all the blessings you have and what you would do if they were all gone. The tornado victims were stripped of everything they had in a very short time. Gone were the beds and warm bedding, clothing and hygiene items, no longer there were the children’s toys, books to read or even a high chair to feed the baby in.
Can you really enjoy what you have when you know others are suffering and have lack? Yes, you can, but only if you share what you don’t need or want with them.
De-clutter your home for a good cause. It lightens your load as we don’t really own possessions, they are just on loan from God and we are stewards, but if we have too many possessions – they own us as we lose energy and time shuffling them from place to place with no real need for them.
If you are saving things for a rainy day, I have to tell you it’s pouring right now for those in need. Give relief through sharing. Put three boxes down as you work to clear your home. One for putting away, one for throwing out and one for charity. When the charity box is full, put a label on it and send it to: Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe, E302, Boise, Idaho 83714. Include your name, email address and mailing address so we can send you a tax deductible receipt for your kind and much needed donation.
There isn’t anything we don’t take – all is needed as we handle requests for assistance from all walks of life – hospitals, crisis centers, homeless shelters, refugee centers, animal shelters and individuals who need help. Items should be clean, new or gently used.
May you all have a wonderful week and enjoy all God has given you.
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
www.ReliefShare.org
Angel Wing Burial gowns
Posted by: | Comments
Angel Wing Burial Gown
There are times our love and sewing skills are called upon for the most tenderest of times. When a family loses their infant – when they have to say goodbye before they get a chance to say hello and share their world with the new arrival- our help is needed in providing one last tiny gown, bonnet, blanket and memorial item to help ease the pain and send the little one back to the arms of God.
Our children are only on loan from our loving Heavenly Father for a time. Some of us only get to have them for a very short while and it can be very difficult to deal with the separation.
Relief Share provides Angel Wing Burial gowns, designed by one of our special volunteers, Dot Fulton. Dot has since gone home to Heavenly Father herself, but every time a little Angel Wing Burial gown is sewn and donated, she is fondly remembered as one of the kindest sweetest ladies whose love for the babies lives on with each gown donated to help another grieving mother. These gowns were made because of requests from the hospital for a gown with sleeves that made it easy to dress baby for burial. This burial layette fits a tiny baby that weighs about 2 to 3 pounds. Mothers and fathers were so grateful for volunteers who showed love for a stranger by providing something that you couldn’t get no matter how much money you have.
These gowns were sewn by a sweet volunteer in Boise, Idaho. She added binding to the neck and sleeves as these are for little boys. When we make the gowns for little girls, there is lace added to the neckline, hem and sleeves – sometimes tatted by hands who love the babies and their families, too.
A thank you letter from a major hospital states:
- “We want to thank you for your kind donation of burial layettes. They are so beautiful. The colors are so pretty, you can certainly tell a lot of love and effort went into the creation of these lovely outfits. We make every effort to make the grieving process as painless as possible. The beauty and caring workmanship of the outfits are a comfort to the bereaved family. Hopefully this makes the memories a little less painful. Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.”
Love in action seems to be the only healing power in many cases for overcoming the pain of loss suffered by those experiencing the death of an infant. The gift of a tiny burial gown for a grieving mother or father is so gratefully received. When families feel the most vulnerable and powerless, a burial layette, provided by caring hands and loving hearts is God’s strongest witness that He lives and loves us.
We can be the miracle in someone else’s life today.
Ask yourself: “If not me, then who? If not now, then when?”
Please don’t wait another day, reach out to those who need YOU!
If you would like to help by making burial layettes or sending fabric, trim and supplies to help us make them, we would love it.
President Carol Green
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr E302
Boise, Idaho 83714
What a wonderful day – thank you all so much!
Posted by: | Comments
Together we can make a wonderful difference!
Hugs
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org – you can help!
www.ReliefShare.org/wordpress/
Dead in Joplin from tornado now at 150. Thank you so much for your help for them.
Posted by: | Comments
An emergency worker carries a girl out of Academy Sports.
http://www.godvine.com/Man-Sacrifices-His-Life-to-Save-his-Wife-From-a-Tornado-453.html
As we go about our daily lives, we need to remember those whose lives were torn from them in the tornado. It’s not over for them. One step in front of the other, one minute at a time – they need our continued love and support.
Thank you to all of you who are sending batting, clothing, hygiene items and sewing supplies to Relief Share.
Our volunteers are working around the clock to make quilts to keep folks warm – in many cases that is all the bedding they have.
We are also making baby taggie comfort blankets and can use all widths of ribbon at least 4″ wide (a great way to use up the left overs from crafting).
Supplies needed: Quilt batting – queen size or larger (we can cut it down for smaller sizes when needed). Fabric – cotton (great for the all purpose, all ages, quilts), knit, minky, chenille, flannel, velour (think soft and cuddly for the babies and small children), ribbon – wide, medium and narrow widths for burial gowns and taggie blankets for babies, sewing and serger thread, yarn for baby cocoons, blankets and hats, knitting and crochet needles, quilting supplies, hygiene items like shampoo, soap, deodorant, combs, brushes, toothpaste, toothbrushes, etc, tote bags for refugees, baby clothing, diapers, bottles, pacifiers (anything a baby needs). Anything you send will be put to good use. All donations are tax deductible.
May God bless everyone and keep them safe and comforted.
Soft hugs,
Carol Green – info@ReliefShare.org – you can help!
donation shipping address:
Relief Share,
6200 N River Pointe Dr E302,
Boise, Idaho 83714
www.ReliefShare.org
www.ReliefShare.org/wordpress/
If you wish to donate funds to help with purchasing what is needed for the sick and afflicted, our paypal address is info@ReliefShare.org – please make a note of your email address so we can send you a thank you letter and tax deductible receipt.
Relief Share maximizes efforts by working with others.
Posted by: | Comments
LDS Humanitarian Work Room
Relief Share maximizes our efforts by working with other established charities. Many times we have what they need to provide for the sick and needy and there are many benefits to working together to be able to reach out farther and more efficiently to meet the needs of those who are in crisis, sick or needing help.
Recently Relief Share volunteers have been thrilled to work with LDS Humanitarian Services, and we invite all to come & enjoy the blessings of service at the work room in Boise, Idaho. The work room is open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm and is always filled with happy productive volunteers guided by the kind & knowledgeable director, Karol Stokes. You will be sure to have a wonderful experience knitting, sewing, serging & quilting for the sick & needy.
Batting donation
We received two large shipments of batting recently – the first donation was 90 yards of batting and was used within 1 1/2 hours. The wonderful donors who gave so generously of their funds to relieve the suffering of those who need their help are such a blessing to the sick and needy. Thank you so much to those who are putting their love in action.
Relief Share just delivered another large shipment of batting on Thursday and it won’t last much longer. More batting is on the way…and we need more still. With the tornadoes, natural disasters and needs of the refugees, homeless and those in crisis – quilts are very important.
If you would like to donate batting (90″ wide is best), please ship it to:
Relief Share
6200 N River Pointe Dr E302
Boise, ID 93714
Batting donation
If you would like to donate funds to purchase batting, we have donated coupons to get the batting at cheaper pricing. We accept cash, checks, money orders, credit cards and paypal. Paypal donations can be sent to info@ReliefShare.org – if you need more information or assistance in making a donation, please email us at info@ReliefShare.org
Pictures speak a thousand words – here are the pictures of the batting donations we received and pictures of the LDS Humanitarian Work rooms where we love to spend most of our time working on behalf of the sick and needy.
Batting donation
Batting donation
Here are some of the volunteers and the quilts they have made for the sick and needy. What wonderful caring people, it is a pleasure to work with them and feel of their love for all of God’s children.
Volunteers come in all sizes and ages!
Happily engaged in a good cause!
Spring cleaning – does it fill you with dread or elation?
Posted by: | Comments
Spring cleaning for Relief Share.
Spring cleaning – does it fill you with dread or elation? It used to be a time of drudgery, wishing we were somewhere else and wanting the chores to be over. Not any more!
It is spring. Birds are singing, babies are being born, the earth is shaking off her dormancy of winter and bursting forth in blissful colors and sounds. It is a wonderful time to be alive and share what we have with others.
De-cluttering will lighten your load, make your heart sing with freedom and put a smile on your face in knowing you are helping others – with the “trash to treasure” mentality. What clogged your closets, littered your counters and made laundry day a form of torture can be blessing the lives of others who desperately need what you don’t want.
Clean out your closets and homes for a good cause! Here’s how:
1. Line up 4 boxes beside the area that you decide to tackle first. Box one – things you want to keep and store for later use, box two – things you are throwing out, box three – things you are currently using and want to have easy access to; and box four – things you are donating (recycling and re-using useful items keep our landfills free and earths resources not wasted).
2. Set your timer for 15 minutes, take a deep breath and start filling those boxes. For more details on the 15 minute approach, visit www.flylady.com - a wonderful website that has saved the sanity of lots of folks wanting to have a clean house and de-clutter but didn’t know where to start or how to do it.
3. Do NOT tackle the entire house in one day. Choose one area at a time – the craft, hobby, and art room is where we would love you to start Bedrooms are another wonderful place to clean out.
4. The boxes filled with new or gently used items can simply be labeled and mailed to: Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr E302, Boise, ID 83714. All donations are tax deductible and each donor will receive a thank you letter with a tax receipt. We accept anything and everything because the requests we receive for help address all situations of lack, sickness and need.
Recent donations in and out have been quilts, blankets, baby clothing, children’s and adult clothing, books, toys, fabric, yarn, sewing supplies, thread, machinery, sewing machines, sergers, knitting and crochet needles, quilting supplies, jewelry, kitchen supplies, and more. Donations that are not needed directly for immediate needs can be used for fundraisers to pay for shipping, medical expenses, items needed, etc. but most of the donations are given directly to the sick and needy.
Our number one urgent need right now is for batting to make quilts. Next to that is baby supplies – diapers, receiving blankets, clothing, hygiene items, hats, socks, undershirts, soft toys, bottles, and diaper bags – anything a baby could use. Next in line is sewing, knitting, crocheting, crafting, quilting and spinning supplies and equipment.
Recent recipients have included St. Alphonsus Hospital System, LDS Humanitarian Center, families with newborn babies who needed basic essential supplies, adults with medical conditions (blindness, tumors, cancer), refugees, and those who are caught in the economic downturn or natural disasters that are struggling with the lack of essentials like food and clothing.
YOU CAN HELP! Turn your unwanted items into much needed treasures by simply giving relief through sharing. There will probably be many boxes to share. Simply pop a box or two in the mail every week, it’s easier on the budget this way and we can go through it and get it donated out easier if it doesn’t come all at once, but if you need to send it all at once, that’s okay, too – we have garage and storage space to process it and volunteers ready and waiting to make sure everything goes out as quickly as possible to those anxiously waiting for help.
May your spring season be rewarding and blissful and after de-cluttering, may you enjoy the song of the birds, the beautiful flowers and trees and the wonderful feeling of knowing that your compassionate sharing is blessing the lives of others. Thank you for all the continuing support, together we are alleviating suffering and lifting up the hearts and hands of those who lack and need not only the items missing, but love from their fellowman in their time of need.
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org – email
ReliefShare.org – static website
ReliefShare.org/wordpress – ongoing updates on our blog
We are also on facebook Spread the word and share the love!
Love in Action – just what does that mean?
Posted by: | Comments
Unto the least of these....
Relief Share believes in ‘love in action’. For many of us, that means a lot of different things. Some of the ways we show love are by honoring those who we love and care for, doing good for them and helping them. We show love to our neighbors by serving them and treating them as we would have them treat us – with kindness. We show our love for our fellow men by setting a good example and sharing what we have with them.
Who is our neighbor, our fellow man? Acts 17:26 says “And [He] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation.” God has made of one blood all of the nations of the earth, we are one family – our brothers and sisters and our neighbors. Jesus has told us that we should ‘love one another’ and that we should even love our enemies. This means to love everyone (though not partaking of their sins) but loving them enough to help when help is needed.
We learn to love by forgetting ourselves and by doing good things for other people. We learn to love those we serve. Love is the sugar of life. The more love we have in our lives and the farther we extend our love to others, the sweeter and more agreeable live becomes.
We would like to recognize some of the people who are the sweet sugar in the lives of those who need help. Their donations have been a huge blessing to many.
Janet – your donation of supplies, fabric, yarn and ongoing support have helped the babies in hospitals, homeless shelters, crisis centers, medical centers, foster homes and refugee shelters. You have literally helped thousands of children, there is a special star in heaven for you.
Marianne and Michael – the beautiful little crocheted preemie blankets cover many tiny babies in the hospital. There is so much love crocheted into every single afghan. What a blessing your kindness is to the babies and their families.
Natalie – 41 pounds of the most gorgeous cone yarn is being made into baby cocoons, baby blankets, afghans, chemo hats, layettes, soft toys and sweaters. What a generous and much needed donation. Thank you so much.
Kathorine – gorgeous baby quilts, lovely soft warm cuddly baby cocoons, supplies, incredible alpaca yarn and fibre, drop spindles, amazing gifts of love. Some of the alpaca yarn you sent has been made into the most darling sweater for a little toddler, it is so soft and cuddly. The baby items have been donated out to refugees from Haiti and Africa and to the local hospitals and shelters. So much love is stitched into every baby quilt, you are greatly appreciated.
Terry – gorgeous brand new snow suits for those who are shivering and cold. It is a precious daughter of God who would think of those in other climates when our own climate becomes warmer, the 8 snow suits have gone out to Japan, where the weather turned colder after the tsunami and mothers huddled with tiny babies needing warm clothing. Now you know that 8 of them are warm and snuggly because of your love! The beautiful little preemie sleepers have been donated to the sick and needy along with the other gifts you have sent!
Gina – your pacifiers came just in time. A little girl was upset as her last paci went missing. Tears turned to smiles as the pretty paci that was just the right shape was popped in her mouth and a huge hug of thank you given. (I love it when I get the hugs from the children we love so much The donated yarn and fabric is being made into dresses, diaper bags, totes, soft toys, blankets, quilts, baby carriers, cocoons, hats, jumpers and clothing for the children. Some of our volunteers don’t have supplies or means to get them, but are happy to give service and sew, knit, crochet, tat, serge and craft for the sick and needy.
Jennifer & Kurt – the computer parts and laptop tote bag you donated was gratefully accepted by a sweet blind man. Household goods, clothing and toys have been donated to LDS Humanitarian Services, Idaho Thrift Ranch, NAC, the hospital, and needy individuals. Cleaning out your closets for a good cause and donating your excess is a beautiful way to share with those who need what you have. Thank you so much.
Kathleen – Not only did you donate much needed yarn, but you went the extra mile and sent squares for our volunteers to crochet together into afghans to snuggle the babies and needy in love. What a wonderful thing to do!
Marla – Oh, Marla, you are so unselfish and kind. Thank you so much for your ongoing love and very generous gifts that bless so many lives. Words escape me as I attempt to express my personal gratitude for decades of service, support and donations. I would pray that God would walk with you but I already knows he is there for every step you take. Your donations of your mother’s sewing and craft supplies on her passing are such a huge blessing to so many people.
There are so many more donors and volunteers – it is impossible to thank them all, but know that each and every act of kindness and generosity is recorded by the angels and carefully noticed by our Heavenly Father who loves us all. Please accept a very grateful thank you from all of us at Relief Share and know that we are glad you are on our team.
So many lives count on the kindness and generosity of others, each act of kindness is like a tiny drop of water that ripples out on the pond of life. Know that God loves each one of us, know that YOU matter (even if your name was not mentioned here, it is certainly recorded in our records and engraved on the heart that matters).
What kind of help is needed?
Donations of yarn (all kinds) , sewing supplies, knitting needles, crochet hooks, tatting shuttles and needles, sewing machines, sergers, spinning wheels, yarn winders, scissors, cutting boards, rotary cutters, fabric (all kinds), patterns, craft supplies, beads, embroidery floss, unfinished kits (these are used to help teach the youth, young mothers and aged crafting skills).
Donations of office supplies – stamps (a big need), paper, pens, pencils, markers, post it notes, etc.
Donations of funds – this is used to help with medical expenses for the sick, purchasing supplies that are not donated, shipping and other urgent cases.
Donations of finished goods: baby clothing, afghans, blankets, household goods, pacifiers, bottles, formula, diapers (cloth or disposable), hygiene items (soap, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair brushes, toiletries, baby diaper rash lotion, etc), diaper bags, tote bags, walker bags, lap robes, chemo hats. Everything can be new or gently used. These are just a few items mentioned. There is no donation we turn away, we have a place for all that is donated in.
Donations of items for fundraising. Please state that the items you are sending are to be used for fundraising. Unless specifically stated, all donations are used directly for the sick and needy.
Questions or comments?
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Wonderful donations in – and out! Baby afghans and hats
Posted by: | Comments
We’ve been busy turning donations into items that are needed. Marla P, and her dad, generously donated yarn, polar fleece, sleepers and more from her mother’s craft closet and UFO bins after her sweet mother passed away. We used some of her yarn and yarn from LDS Humanitarian Services to knit up this sweet baby afghan and hat that will be taken to the work meeting and donated Thursday.
Recently we have received pretty quilted fabric from Gina, beautiful crocheted afghans and more from Roberta, baby clothes from Carolyn, baby items from Jennifer, and preemie baby afghans from Michael & Marianne. Laura, Gini and Tamara also donated very much needed items. Thank you so much!
It is lots of fun using all the colorways and different types of yarn to make into fun baby items. The sleepers Marla donated are already out and being used by two sweet babies who needed to be snuggled and warm., as is the baby items that Jennifer donated. Donations come in and go out pretty quickly at Relief Share.
After the afghans are knitted, we wash them in Tide free and clear laundry detergent to make sure they are nice and clean for the little ones who will use it – each afghan has a matching hat for a newborn as well.
The yarn in this afghan was Caron Simply Soft, Red Heart and some other worsted weight yarn in pretty colors.
Look at all the pretty colors!
The interesting thing about this baby afghan was that I worked on it at night and thought I had matched up the greens in the middle of the afghan.
You can clearly see in the picture that the greens don’t match at all. One is a warm green and the other is a cool green. I bet the baby who gets this afghan won’t mind at all
If you have left over yarn from projects, please consider donating them for us to work with to help the children and their families in the hospital, crisis centers, and homeless shelters. We are also working on projects for children in foster homes that we need donated fabric for.
All donations are very much appreciated and acknowledged with a thank you letter and tax receipt.
We accept donations of all kinds, types and sizes and love being creative in using it to the best advantage for those we serve.
Relief Share
6200 River Pointe Dr E302
Boise, Idaho, 83714
we also have a location in Missouri to send donations to:
Relief Share
706 Hwy 17 N (Box 421)
Houston, MO 65483
Jump right in, the more the merrier! Together, we can give relief through sharing. It’s our love in action
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Thank you for donations, here are the URGENT NEEDS!
Posted by: | Comments
giving relief through sharing
I am so grateful for the support folks have given to Relief Share. Many babies and families have received help through the generosity and love shown. Warm clothing, blankets, food, hygiene supplies and other essentials have made the difference between suffering and being able to survive, and in turn, help others. The circle of love is enlarged by donors and volunteersand continues to grow to include others. Thank you.
What is needed the most right now are warm blankets and cocoons for babies and children in the crisis centers, hospitals and homeless shelters. The weather is so unpredictable, it can steal a little one’s health just through submitting them to the cold.
Urgent needs are supplies to make the blankets and cocoons: fabric, thread, yarn (all kinds) and sewing, crocheting, and knitting supples. New or gently used blankets and clothing for newborns, toddlers and children are very much needed. As an added bonus, when we send the care packages – we include toys, rattles, pacifiers, books, kids DVDs and other learning items when they are donated.
All donations receive a thank you letter and tax deductible receipt as Relief Share is a non profit approved by the IRS. Thank you again, it takes all of us working hard to create miracles.
Please take the time to pack a box and donate it today. There are babies and children shivering in the cold and you can do something about that!
Love and hugs
President Carol Green
Relief Share
6200 River Pointe Drive E302
Boise, Idaho 83714
info@ReliefShare.org
our blog – www.ReliefShare.org/wordpress/
We also have another office in Missouri
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Knitting up a storm! – Baby blankets and hats
Posted by: | Comments
Snuggly baby afghan and hat
It’s been a very busy and fun week at Relief Share.
We’ve been knitting up a storm. Here is our latest set we made for charity. It is a USM bond knitting machine knitted baby afghan and matching hat made with scrumptious donated yarn (thanks so much to the folks who donated the yarn).
The colors are ice-cream, strawberry milkshake, tan and chocolate. This is a snuggly warm afghan and hat that will be given to the sick and needy. The afghan is the full width of the Bond knitting machine carriage with 4 extra inserts to make it wider.
It has a rolled him at the top and bottom and 4 rows of gather stitching down both sides. The stripes are narrower at the top and get wider at the bottom for interest – it looks really pretty and is very soft.
The hat was 40 stitches wide with an e-wrap cast on, knit 40 rows then begin decrease. Decrease every 8 stitches, then knit a row, decrease every 7, then knit a row (6, knit r, 5, knit r, 4, knit r, 3, knit r, 2, knit the last two rows) and with a yarn needle gather the last row and mattress stitch the seam up. This makes a longer hat so it can be pulled down over baby’s ears for warmth or rolled up when baby is newborn and smaller.
Baby hat with rolled brim and swirl decrease
Charity work – a blessing for those who give as well as recieve.
Posted by: | CommentsThis week has been very busy with Humanitarian work meetings in Boise, Idaho and lots of fun. Many baby quilts got done along with bags for foster children. LDS Humanitarian Services is an exceptionally responsive organization that assists with many needs and it was a privilege to work alongside many other dedicated ladies who love the sick and needy and want to help in any way they can.
Relief Share has been knitting, crocheting and serging up a storm to make the baby afghans, baby cocoons, hats, scarves, baby quilts, women’s matching scarves and hats, and infant demise layettes. Donations have come in from wonderful dedicated volunteers via the mail and gone out to hospitals, crisis centers, homeless shelters and individuals across the nation.
A wonderful donation of alpaca yarn and baby quilts was received from Buck Valley Alpacas. The yarn is the highest quality – so soft and hypo-allergenic for babies, it is from their herd. Two beautiful baby quilts were donated from them, also, and have already been given out to the sick and needy. We are so grateful for this generous and lovely donation to bless the lives of the sick and needy we serve. Be sure to visit www.buckvalleyalpacas.com or email KathorineWood@FrontierNet.net if you would like to purchase alpaca yarn for your own projects.
Relief Share current news 2011
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share news:
A beautiful donation of 3 lovely granny square baby quilts came in the mail from Marianne C. for our sick and needy preemie babies we serve. Marianne is a wonderful caring senior who loves to make crocheted preemie blankets. Her husband visits her at the nursing home every day and when she had finished blankets to donate, he mails them to us for the babies.
Our sincere condolences to Marla P on the passing of her beloved mother. Recently we received a donation from Marla and her mother of baby items and supplies. In the box was a donation of diapers that Marla’s mother asked to be donate to a baby. Those diapers have already been donated out to a grateful family in need. We are thankful for the blessing Marla and her mother has been, for years, to the sick and needy we serve.
The Houston Herald www.houstonherald.com published a wonderful article on Relief Share with 2 large pictures and a letter to the editor of a thank you letter from the local hospital in Houston, MO.
Two donations went out to the hospital of baby blankets, pacifiers, formula, baby cocoons, dolls and preemie receiving blankets.
Many donations for needy families were picked up at the local Relief Share offices in Houston, MO.
Relief Share is headed for Boise this week to participate in a baby quilt drive at a work meeting on Feb 22nd. If you live in the Boise area and would like to attend, email info@ReliefShare.org for more information.
Donations for the next two months (at least) should be sent to our Boise location at: Relief Share, 6200 River Pointe Dr E302, Boise, ID 83714. All donations are tax deductible and a thank you letter will be sent out with the receipt.
Urgent needs:
Machinery – knitting machines, Kris Krafter garter bars, sewing machines, sergers, knitting machine claw weights, 8mm cast on combs
Supplies: yarn, sewing and serger thread, fabric – all kinds (most used is cotton or cotton blend woven, flannel, minky, ultra suede, knit, chenille, PUL, kids print – think soft, think baby)
Items: baby clothing – undershirts, onesies, sleepers, pants, tops, gowns, christening gowns, booties, socks, shoes, jackets, sweaters, etc
Baby blankets, afghans, receiving blankets, baby hygiene items such as shampoo, lotion, diaper cream, baby oil, baby gel. Toys, learning items, rattles, combs and brushes, pacifiers, bottles, diapers (cloth and disposable), etc.
We are also collecting and donating sample or small size soap, shampoo, lotion, mouthwash, toothpaste, and other personal items that can be given to hospital patients or family members staying at the hospital with patients. These type of items go to Shriners Hospital and shelters. When you are traveling, please save the soaps, shampoo, conditioner, lotion and other toiletries you don’t use and mail them to Relief Share to donate.
Questions or comments:
Email info@ReliefShare.org
A precious new baby enters the world…..meet Mason!
Posted by: | Comments
Mason at just 3 lbs 2 oz.
Ever wonder “how tiny is tiny” when we are talking about the preemie babies we make things for? A picture speaks a thousand words and this beautiful baby takes our breath away as we see his Daddy’s hand measured up against him. How tiny is tiny? REALLY tiny. Really perfect, really sweet and this little one is no different from thousands of other teeny tiny babies in that he has completely captured our hearts.
In less than one second, eyes are riveted to the picture and hearts committed to helping clothe and snuggle Mason in warm clothing and blankets. That is the power of ‘baby love’ that drives the volunteers at Relief Share.
Thank you to the volunteers who quickly responded to the call to action.
A package went out priority post for Mason filled with all kinds of goodies:
1 preemie afghan
2 crocheted incubator/carriage covers
1 blue outfit
3 preemie tops
4 preemie sleepers
1 preemie jacket
1 preemie snuggler cape
8 washcloths/also used for burp cloths and change pads for preemies
1 baby gown
1 baby bracelet
a number of knitted preemie baby hats
2 teddy bears
1 pair preemie booties
2 baby swaddling cocoons
pkg of 20 preemie disposable diapers
2 to a pk of bottle insulators
There was a lot of love put into this package.
Mason's care box.
The crocheted incubator covers were made by a precious little old lady in a old folks home in Missouri. Her husband travels 2 hours EVERY DAY to go see her and pick up what she has made to donate to us. She loves the preemies and continues to crochet for them on an ongoing basis.
Mason's care box.
I made the cocoons from a gorgeous baby blue sweater (this president loves to roll up her sleeves and participate) donated by the local Food Pantry to help us with supplies through recycling. The soft cocoons will keep Mason snuggly warm and comforted as it is like being back in the womb again.
Mason's care box.
The gown was sewn by a volunteer and has a matching crocheted hat that another volunteer made, they are from West Virginia. The bracelet was made by a third volunteer and the white blanket and booties by another.
Mason's care box.
The preemie clothing is brand new from Wal Mart and bought by yet another volunteer. Everything was donated and worked on with love. Mason has a lot of Relief Share Grannies and Aunties that love him
It is a miracle how all the hands and hearts come together in love to bless the babies and families we serve. No one is paid, we are just happy to help where we can. Now that our care package has gone out to help Mason physically, we will keep him and his family in our prayers He truly is a gift from God.
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
PS. If you love babies and want to get involved, it’s as easy as 1, 2 3……
Mason's care box.
1. Get a cardboard box
2. Fill it with anything a baby might want or need – either finished or purchased items or sewing, quilting, knitting or crocheting supplies. Items can be new or gently used.
3. Stick a label on it to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 and mail it.
Ta da! Done! You are now one of us, a Relief Share donor and volunteer and also counted in God’s book of heavenly acts on earth
Some of the items a baby needs:
sleepers, gowns, onesies, socks, booties, soft shoes, hats, tops, bottoms, diapers (cloth and disposable), burp cloths, diaper bags, swaddlers, cocoons, blankets, afghans, quilts, stuffed animals, crib bedding (sheets, bumper pads, blankets), moses baskets, cribs, swings, activity mats, rattles, bottles, soothers (pacifiers or dummies), bottle liners and nipples, breast feeding items, breast pumps, diaper lotion, baby shampoo, baby oil, baby bath, baby food, formula, shorties, longies, baby slings, baby carriers, car seats (for safely rules they must be new), play pens, baby music CDs, bassinettes, baby brush and comb, baby chair, bath items. Can you think of more?
Mason's care box
Some of the supplies needed:
fabric – all kinds. Minky, chenille, micro fleece, flannel, knit, cotton – think baby!
thread, scissors, pins, quilting rulers, rotary cutters, rotary cutting mat pads, cricut machines and cartridges for quilt appliques, sergers, sewing machines, knitting machines, knitting machine weights, Kris Krafter garter bars for Bond knitting machines, yarn, all kinds, colors and types, elastic, velcro, buttons, zippers, appliques, interfacing, wonder under, knitting needles, crochet needles, tatting shuttles and needles, patterns, pincushions, bias binding, trims, laces, etc.
Clean out your closet for a good cause. Recycle the items you no longer want or need – sweaters and tee shirts become baby cocoons, hats, onesies, gowns and stuffed soft toys. Cut the buttons off of old shirts – they are fun down the front of a sleeper in all colors.
Donation out – baby formula
Posted by: | Comments
Baby formula
Today we took baby formula to those needing it at the hospital. Not many know that the hospital will be able to provide formula for baby if the mother is not breastfeeding when she is in the hospital, but when baby goes home it’s up to the parents. We were thrilled that a wonderful mom who had extra cans of formula her baby didn’t use donated it for us to share.
Giving Relief through Sharing – that’s what it’s all about. There are enough resources here on the earth that hunger could be stamped out if folks were just willing to band together to share the excess and get it where it needs to go.
If you have formula, baby items (new or gently used), diaper bags, sleepers, booties, socks, onesies, bibs, burp cloths, pants, tops, shoes, hats, coats, swaddlers, cocoons, snugglies, carriers, mittens, sweaters, layette sets, afghans, blankets, quilts, soft toys, diaper rash ointment, baby lotion, soap, baby shampoo and conditioner, q-tips, cotton balls, bottles, rattles, pacifiers, crib bedding or anything for babies or toddlers that you would like to share with others, please box them up and mail them to:
Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 We will send you a thank you letter with a tax deductible receipt for your donation.
Clean out your closet for a good cause and send the items your children have outgrown and no longer need to someone else to help them with their baby
72 baby cocoons delivered to the hospital today.
Posted by: | Comments
Recycle sweaters and tee shirts turned into baby cocoons
After some very busy cutting and serging, 72 cocoons were delivered to the hospital today. It did my heart good to hear the answer to my query from the nurse. I asked her how were the cocoons working out and she said they loved them. Some of the little babies tend to have a problem keeping their heat and the cocoons helped keep them warm and snuggled. She also said it was a lot easier for new Moms to pop their babies in the cocoons to keep them snuggled up instead of trying to keep them swaddled in the blankets.
The cocoons are fun to make – they can be sewn, serged, knitted, crocheted, hand knitted, and machine knitted. If you are really energetic, you could even tat one The patterns are free and offered on our blog. You can also google for free cocoon patterns on the internet and find a ton of them. A great website for free patterns is www.ravelry.com
The cocoons in the picture are made from recycled sweaters and tee shirts, most of them donated from the local food pantry and crisis center. They are 16″ long by 10″ wide.
Here is a quick way to make a pattern. Take a piece of paper that is 16 x 10 (I buy roll ends
Shape of the cocoon
from the newspaper and it gives me lots of pattern paper to work with) and put a dinner plate on one end and trace with a pen. Cut it out so that will make one short end of the pattern rounded. Then cut a wedge on either side of the other end so that the top of the cocoon slopes in towards the baby’s neck.
Extra Long knitted and serged cocoons
Lay the pattern on the sweater so that the top of the cocoon is the bottom of the sweater – this gives you a finished edge at the neck of the cocoon. Serge around the cocoon on 3 sides with your serger. Ta da! Done.
The general sizes are:
XXS – 14″ long x 50 stitches wide (6″ across) – 12″ diameter
XS – 16″ long x 60 stitches wide (8″ across)
S – 18″ long x 70 stitches wide (10″ across)
M – 20″ long x 80 stitches wide (10″ across)
L – 23″ long x 80 stitches wide (12″ across)
XL – 25″ long x 80 stitches wide (12″ across)
I made the extra long cocoons to test and my grandson is doing really well with them. You can pull them up around the baby’s face in cold weather to keep them snuggly warm.
Long rib knit serged cocoon to snuggle baby.
If you are doing these cocoons for your local hospital or birthright center, be sure to ask them what size they want. If you are making them to help us provide the 350 cocoons the hospital has asked for (yes, we love help!), they use the 16″ long by 10″ wide the most. They also use the smaller ones as well.
Our address to send donations to of finished cocoons, knit and tee shirt material, sweaters and tees to cut up to use, thread -sewing machine and serger thread, and other sewing supplies is:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
All donations are tax deductible. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this project. We appreciate the donations of sewing machines, sergers, knitting machines and sewing supplies so much. It takes all of us together to make miracles happen.
Carol Green
President
info@ReliefShare.org
Angels are all around us – two very special angels sent donations today!
Posted by: | CommentsAngels are all around us, and there are very special angels that know just what we need. Then when they know, they give it to us. I thank God daily for my special angels who really care about what is important.
Today, those special angels sent another Ultimate Sweater Knitting Machine and some gorgeous kids print fabric to Relief Share to benefit the sick and needy. The first knitting machine that was sent has been such a huge blessing to the babies at the hospital and in needy families in the Ozarks and around the nation. It’s been used every single day and making voluminous amounts of items for the sick and needy.
Be careful what you pray for – it can be very very good. Just the other day I made a comment that I really wished I had another knitting machine here at this location as I could do twice the work. My angel must have been listening because FEDEX brought a brand new USM – the look on my face must have been priceless when my husband opened the box. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, but I did know to immediately ask God to bless my special Relief Share angel for her goodness and mercy to others.
Ultimate Sweater Machine - perfect for making baby cocoons and hats
There were two boxes. As I opened the second box, I knew God had a hand in the choices of fabric this angel had made. They were PERFECT for the children in the hospital and one of the prints was one I had been looking for all over the net and in every fabric store I was in for months and months.
There is a baby carrier/tote that I have been wanting to make for Shriners Childrens Hospital but couldn’t find the fabric. I found this one at the flea market someone made and needed to find the fabric to make it out of.
Take a look at the pictures – the fabric that arrived today is so perfect, you couldn’t get any better! Look at the fabric squares of the little girls – I needed the little girls to match with a fabric square in similar colors below to make the little girl’s skirts. It sounds like it’s not important, but when you are stuck in a hospital bed in a full body cast, and sometimes for months, it is something that keeps your attention and makes you smile, especially if you are just a little girl that doesn’t understand what all the pain and restraints are. This tote bag has a pocket for a baby doll and a pillow for its head and then the tote back portion behind it holds books or toys, maybe a small DVD player and a DVD of something Disney, like Barbie to keep a small child’s attention off the pain and distracted with something else positive.
Baby doll tote bag
You just sew a tote bag and sew on a mini quilt on the front of it to make the pocket for the baby to slip in to. Add a piece of narrow elastic on the bottom of the pillow to slip over the baby’s head so it will stay put when being carried by nurses. You can use a soft stuffed dolly or a vinyl and stuffed dolly like the Zapf in the picture. I bet there are mothers or grandmothers on this list that might like to make one for their children
Marvelous donated cotton kids print fabric.
Can’t you just see the smiles on the faces of the children when they see the items made with this wonderful kids print?! I can
Thank you so much, I love my precious Relief Share angels for all they do for others and especially in helping me bless the lives of the sick and needy I love and serve. I can never tell them thank you enough.
They are some of our precious members on the list, they wishes to remain anonymous, but in God’s book of life – their names are written in big bold letters as one of His most precious daughters who listens to the still small voice and answers His call to spread mercy and help where it is needed the most.
Very grateful hugs and happy thoughts,
President Carol Green,
http://www.ReliefShare.org- serving God’s tiniest children & families
info@ReliefShare.org
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Donation of yarn arrived today and tonight a baby cocoon is made!
Posted by: | Comments
Donation of yarn being made into a baby cocoon
Sometimes folks wonder if donations sit around not being used for a while or if they get quickly used to help the sick and needy. Here is what we received today in the mail from Pat S. – a wonderful box of 14 balls of beautiful sport/worsted weight yarn to use for the babies in hospital.
Within a very short time it was being knitted on the knitting machine, donated by a wonderful donor, J W (who wishes to remain anonymous so only initials are used). She has blessed many people with her ongoing donations to Relief Share. Because of her recent donation of garter bars and needle stoppers, the work went even faster and very quickly a baby cocoon was completed.
Completed cocoon
A skilled knitter, Judi Meissner, shared with us how to do the decreases even faster so we could get more cocoons to the hospital sooner.
I am on a marvelous yahoo group, who are more than willing to share hints, tips and welcome advice on how to be more effective in knitting with the Bond knitting machines. The patterns shared are fun and the folks on the list genial and helpful. If you own a ISMor a USM knitting machine by Bond, we highly recommend the yahoogroup for a way to be more productive and enjoy with your knitting machine.
Go here to subscribe: incrediblesweatermachineclub-subscribe@yahoogroups.comincrediblesweatermachineclub@yahoogroups.com
Here is the cocoon being modeled by one of my display baby dolls:
Snuggly cocoon for newborn infants
Newborn baby size cocoon
This cocoon is 9″ wide (18″ circumference) and 20″ long. The size that the hospital needs the most is 8″ wide (16″ circumference) and 18″ long. I was trying to downsize a larger cocoon and didn’t quite downside the pattern enough. Today I will make another cocoon the right size!
These cocoons can be knitted, crocheted, sewn and serged. We make many of them from recycled sweaters and tee shirts. The arms from the sweaters can be used to make baby pants and matching hats.
Our recycled sweaters are donated from the local food pantry and crisis center, then donated to the local hospital. The TCMH hospital needs 350 cocoons – so far we have donated 15, and made another 6 for the crisis center.
Would you like to help? We need yarn donated – worsted weight or sport weight is best but we use all types and weights of yarn as we make baby blankets as well. We also need knitters, crocheters and seamstresses to help by making and sending the cocoons to us to take to the hospital.
Our address to send donations to is:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
All donations are acknowledged with a thank you letter/tax deductible receipt. We are a 501 ( c) 3 non profit registered with the IRS. The patterns for the cocoons are free and found on this blog. We love sharing volunteer and donor patterns as well. If you have a pattern you would like to share with others for the cocoons, or for any baby item, we will be happy to include it on our blog.
Relief Share is staffed by all volunteers, no one is paid and no administration fees are taken out of donations – everything and every penny goes directly to help the sick and needy.
President Carol C Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Merry Christmas – a time of service.
Posted by: | CommentsThere is nothing like service to help us get our priorities straight.
I won’t hit you with the blow by blow on our busy day at Relief Share, it would be a book, but today not only was a family with 7 children helped but, through divine intervention, another family with 8 children received food for the Christmas holidays as well. The family of 7 received an entire truckload of Christmas food, clothing, coats, scarves, hats, blankets, toys, books and necessities. Thank you to a very sweet lady who donated some money with the suggestion that I use the flea markets and thrift stores to make it stretch even further – I did also included were toys and books and also hand knitted items from our Relief Share volunteer, Lorene.
I am only 3 years old, but I can help, too!
What was so fun was when my little 3 year old grandson came up to the house from the guest house with Momma in tow with a huge teddy bear. It is his favorite teddy and he uses it for a chair to watch TV in. It has a big red and green plaid bow on its neck. Reuben insisted that I take the teddy bear to the family with all the children. The family with the 7 children have a little boy who is 6 with a birthday tomorrow, the day before Christmas and Reuben wanted to ‘do charity work’ like mommy and grandma. THAT is the reward of a long life – seeing grandchildren make excellent choices and understand sacrifice for others.
Tonight I am busy tying a polar fleece blanket for my 8 week old grandson for Christmas and experiencing gratitude for a loving Heavenly Father.
I am grateful for a loving husband, wonderful children, a firm faith in God, good health (well for me and the ability to serve others. I am also grateful for our volunteers and donors and read email from all of you who make my life more full and happy.
A very Merry Christmas to everyone – may God bless you and touch your hearts as he has done for me. I am grateful for you.
President Carol C Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Helping Santa Claus celebrate the birth of the Saviour through love in action.
Posted by: | CommentsAt this busy season we don’t always get to post as much as we like as our energies are spent on donations to the sick and needy. The best way we can worship the Saviour and thank him for his love and protection is to show extended kindness and compassion to those around us who need our help.
The past few weeks have been a flurry of activity, with a front page article in the Messenger Houston Herald newspaper sharing some of what we are doing. When our scanner is working again (it’s just fine, I only need to upload the drivers), we will scan in the article to share.
The best and most wonderful event that occurred to uplift the lives of a specific family of the area was a donation from a sweet angel who sacrificed so the little family in need could be raised up from their suffering and worries to enjoy a blessed Christmas.
Donations have been taken to the Medical Clinic, Hospital, 911 office for a burn out family, Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis and to other organizations that help the families. Many boxes have been hand delivered and lots have been mailed across the country to needy individuals and families.
Shot gun shell Christmas lights – thank you Big Piney Sportman’s Club, Houston, MO!
Posted by: | Comments
A HUGE THANK YOU to the Big Piney Sportsmen’s Club, 16866 Hwy B, Houston, MO 65483 for allowing our Relief Share volunteers to collect the used shot gun shells out on the shooting range whenever we need to. We use them to make Christmas lights. Relief Share is very appreciative of support for our charitable activities to take care of the sick and needy.
Cocoon pattern for Bond (ISM) Knitting machine
Posted by: | Comments
Finished cocoon in use.
It takes approx 5 hours non stop to make a cocoon on the knitting machine. The main body of the cocoon goes very quickly. Pull out 80 needles – 40 on each side of center. Hang your weighted hem with the elastic thread. Knit with worsted weight and plate 3. (This is what I use but you can make the cocoon out of whatever you want).
Knit for 20″.
Next row:
Decrease every 8th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
Decrease ever 7th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
Decrease every 6th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
Cocoon being knitted on the machine
Decrease ever 5th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
Decrease every 4th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
Decrease ever 3th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
Decrease every 2th stitch. Knit the row and the next.
With a darning needle threaded with the same yarn, run the thread through each one of the stitches left on the needles. Take the knitting off the machine and pull the stitches up tight into a circle.
Seam up the side of the cocoon with a darning needle and same thread to make a tube – one end is open and the other a gathered rounded end. It looks like a bean hat, just long. I use a mattress stitch for an invisible seam. Make sure all ends are threaded in and trimmed off. Fini
Free baby cocoon pattern to sew :-)
Posted by: | Comments
Thatcher's Cocoon
I have added a free (albeit rough) pattern here for everyone to enjoy. Hopefully the ‘cocoon’ bug will bite folks and they will be happily making up loads of them and sharing them with local hospitals, neighbors having babies and families. I welcome tips and ideas on how to make them nicer and faster If there are left overs from making cocoons for their own purposes, I would love extras sent my way to take care of the hospital’s needs. I also just delivered one to a 4 month old baby here who keeps pulling the blankets over his face and scaring his mom and grandpa half to death. Problem fixed LOL.
The pattern is so easy. A tube with a rounded end and slightly narrower at the top. approx 18 to 23″ long, depending on how big the baby is you are making it for, and here it is – http://grandmothersattic.net/reliefshare/cocoonpattern.jpg
This is called “Thatcher’s Cocoon”. My newest grandson is Thatcher. Add 1/4 seams on the side and an 1″ at the top. If you are using a tee shirt or sweater, use the hem of the garment as the top of the cocoon and you don’t have to add 1″ at the top. The widest part across is 10 1/4″ inches and the narrowest part at the top is 8″. Use a dinner plate or something round to make the curve at the bottom. I just folded the paper in half and eyeballed it. Cut 2 and sew together.
Hint: pin, pin, pin. If you are doing it out of recycled sweaters, sew FIRST along the seam to make sure all the fibers are caught or you may have a run (thank you so much to the list members here that suggested it when I had such a problem with the serger lettucing the edges). You can zig zag the seam after that for stability or serge.
I love sergers, as they are three times as fast as a sewing machine and sewn and finish the seams in one quick shot, and wish I had more on hand as the ones we have now are going full speed ahead and folks standing in line for their turn to use them. I have 2 Janome 4 thread with differential feed and have one in black thread and one in white thread going all the time so depending on what color items we are making, we just go over to one or the other serger and make the cocoon. Ditto with the sewing machines. My favorite sewing machine, that is used constantly, is the quilting machine with the large plastic tray that allows the items being made to be sew without tugging on the needle. It is a huge blessing and I pray God blesses the donor each and every day for sending it. All the volunteers love it, but I am usually the one on that particular machine as it’s the nicest to use. It has a very nice stitch on it as well. We use it for everything.
I am still working on a nicer way to finish the top inside seam near babies face instead of just having a serged seam. Sometimes it’s rolled down for a smaller baby and sometimes all the way up so I need a way to make both sides of the seam look nice and feel soft. I already though about putting ribbing around the top or a finished edge with the seam inside but it really adds to the time it takes to make the cocoons and takes extra fabric. I never have enough ribbing and go through it like water when it’s here. Ribbing is expensive, too, so I try to find ribbed material to use instead of actual ribbing. I found some wonder ribbing at the flea market once and made the entire cocoon out of it – heaven!
I hope folks enjoy the pattern. I know it’s rough, but it gets the job done. On this blog there is now a pattern to crochet, knit and sew a cocoon. I am working on getting a pattern written for machine knitting a cocoon on the ISM knitting machine. Not hard, just something else I need to do that takes me away from actually making the cocoons LOL.
The Hospital intends on keeping a supply of 350 on stock to use for the babies who are born there – some to stay with the hospital and some to go home with babies. After we have filled the need for their inventory, we will continue to supply the mothers who are needy in the area through DFS, the crisis center, medical center and homeless shelter with cocoons to use and keep for their little ones.
I’ve been sewing quilts and receiving blankets for my charity for 20 years and this is the first time I have heard of cocoons. They originally were made as photographers props, because they are cute and lull the baby into being calm and sleeping. When mothers saw how wonderful they were for comforting babies and found out they were marvelous for transporting babies without wrapping and unwrapping layers of receiving blankets that seemed to slide everywhere, they really caught on and are now the latest ‘hot’ items for mothers in the know. The cocoons are big in the earth friendly mother channels and recyclers as well as you can either take apart sweaters and use the yarn to knit or crochet the items, or you can simply sew the cocoons out of the sweaters or tee shirts themselves. The cocoons do take some kind of stretch material. Velour, knit, tee-shirt material, baby print knit, etc are marvelous – and my favorite – rib knit.
Yes, they will be washed in the hospital laundry, but our hospital has a volunteer that takes items home to wash that can’t go through the high heat and autoclaves in the hospital laundry room. I also deal with hospitals that actually had regular washing machines and dryers installed on their floor for the nurses to wash items in that come from my charity 
The extreme sanitization of items is only required for children with serious contagious diseases and they have their own separate items that are never reintroduced to the regular laundry items.
I don’t use wool for the cocoons as it does felt. (I love wool, though, for the other projects we do). Acrylic is naturally hypoallergenic and bacteria resistant so the #1 choice for hospital and baby items. Cotton is marvelous but expensive. It also tends to be harder in larger yarn weights and more appropriate for wash cloths.
I had one well meaning lady send me a baby blanket out of heavy cotton yarn and the blanket weighed a ton and had huge holes in it due to the pattern. I felt so bad for her, she tried so hard, but it was pretty much unusable for the babies. It wound up as a lap quilt for a elderly person’s wheelchair blanket. We never waste anything – all items that are send in for donations find a useful home somewhere
Yes, this would be a marvelous item to give to a new mother for a baby gift. Like I said, it is the newest ‘hot’ item for buying for baby that is
out on the market. There are fancy swaddling blankets with all kinds of flaps and snaps, but this is so simple, quickly understandable and way more effective than anything else I have seen, that it is very much in demand.
Babies prefer the cocoons over blankets. It’s being nicely wrapped up in something soft, comfortable and warm. Babies stop fussing, twitching, crying and they just calm down and quietly lay there or they go to sleep. Nature’s way of calming baby
You can put a baby in one as long as you want to. I just sew them a longer and a tad wider for older children. There are 4 year olds who love these. It’s basically the same principle as a sleeping bag, too. I know adults who would use one if they could get their hands on one big enough LOL.
President Carol Green,
info@ReliefShare.org
In Search Of (ISO): spent shot gun shells…..for Christmas lights.
Posted by: | CommentsGot your attention, did I?!
If anyone has some spent shot gun shells, we would love it if they would donate them to our charity. Relief Share can give you a tax deductible receipt for them as they will come to our charity to be donated after they are made into Christmas lights. Yep, you read right. They make the prettiest Christmas lights.
I just finished watching my son in law and daughter make some for their Christmas tree this year. Laura had ordered some off the net and when they came they were only 8 feet long. Yeah right, that really doesn’t go far. She came over to my house to see if I had more white mini light strings and I had a brand new box of 100 feet. Josh had figured out how to make them himself and they turned that string of mini lights into the prettiest Christmas lights you ever saw by using spent shot gun shells – recycling at it’s best! Cost free, too.
I know a lot of folks that would love them. Relief Share volunteers will make the shot gun shell Christmas lights up and donate them to the those who don’t have any money for Christmas decorations We also have a charity flea market booth and when we can take care of all the needy, if we have any left over, we will use them for fundraiser in our charity flea market booth, though probably next year for the fundraising with them as there isn’t enough time to do that this year as well as do the donations as we always take care of the sick and needy first.
Here are pictures You may even want to make some yourself!
Take these:
Hammer, glass eye wash dish, screwdriver, spent shot gun casing
If you don’t have a glass eye wash dish, use anything that has a curved bottom that you can hammer the shot gun shell into to push the bottom concave.
Using the shot gun shells, you can make lights by pushing clear mini lights into the end of the shells and closing the top with the screwdriver pushing the plastic in place so they will stay on the mini light string.
spent shotgun shells
All that effort is worth while (and it’s a lot of effort), will make get these:
That look like this:
and these:
That look like this:
Shotgun shell Christmas lights! Recycling at it's best!
Note: the black ones are too opaque to do much but the other colors, especially the green, red and yellow work great.
The address to send the shot gun shells to is: Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd., Houston, MO 64583-2225. If you have clear mini light strings that you’d like to send as well, that would be wonderful. We will send a tax deductible receipt with your thank you letter. We are a 501 (c ) 3 IRS approved non profit.
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Tis the season to be sneezin’ – tissue holder tutorial
Posted by: | CommentsWe found this quick and easy tutorial on the net to make cute tissue holders. This would be a wonderful Christmas stocking stuffer or a gift for a friend in hospital (which is what we are using the tutorial for – the hospital patients really appreciate little things like this to know they are loved and not forgotten.
Here is the link for this adorable tissue holder. http://mel-allwrappedup.blogspot.com/2010/11/tissue-pouch.html
It’s also a great soft and quiet tissue holder to slip into the pocket of your temple gown. Rustling plastic at the temple or church is so distracting. Isn’t it cute? You will be amazed at how quickly it sews up with just scraps of material you have laying around!
Soft Tissue Holder
Angel Card Project – it’s fun, get involved!
Posted by: | Comments
Angel Card Project for 2010
Mark Martin is the founder of the Angel Card Project. Every year lots and lots of folks come together to spread a little holiday cheer to those who need it. We join together and all send Holiday cards to the less fortunate, sick, elderly, lonely, and those who just generally need a good cheering up!
Many of the people who receive cards from this project might not otherwise have anything to make them smile during the holiday season. This can even include Military Individuals! So we send them Christmas Cards to put a smile on their faces and a nice warm feeling in their hearts. This is strictly a VOLUNTEER project. Mark hosts it every year to give folks an opportunity to give a little something back at Christmas time to folks who deserve it.
Any questions concerning the project should be submitted to Mark and he will answer you back as soon as he has a chance. It may take him a few days, so be patient waiting for your reply. You can Email Mark at scutterbear@aol.com
Baby hats, booties and afghans shipped to Birthright.
Posted by: | CommentsA large fun box filled with 372 items for Birthright in St Louis, Missouri is being shipped out in the morning.
knitted baby hats
Lots of love and work went into all the handmade hats, booties and 2 baby afghans. They were knitted and crocheted by volunteers who wanted to help the sick and needy babies we love with warm hats and booties to snuggle in.
A huge thank you to everyone who worked on this care package for the little ones at Birthright.
350 baby cocoons for the hospital are needed!
Posted by: | CommentsWe were delighted to receive a donation of an Incredible Sweater Machine for our volunteers to knit on. Thank you so much to the generous donor, we are so grateful as we would never be able to get all the cocoons done if they had to be knitted by hand.
The hospital needs 350 cocoons for their babies and the machine will be a huge help in getting the donations made and out to the hospital in time to snuggle the babies in this cold weather. The cocoons also aid in keeping the babies calm and comfortable so they spend their energy on healing and growing instead of trying to stay warm and peaceful.
We just made the very first cocoon on the knitting machine that arrived yesterday. Here it is!
Baby Cocoon
Baby Cocoon - knitted by machine.
Baby Cocoon
Baby Cocoon
These cocoons can be hand knitted or machine knitted.
Thatcher’s Cocoon (knitted version)
With circular needle or dpn’s, cast on 80 sts (I love using a long tail cast on.
Tutorial for it can be found at www.knittinghelp.com)
Join in round, placing a stitch marker on first stitch to mark beginning of round.
Knit for approximately 18 inches then begin decreasing.
Row 1. Knit 8, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts
knit together).
Row 2. Knit all sts.
Row 3. Knit 7, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts
knit together).
Row 4. Knit all sts.
Row 5. Knit 6, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts
knit together).
Row 6. Knit all sts.
Row 7. Knit 5, knit 2 together (repeat to end of row. Row should end with last 2 sts
knit together).
Row 8. Knit all sts.
Continue in this manner until only 8 stitches remain. Cut or break yarn leaving a long
tail to thread through the remaining 8 stitches. Tighten the bottom and secure yarn by
weaving it up into the inside of the bag a bit until you feel it is secure and won’t come out.
Weave in any ends ( if you choose to do stripes you will have lots of them) and ta-da! All done:)
This size will fit most full term nb’s. Increase or decrease amount of stitches to size up or down.
My gauge for this is 4.5-5 stitches per inch in stockinette stitch with size 7 needles using
worsted weight yarn.
If you would like to help by making knitted cocoons and donating to Relief Share for us to take to the hospital, we would love it. Our address is Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225. Be sure to include your name and address so we can send you a thank you letter and tax deductible donation slip.
Well, the first one is made. Only 349 to go! It took us just over a year to make and donated handmade twin size quilts for Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis. I wonder how long it’s going to take to make and donate all the cocoons needed. A lot less with YOUR help
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Our sweet earth angel is at it again!……thank goodness!
Posted by: | Comments
This marvelous donation came in today from our sweet angel who watches over us and provides a great deal of what is needed to help the sick and needy!
Relief Share is jumping for joy! Our sweet earth angel is at it again, sending us much needed fabric to create the baby and twin size quilts we make and donate to hospitals, crisis centers, homeless shelters and sick and needy individuals around the nation!
Many of our volunteers live under the poverty level themselves, they understand the need for warm bedding and clothing for the children and their families. Hours of selfless dedicated service results in snuggled warm healthier babies and families around the nation. However, these volunteers are not in a position to purchase the supplies needed. That’s where our sweet earth angel comes in.
This precious lady has been carefully and thoughtfully sending what is needed, right in the nick of time, for quite a while now. There is a special place in heaven for her as she has gone over and above in caring for others with her generous donations of essentials for our volunteers to work with. Machines, fabric, thread…….these are just a few of the items she has donated.
She wishes to remain anonymous, and we are careful to respect our volunteers wishes. We would like to thank her publicly for all she has done, and is doing, for our precious and most helpless of God’s children and their families. She is in our hearts and prayers daily as we work with what she has provided.
Many children in Shriners Childrens Hospital, other hospitals, and recipients through crisis center outreaches, as well as individual families have been blessed because of her actions.
May we all be more like her – aware of the needs of others, and willing to step up and help when help is needed. May God walk with her and bless her every day of her life! A huge thank you to her from all of us at Relief Share
—————————————————————————————————————
What do we make with the supplies provided to us? Quilts, diaper covers, booties, onesies, sleepers, receiving blankets, cocoons, swaddling cloths, mama cloths, x ray garments for the hospital, hospital gowns, soft toys, diaper bags, totes, dresses, pants, afghans, hats, layette sets, sweaters and a lot more. Some of our Relief Share board of directors have expertise in knitting, sewing, crocheting, serging, embroidery, pattern design and are more than willing to offer their services in whatever capacity is needed at the time to take care of God’s sick and needy.
If you would like to donate items (new and gently used items are gratefully accepted), please send them to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225. All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501 (c) 3 charity registered with the IRS. A thank you letter and tax receipt is sent for every donation so be sure to include your name and address
Snuggly cuddly babies & sweet children – donations gone out for the little ones…
Posted by: | CommentsWe’ve been busy as a bee around the Relief Share offices Here are some of the donations that just went out:
Sweet baby
Donation to a wee baby girl to be born:
- bottles, washcloths, birth pillow, receiving blankets, brush/comb set, blankets, bottle insulators, onesies, sleepers, baby scissors, and diapers.
Donation for a sweet baby born to be born:
- bassinette, baby clothing & accessories
Donation for a tiny preemie baby boy:
- baby blankets and clothing
Donation for a precious baby boy:
- blankets, quilts, outfits, toys, socks, booties, sweater sets, afghans, shoes, receiving blankets, burp cloths
Donation for a darling baby girl:
- hats, toys, blankets, food, diapers, clothings
Donation for a little girl:
- interactive doll
Donation to church:
- toys, food, clothing, blankets
Donation to Crisis Center:
- clothing for the needy
Donation to charity to helps hospital:
- hospital gowns, fabric, sewing supplies, patterns, thread
Donation to Individual:
- large box of yarn and crochet cotton to be made into charity items.
- fabric remnants and scraps for patchwork quilt making (we use plenty of material ourselves, but when we have the opportunity to share with other charities, we are happy to).
Fabric donation received
Posted by: | CommentsWe opened a very special box today at Relief Share. Inside was hopes, dreams, prayers fulfilled, compassion, love, charity, sharing and giving. What does all that look like? Let us show you……
Fabric donation
A super huge hug to our lovely donor who always keeps us in her prayers and on her wish list. This special donor has sent much needed sewing supplies and machinery and has a God given ability to know just when we need a donation the most and always sends exactly what we need.
Thank you so much! I know you want to remain anonymous, but we want everyone to know how much your donation boxes are appreciated
President Carol Green
Relief Share
‘giving Relief through sharing’
Gone too soon….baby burial layettes
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes we have to say goodbye before we get to say a decent hello. Such is the case with tiny babies born to grieving parents who never got to say hello or have only minutes or a few bittersweet hours to say goodbye and hello at the same time. These precious bundles of love straight from heaven from God’s hands to our hearts only need one last little gown, bonnet and blanket to be snuggled in.
There are special angels here on earth who answer the call to provide the tiny gowns called Angel Wing Burial gowns that go in the burial layettes. The pattern for this gown was designed by Dot Fulton of Missouri to fit the little ones God has called home after being here for such a brief time. Dot has since passed away and has now joined the angels she has provided so many perfectly made little gowns for.
A large box of burial items was just donated to the Texas County Memorial Hospital in Houston, Missouri – along with blankets, swaddler blankets, and soft Ty Beanie Baby Fleece Lambs for momentos for the parents to keep to remember their little one by.
Angel Wing Burial gown and bonnet
Today was a busy day at Relief Share. Lots of time was spent going through all the donations that had come in and getting them ready to be taken to where they are needed the most.
Donated to the hospital:
23 baby blankets with lovely crocheted edges
6 large afghans to snuggle new babies in
Donated to the local food pantry and crisis center:
20 pound container of fabric
90 soft handmade medium sized teddy bears
50 gift boxes for babies
Batting, interfacing and sewing supplies
Donated to families:
3 baby beds to families for their new infants
baby layette and blanket for a new baby girl
books
home and personal items items
The work of giving relief through sharing with others is a wonderful way of showing God’s love through us to his home vulnerable children. Our volunteers and donors are very precious to us in helping the compassionate service work we do possible. Thank you.
Carol Green
President Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Info@ReliefShare.org
Babies – helping the tiniest and most helpless of God’s children.
Posted by: | Comments
Donation of essential baby and hygiene items.
There are some things babies cant do without. Diapers and baby powder are essentials in the lifes of little ones and, unfortunately, expensive for single mothers and families who live under the poverty line. Other essentials, such as soap, shampoo, body lotion, etc are important – not only for comfort and cleanliness, but in stopping the spread of germs and disease.
Thanks to the generous donation of a special donor, who is more than willing to help, this large donation has been received in today and also already donated out to where it will do the most good.
It takes all of us working together to answer the prayers of the sick and needy for essentials.
You can help, too – donations of baby items, clothing and bedding are needed as the weather turns colder. Please send donations to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd., Houston, MO 65483-2225. All donations are tax deductible. If you don’t have baby items to send but would like to help with funds for shipping the items to where they are needed, please send a monetary donation through Paypal to info@ReliefShare.org
Knitted love and happiness from a sweet 93 yr old donor ;-)
Posted by: | Comments
Hand knitted donations for the sick & needy
Relief Share was blessed to accept a marvelous donation of lovely hand knitted scarves, hats, and afghans from a very special compassionate donor. She is 93 years old and has knitted and donated 500 items that have gone to children’s homes, schools and orphanages. She loves to knit and is happy that the things she makes can be used to help others.
What wonderful gifts of compassion and caring she has been making all these years. Her love of knitting shows in how beautifully made the items are, and to gift them to the sick and needy is truly gracious.
We are grateful for these types of donations. It is a pleasure to be able to give such beautiful hand made items to those who need them. Instead of getting worn out used items to keep warm with, the donations of new quality items have brought a light to the sick and needy’s eyes as they realize someone, a stranger, loved them enough to care and create such beautiful new items for them.
Helping with much needed items is a way of our showing God’s love reaching out in answer to the sick and needy’s prayers. We become worthy servants of God as we help be part of the answer to prayers for essential items.
One of the afghans was donated to a young mother with a 10 month old baby. When I told the mother that the beautiful afghan for her wee baby girl came from a wonderful donor to Relief Share, she said to tell her a very grateful thank you. She was worried about the colder weather coming and concerned about what she was going to do. Now her little one is warm and snuggly because of our donor’s generosity and caring
Thank you so much to everyone who puts their love in action and donates what is needed for us to distribute to those who are in crisis, sick or in need. May God bless you as you bless others
President Carol Green
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
info@ReliefShare.org
Hand knitted donations for the sick & needy
Hand knitted donations for the sick & needy
Donation to needy mothers and babies in Boise.
Posted by: | CommentsThis donation went out to needy mothers and babies in the Boise, Idaho area. There are some happy snuggly warm babies and smiling mothers who are very relieved that they could get the items they need for their babies. Thanks to all the volunteers and donors who made this donation of brand new items to needy families possible.
3 Gerber Sleep n Play
3 Bambolina body suits
1 Carter 3 piece outfit
1 zippered Nursery Rhyme outfit
1 2 pce outfit, Baby Essentials
1 Garanimals onesie/shirt
1 froggie applique onesie
1 elastic band blue jeans
1 3 piece First Impression Froggie out fit – bib/shirt/pants
1 jacket and shirt set – UFO
1 Protection System jacket
1 Fisher Price sleep and play outfit – newborn – yellow
4 receiving blankets – animal theme
1 Fisher Price sleep and play outfit – newborn – blue
2 Gerber baby gowns
2 First Impression blue baby gowns
1 Heirloom wooden rattle
2 baby ballet church shoes – newborn pink
1 pr baby sandals – pink
1 pr newborn pink baby shoes
4 pr baby socks
2 pacifiers
Manicures and pedicures are not just a want, but for some…a need!
Posted by: | Comments
Blessing the lives of those who need help is Christlike.
Summer is here – there are manicures and pedicures to take care of ‘summer sandal feet’. You wouldn’t think that would apply to charity as it would seem to be a ‘want’ and not a ‘need’, but for the handicapped and ill, it is a serious need as feet and hands can get sores and cracks leading to infection if not taken care of.
Wheelchair bound patients with braces on their legs develop blisters and open sores that need attention. Caring for those with these special needs takes love, patience and knowledge to give them the assistance they require.
Relief Share donated hygiene products and coordinated efforts to meet the needs of those who required specialized care for their hands and feet. Volunteers, who offered their time and services to give much needed manicures and pedicures, showed compassion and Christlike love to the permanently wheelbound and also patients recovering from serious surgeries as they tenderly ministered to them.
Spirits were lifted, hearts softened, hope returned to those who sometimes seemed forgotten and all were blessed as the spirit of service touched everyone.
We are grateful for our volunteers who blessed the lives of those who needed this specialized kind of help. We are also grateful for the wonderful donors who provided the funds and supplies that the volunteers put to use for the benefit of those needing personal care in these areas.
President Carol Green
ReliefShare.org
info@ReliefShare.org
Soft dollies, cuddly blankets equals happy children.
Posted by: | Comments
Soft dollies, cuddly quilts - love in action for the children!
Being in hospital looking out the windows and seeing other children happily playing in the sunshine can be hard for little ones. One of our ongoing donors continues to spread sunshine and dry tears with her sweet donations of blankets, dollies, teddies.
Included in her donations are some very special preemie receiving blankets. She takes the time to carefully crochet lacy edges around the blankets to make them beautiful. These soft pretty blankets are used for the most precious of God’s children who need only one last blanket to be cuddled in. Those who are too perfect, too special, to remain here on earth for long are gently placed and wrapped in the blankets made with so much love and then they go on to God’s arms from ours.
Some of the little ones, born too soon or very small, are strong enough to fight and and stay here to continue to bless the lives of the families God has sent them to, and their blankets become a family heirloom.
We are grateful to R. M. for her love and continuing kindness to God’s precious sick and needy babies and children. She continues to reach out and bless the lives of strangers with love in action through her donations
Carol C Green
Relief Share President
info@Relief Share.org
Donations out – car seat, childrens’ clothing, adult clothing
Posted by: | Comments
Keeping children safe with donated car seats.
Its the middle of summer and most folks are having fun with their families and enjoying the pretty weather. In the midst of all the summer fun, there are families who are struggling to make ends meet and obtain basics like clothing, car seats, and essentials. It feels good to be able to help.
A little girl is now safely transported in her family’s vehicle with a car seat to protect her and has new clothing to brighten her day. It sounds like such a small thing, but makes a huge difference in her and her family’s life.
Donations IN – shoes, baby items, sewing supplies, fabric, etc.
Posted by: | Comments
Essential Baby items
A huge thank you goes out to all our wonderful volunteers and donors who sent in items for us to distribute the past two weeks. Some of our donors prefer to remain anonymous so no names will be mentioned but we are very grateful for all the love and support shown to those we serve.
Donations in this week include baby quilts, blankets, burp cloths, rattles, toys, shoes, socks, bottles pacifiers, sewing supplies and equipment, fabric and much more.
Donations of machinery are very important to us and we are extremely grateful to be able to provide more items to a greater number of recipients because of the use of added machinery. Fabric is central to our donations as hospital gowns, xray shorts, baby clothing, quilts, diaper bags, toys, diaper covers, and much more is made from donated and purchased fabric. Kids print is at the top of our list, followed with chenille, minky, polar and plush fleece (soft on the skin) for our precious children and their families. Kids knit is hard to find and very much appreciated. Our volunteers can sew a much needed baby gown in under 20 minutes with rib knit for the collar and cuff and baby knit for the yoke and gown! Just think – supplies and 20 minutes are all that stands between a shivering baby and the gown they need – won’t you please help by sending the supplies we need to help the babies? Many other have and we are so grateful.
Something that we don’t mention much with donations is cash. There are some things that we can’t sew knit or crochet and don’t always have in our inventory room when it is desperately needed. The funds that are donated allow us to get formula, diapers, bottles and essentials for babies and food for families who are hungry. If you would like to donate funds to Relief Share through paypal, our paypal address is info@reliefshare.org
All donations are tax deductible and a thank you/tax receipt letter will be sent for each and every donation.
May God bless all the hearts and hands who serve Him here below in blessing the lives of His sick and needy who need answers to their prayers.
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org
Donations OUT – new baby, orphanage, animal shelter
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share volunteers have been very busy the last few weeks sewing, crocheting, serging, shopping, shipping and, in general, thoroughly enjoying our compassionate service efforts!
Donations out:
- donation July 17, a nice large box of essentials to a baby soon to arrive of bottles, receiving blankets, burp cloths, toys, shoes, socks, rattles, washcloths, towel, diaper bag, quilts, blankets, pacifiers and more. Baby’s Momma was very grateful for the much needed items. With this economy it can be quite a jolt to the family budget to provide for a new little one.
- donation July 11 to orphanage of socks, shoes/booties, blankets, toys, pacifiers, crib sheets, receiving blankets, socks, burp cloths.
- donation July 18 to orphanage of baby quilts, receiving blankets, burp cloths, rattles, toy ducks, pacifiers, socks, booties, toys, bottles, teddy bears, bunny, birdie – 86 items.
- donation of essential items to local animal shelter to help displaced animals and also owners who can’t afford to neuter and spay their animals.
These are some of the items donated out this week.
A huge thank you to all the volunteers and donors who made these donations possible.
HUGE CELEBRATION *dancing around the room* donation for Shriners DONE!!
Posted by: | CommentsOh my, you know that huge cheering you hear? Well, that is all our volunteers here at Relief Share celebrating our huge quilt drive for Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis. A little over a year ago they requested 240 twin size quilts for the patients beds in the hospital. Our volunteers have patchworked and sewn quilts for a year – the quilts took over our waking moments and even started showing up in our dreams as we slept! We adore the sweet children who are being cared for at Shriners and love the wonderful nurses, doctors and personnel who give their time, effort and expertise to make each and every child’s experience at Shriners Childrens Hospital a positive experience.
We delivered the first quilts on 4/30/2009 and the last quilts were mailed today. We would like to thank everyone who made this large product such a wonderful success. Lucky Dollar Store in Licking gave Relief Share discounted pricing on all the fabric and batting purchased, a donation of yarn for tying the quilts came from the closeout of a knitting shop through E. Warner, Houston, MO, Grandmother’s Attic and USCybertek owned by Carol & Richard Green, RS Founders donated a great deal of the fabric, batting, sewing thread, gas and money for deliveries, T. Lund and J Stice made many of the quilts that were donated, T. Lund donated a great deal of the batting for the quilts and also some of the fabric, A. Mooney finished the edges of many of the quilts and donated a Mickey Mouse baby quilt that was sold on Ebay along with books to raise funds for supplies for the quilts. A wonderful quilting shop in Licking, MO donated the time to machine quilt many of the quilts, and other quilting shops and guilds were also involved in helping. A sweet lady who wishes to remain anonymous donated the machines we needed to get the job done! There were so many people from all walks of life, economic situations and beliefs that came together to join in love to help the sick and needy.
Most of all, we would like to thank Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis for allowing to bless the children’s lives in this way. All the volunteers in the world couldn’t make a difference if there was no one willing to accept our donations. Providing us an opportunity to help others is a wonderful gift that we deeply appreciate.
Motivation to help is found in each one of us. There are many reasons to get involved in charity work and we would like so share with you why we were (and still are) highly motivated with deep gratitude to assist Shriners in their work for the world’s sick and needy children. A picture can say a thousand words, 2 pictures are even better. This is our precious granddaughter – she had a health care practioner dislocate her hip in a well baby checkup at 3 months old. We rushed her to a specialist and they took ultrasounds that showed that the doctor had indeed put her joint out of socket but it appeared to be back in. She got to be 18 months old and couldn’t walk – she would take a few steps and fall, so we took her back to the specialist who immediately called Shriners.
Until then we had no idea what Shriners did, only that they were the men in the funny hats in parades and occasionally had a monkey with them! After a number of surgeries and many body casts to correct the problem in her hip that now affected her entire life – we are overwhelmed with gratitude when we tell you that no only is she walking – she is running and doing very well. Her walk is not perfect, but she can now lead a normal life and walk and run like God intended her to do.
See for yourself…… Embry Claire, born perfect in every way – a bright life ahead of her. April 2006
This is Embry at her first stay in Shriners – the doctor did traction for two and a half weeks first and then surgery. Yes, she is supposed to be lying down with her feet elevated for traction but she was pretty good at sitting herself up when we looked away *grin*
The first surgery was on her affected hip alone. Sadly, more surgery was needed to help her be able to walk.
Grandpa and Grandma flew Embry Claire up to St Louis for her surgeries. You can see the donations we took up from Relief Share on the ground in the clear bags each time we went. Her Mommy is stepping down out of the plane after unloading the delivery bags.
Embry Claire loves to fly, she wasn’t so thrilled when she figured out that surgeries were on the other end, but flying was a super treat for her.
Embry Claire watches another patient play a game in the red room at Shriners. The surgery this time was on both hips and she can’t sit up with her body cast on. We pulled her around in a little red wagon for a long time until the body cast came off.
Embry Claire using her walker. Her hips ache but she is such a little trooper and she sticks with it. I am so proud of her and stay right there with her.
THANK YOU SHRINERS AND DR SHOENECKER! Look at her go! Embry Claire loves the beach! She is RUNNING!
She has grown from that tiny baby and is now a beautiful 4 year old – walking on her own.
We would love to hear from you what YOUR motivation is for helping others. Is it gratitude, a need to share, love for others, all of those and more? Email us or reply to this blog
President Carol Green
Embry Claire’s happy and grateful grandmother.
info@ReliefShare.org
Donation to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis of 3 patchwork quilts
Posted by: | CommentsIn the quiet of the night we dropped by Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis after making a pickup at the airport. It felt really good to deliver the 3 patchwork quilts to be used on the patients beds. We are only 2 quilts away from the goal of 240 quilts requested by the hospital last year for their patients beds. A huge thank you goes out to all who are participating and it will be wonderful to be able to send the last two quilts to the hospital to complete the project.
It’s going to be fun to see where the quilts will come from – who will be the first to get their quilts turned in for delivery? Quilts are something that are always needed, we have a number of places that are waiting for donations and encourage everyone to finish working on their quilts and get them sent in to Relief Share 700 Hwy 17 N, Houston, MO 65483-2225. For those who don’t sew, donations can be sent to the same address or to info@Relief Share.org through Paypal. To donate by credit card, please call 1-866-967-2011 ext 305.
Donations – in and out – that’s how everyone is helped and is helping!
Posted by: | CommentsThere is a pleasant smooth rhythm of donations that come in and go out like the tide at Relief Share. A large donation of fabric from lovely ladies who drove all the way up from Arkansas to bring the material to us was immediately put to good use. A local church organization is making dresses and garments for young ladies in Zimbabwe and needed fabric for their projects. Relief Share was able to share the fabric that came in with Amy who is heading up the church project, She was thrilled to accept the donation for their compassionate service efforts and we were glad for the opportunity to help.
A box of the cutest juvenile fabrics was received from a wonderful donor whose continuing help is a huge blessing to us here at Relief Share in our charity work. Must of the fabric was already cut in to squares so our volunteers can simply start sewing them into quilts for Shriners and other organizations who require warm quilts for the sick and needy they serve.
Cotton prints donated in for making into quilts for the sick and needy.
Thank you so much to those who take time out of their busy schedules and funds from their already stretched budgets to help us to provide essentials for the sick and needy. May God bless you as you bless others.
Carol Green
Relief Share President
6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225
700 Hwy 17 N, Houston, MO 65483
1-866-967-2011 ext 3
Donation received from Fabrics and More, Rolla MO – thank you!
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share founder, Carol Green, has been taking care of the area’s sick and needy since 1992 with a lot of love, work, and help from local businesses and volunteers. Our mission statement reaches out to encompass all of God’s children in a way that resonates in the heart of each of us. Artificial barriers are overcome through joining hearts and hands focused on the work. Race, creed, age, and diversity are not only not a problem, but celebrated as each of us brings our own special gifts and skills to the table as we can accomplish so much more together.
Recent donations out given by Relief Share include 235 twin size quilts for patients beds at Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis, some of our local children have been blessed with care at that hospital. Another important donation was received from Fabrics and More on N Bishop Ave here in Rolla. A donation of a treadle sewing table was received to assist in the created of the quilts given to the sick and needy. It is with everyone working together that the needs of area children and families are met.
Carol Green
Relief Share President
www.ReliefShare.org
www.ReliefShare.org/wordpress - blog
This is the owner of Fabric and More with the wonderful donation to help with the quilts for Shriners and other charity projects.
.
Fabric and More Proprietor with donation to Relief Share
Donation taken to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis on Saturday
Posted by: | CommentsMy daughter, Ashley, and I had a lot of fun taking a large donation to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis. We drove up the three hours to attend a wedding at the St Louis temple (absolutely beautiful) and then went to the hospital to drop off the donation. We arrived at the front desk as usual and filled in the customary donation form, then drove around the side of the building to unload the Suburban with the help of Wayne, the cheerful Shriners volunteer who helps with the larger donations.
As we unloaded the vehicle, my mind mentally traced all the items in the donation to the volunteers who had given so much of their time, talents and hearts to make this miracle for the little patients at Shriners as possibility. A pair of crutches that will now give the gift of movement to a child laid on top of the patchwork quilt that will snuggle a little one fresh out of surgery and needing warmth to heal. Over to the right, many large clear plastic bags were filled with over 65 afghans, lovingly knitted and crocheted by those who put their caring into action.
Special teddies that are made with materials to combat sensitive bodies and noses waited patiently for little arms to wrap around them and a gaggle of cutie smaller teddy bears in tan and happy purple looked darling with all their smiles peeking over the edge of the box.
The box picked up next was heavy. It was filled with 70+ boxer type shorts for the xray room so children would be able to wear modest clothing while getting xrays to determine how their surgeries were going. The shorts were a fun treasure hunt for Ashley and I – we shopped in Springfield, Rolla, Cabool, Mountain Grove, Houston, and Licking before finding what we were looking for in West Plains at Shay’s store – a huge clearance table with just what the doctor ordered – literally – shorts for the xray room with comfortable elastic waistbands and in sizes all the way from xsmall to very large for the older children. As we checked out, we told the salesgirl what the shorts were for and she called her manager to get us a further discount for charity. What a wonderful thing for them to do and we were so grateful to get the shorts we needed for just over $100. There were a few more we had picked up along the way at sales and delivering the box was a culmination of fun, shopping and a lot of love. We didn’t have time to sew the shorts like last year so were delighted to find what we needed already sewn.
Another heavy box, this time filled with hygiene items – shampoo, conditioners, body lotion, face cleansers, toothpaste, mouthwash and more. Saving all the little bottles when we go traveling is fun, much to the chagrin of my husband who hears me holler “Don’t use the bottles, I need them for the hospital” at every hotel room We managed to find someone selling a large box of sample size hygiene items at the local flea market – H & K in Houston, MO. That’s a lovely flea market and antique mall. Nice and clean and filled with wonderful treasures and also basics. The folks who own the flea market donate a booth to Relief Share to use as a fundraiser, many times we find what is needed at the flea market as we are there cleaning the booth and adding more things for folks to buy – usually from another de-cluttering episode at my house and the homes of volunteers.
Also in the donation is toys, books, blankets, clothing, and many more needed items. Roughly a year ago we had a request from Shriners to make and donate 240 twin size quilts for their small patients to use on the hospital beds. After the donation on Saturday we only need 5 more to make 240. The quilts are very much needed, if you are reading this and would like to donate a twin size quilt to Shriners, please send it directly to them in St Louis (you can find their address on Lindbergh Blvd using google) and email is at info@ReliefShare.org to let us know you did.
We are so grateful to all those who made and donated quilts through us to Shriners. There are a lot of happy cuddled children there now. We also sent a big box of toys from my www.GrandmothersAttic.net shop. Berenguer baby dolls just the right size for little hands, teddy bears, puppy dogs and more.
Here are a few pictures taken when we dropped the donation off:
Lots of love and smiles to unload at Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis for the children
Volunteer, Wayne, cheerfully helps us unload.
Bags of handmade hats and afghans – over 50 of them for the children in those two bags alone!
The gift of crutches will allow a child to be mobile.
Tigger talks - the children love that, and a puppy waits for snuggles
A warm quilt to cuddle a child in the recovery room.
Donations
I help get the toys out of the back of the Suburban
¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•. ♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨`♥♥ ♥•.¸¸.•♥´…¸¸.•♥´¨`♥•.¸¸.•♥´¨
Lots of love and work in the donation, now to get busy on the next donation!
Funds are needed to ship donations to recipients, please help by donating to info@ReliefShare.org through paypal or call us to donate over the phone with a credit card or check 417-763-3288. All donations are tax deductible as we are a 501 (c) 3 non profit charity.
Many times requests for help seem to be brought to us by an invisible hand. Folks who would normally never connect do in an effortless way that seems to be fate. Those who have love for others and want to help are ready to hear the still small voice who whispers to their heart and lets them know when to take action and when to wait quietly for promptings.
Have you ever had this kind of an experience? You just felt that you should be somewhere, or call someone, or do something, and don’t know why, but you know you should so you do it? What happened?
Please share your experiences with us by emailing info@Relief Share.org for us to share with others on our blog. When we share with each other similar experiences, we strengthen and validate our feelings, thoughts and efforts.
We can tell you from experience that great blessings for both the giver and receiver result from listening to God’s promptings to help each other.
No action was ever taken without it being a thought, first. The scriptures say it this way: “for as a man thinketh, so is he.” Have you thought about helping others but don’t know how or who? Wondered which charity to join as there are so many and all have good causes? Making a priority list may help you decide where to focus your efforts.
PRIORITIZING, WISDOM & KNOWLEDGE
- prioritize your projects to make sure you’re working on what’s truly important instead of getting caught up in minor things. Prioritizing is logically thinking about how to spend your time. Wisdom is knowing how to do that and knowledge is applying your wisdom to achieve the best results.
- you will want to make the greatest amount of progress towards your goals with the least amount of effort.
- for prioritization to have any meaning, it’s imperative that you have a clear objective. Can you visualize what you want to do? Can you see how accomplishing your goal will make you feel? Are you passionate about helping others?
- effective prioritization is the essential skill you need to make the very best use of your own efforts and other volunteers.
CHOOSING WHERE TO PUT YOUR EFFORTS
One key to choosing a charitable activity is the reason for your motivation. Why do you want to help Relief Share? Has a need personally touched you? Do you identify with how Relief Share is addressing the need – such as working with Shriners Childrens Hospital to make warm quilts for the tiny patients, donating food for the hungry, or books to help children read? Does contributing your time, effort and goods give you a sense of ownership and partnership? Giving to a compassionate service effort you believe in, or share a common vision with, means so much more than giving just for tax purposes.
Your efforts should also be what is needed. You should be convinced your gift would make a positive difference in the lives of the recipients. You should have no regrets, no afterthoughts, just confidence in your decision. Ask questions via email to see if we are actively working on a project that your heart is in, and feel free to suggest a cause that you care about but be ready to be part of the solution to the need you suggested.
Currently we are working on twin size quilts for Shriner Childrens Hospital in St Louis – also hospital gowns and xray shorts for them. We are also making and donating crocheted and knitted blankets, afghans and sweater sets for crisis centers and homeless shelters. Toys for children in church nurseries, food for the hungry, supplies for community groups and the aged to help others, clothing for tiny babies and warm bedding for families in need – this is some of what we have handled this week.
“I love my job!” – Have you heard many folks say that about their job? Well you hear it a lot around the Relief Share office. We truly love our jobs, though unpaid, our pay is the smiles on faces who were sad, grateful hugs from little children now snuggled in warm blankets, messy faces on children who have food all over their mouths who, before we arrived, had their tummies growling.
Come join us – let us know if you sew, knit, crochet, craft or have items you would like to donate. Email us, we would love to hear from you. Input is always welcome! info@ReliefShare.org
Carol Green
President
www.ReliefShare.org
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Busy fun FUNDRAISER! Donations in and out – the flow and ebb of love!
Posted by: | CommentsWe are now in our third week of sales for our fundraiser for Relief Share. Instead of having folks come inside our building, we took it to the parking lot in our mall. It’s been very busy as we set everything up like a garage sale to attract people and have a HUGE room all set up inside with tables and everything is just one dollar! The room was donated by a wonderful gentleman who owns the mall so we have a place to haul things in quickly when the rain shows up and to put things in for the duration of the fundraiser & business inventory liquidation sale at night so everything doesn’t need to be dragged around the end of the building.
Outside we have items that are half the original prices and sales from GrandmothersAttic.net, a store located in the same mall, are also being donated to Relief Share to help. We are hoping to have enough money from the fundraising to be able to purchase the material needed for the hospital gowns for Shriners, the x-ray shorts, and the twin size quilts for the patient’s beds. We also have many other projects we need supplies for – mama pads, diaper bags, diaper covers, bibs, clothing and quilts for sick and needy families.
Relief Share is blessed to have the Lucky Dollar Store down the road in Licking who has fabric at very reasonable prices and gives us a discount because it’s for charity. Now that our local Wal Mart no longer carries fabrics (don’t get us started on that…), we are grateful for the Lucky Dollar Store and Mel Porter – the owner.
A huge thank you to Ashley Green who has set up, taken down and spend the entire time monitoring and running the sales. She has been sunburned, tired, sore from dragging heavy items in and out of buildings and pressed into service more than she could ever imagine. What started out as a weekend sale has now turned into three weeks. She needs a medal and we are most grateful to her. A thank you to all the wonderful people who donated their time and effort helping.
Today 100 baby hats were donated out to Tennessee for the babies there. We pray none of them suffered from the recent flooding that has caused so much problems in that state. We also donated out preemie clothing to a little baby born to soon and only lived long enough for momma to say goodbye. A tiny baby doll was donated to baby’s older brother so he would have something to remember her by. A large donation went out to an expectant abandoned mother for her little one. Donations of household items to needy folks were given out and baby blankets and clothing were given out to a young family in need. Yarn donations have gone out to volunteers who are knitting and crocheting for the sick and needy in their area – those donations were possible from a large donation of cone yarn from a shop that shut down. Beautiful tiny baby blankets with gorgeous hand crocheted edges done by a very special volunteer were donated to the local hospital – thank you Roberta – your work is lovely and the hospital so appreciative.
Donations out – for babies, teens, etc.
Posted by: | CommentsThis week has been a busy fulfilling week for volunteers who worked hard to take care of important needs. Many donations went out to the sick and needy – here are some of them:
Baby boy soon to be born to a young single mother whose boyfriend walked out on her when she found she was pregnant. Scared and alone, she shared her situation with a friend who came to us for help. This is what we donated to her and her son - 3 bottles, 1 box q-tips, outfit, rattle, 6 baby bears stuffed toys, soother, lotion, shampoo, baby oil, 4 receiving blankets, 2 shirts, 2 beautiful handmade baby quilts, polar fleece blanket with matching puppy dog toy, crocheted afghan, 2 ciapers, 3 sleepers, 3 socks, booties, and pants.
Baby boy to be born to young military mother, donation given – bunting, bottles, socks, outfits, hats, blankets, and quilts.
Young teen – much needed household goods.
Many baby hats were donated out to the needy in Missouri and also through another organization in West Virginia.
Fabric, yarn and sewing supplies were donated to those who needed them. A sewing machine and serger were signed out to a volunteer who is working on projects for us for Shriner Children’s Hospital in St Louis.
The local food pantry recieved many bags of household goods, clothing, etc for the sick and needy they serve.
Toys were donated to a church for their nursery, including large toy centers and food.
These donations were possible with YOUR generous donations! Thank you. Please keep them coming. To help, please send donations to:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225
Some of the items needed are basics like soap, shampoo, deodorant, household cleaning products, dog and cat food, basic food supplies, Wal Mart gift cards for basics, toothbrushes, combs, water bottles, bedding, sheets and pillowcases, dishes, and other essential household items.
Craft and sewing supplies such as thread, yarn, fabric, batting, scissors, needles, patterns, buttons, zippers, and other sewing accessories and supplies are always welcome.
Dear little baby born this day – may God be with you all the way!
Posted by: | CommentsToday we gave out a donation for a tiny baby to be born tomorrow. Her mother is only 5 months along in her pregnancy. To save her life, she must make her appearance tomorrow with the assistance of a medical team and spend months in the neonatal intensive care unit.
Finding clothing that small – especially on a moments notice – is almost impossible, but not when you have Relief Share around We had lots of fun with Mom-to-be and Grandma-to-be picking out needed clothing, baby accessories, blankets, booties, and a lot more. With her arms full of donations made with love, the Mom-to-be headed out the door to, hopefully, fill her arms with another kind of love tomorrow.
Our hearts and prayers go out for the Mom-to-be and her wee baby girl. There is a lot of love knit, crocheted and sewn into the items she now has ready for her daughter. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who made this miracle of filling a need special and calmed a worried Mom’s fears of not having anything for her baby.
- This is a micro preemie baby, perhaps the size of the little one to be born tomorrow.
Donations out
Posted by: | CommentsRecent donations out:
- 3 quilts, 120 baby socks, 1 laundry bag for Shriners Childrens Hospital
- large rotary cutter and ruler, large craft organizer, bolts of fabric, batting, thread
- toys for needy children
- food for local church, toys and books for children through the church
- fabric and hospital gowns for hospital
- 27 baby afghans for local hospital obstetrical unit
- bibs for newborn baby
- clothing for adults and needy children
Donations out – baby clothing, beds, food and more
Posted by: | CommentsWhat a busy time of year as folks come out of their doldrums from the winter cold and want to help others do the same. Donations have been high and the requests for help pouring in.
Donations out this month include a number of families who recieved items for their new babies – sleepers, outfits, bottles, socks, soothers, blankets, afghans, hats, shoes, socks, lotion, shampoo, diaper cream, toys, bedding, diaper bags, receiving blankets and more.
Food, clothing and beds were donated to a needy family with the help of a local food pantry who works with us from time to time to cover needs when we are out of what is needed. We also donated to them this month with 5 suburban loads of household goods, baby clothing – much of it new with tags, toys, books, music, DVD, shoes, furniture, craft supplies, and a lot more.
A large box of newborn baby supplies was shipped to Florida for a little boy who is about to make his appearance.
A large learning center, toys, arts and craft supplies, food and books were donated to a local church for their nursery that was badly in need of items for the small children.
Lace was sent to a dollmaker who donates dolls dressed in pretty frilly dresses to needy children, embroidery floss was donated to another crafter who helps others.
Sewing machines and sergers were loaned out to those who needed to borrow them to work on much needed items – they have been returned in excellent condition. Our lending library is a huge asset to folks who otherwise would not have access to sewing machinery and we are grateful for the donations that made our lending library possible for volunteers and those in need.
Bibs and mamma cloths were sewn and donated to families requesting them. A wonderful volunteer makes lovely large bibs that are perfect for the toddlers
Books were donated to the needy, and precious preemie receiving blankets and afghans were taken to the local hospital and given out to area residents who lack the resources to provide necessary items for their tiny babies.
A donation of clothing and toys were taken to a local medical clinic to disperse to a needy family and toys were donated to be given to sick children to ease their traumatic experience when seriously ill.
Many more donations were given out this month, but this gives you an idea of what we are busy with.
We are grateful for all the donors and volunteers that make God’s miracles happen. God’s many blessings usually flow through hands that serve him here below.
Love and hugs
Carol Green
Relief Share Founder and President.
Info@ReliefShare.org
27 quilts donated to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis, MO
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share volunteers worked hard and we were able to deliver 27 twin size handmade patchwork quilts to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis, Missouri along with 20 laundry bags. These quilts are made of flannel and chenille, one side is solid and the other patchwork.
Getting there – help us help the Children’s Hospital with quilts!
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share volunteers have been working hard to get the twin size quilts sewn and donated to the Children’s Hospital in St Louis, MO. Another 13 quilts were delivered by loving volunteers for the hospital to snuggle the children in after they have had surgery or are in hospital for treatments.
The initial request from Shrines a year ago was for 240 quilts. We are delighted to say that as of today, 185 quilts have been hand made and delivered to the hospital!!!! That is a LOT of quilts in roughly a year. Many hearts and hands have been dedicatedly working hard to make this miracle happen.
55 more quilts are needed to reach the goal. We need your help! Flannel for the backs of the quilts is needed – white, cream, pastel blue, pink, green, yellow or peach. Batting is needed, and patchwork material for the tops. The children in hospital love the fun bright kids prints and also the pretty pastels in kids print. We add solid colors and pretty patterned fabric in mostly chenille, cotton, minkee, washable ultrasuede and soft touchable fabric that delight the children as they lay in bed trying to heal.
Please email us at info@ReliefShare.org if you need further information, or simply send what you can to:
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 64583-2225
Other supplies needed are thread, sewing supplies and notions, interfacing, knit fabrics, binding, PUL fabric, KAM SNAPS in any color size 20, and material to make the hospital gowns with. We also sew soft teddy bears for children in crisis centers and homeless shelters so can use batting and squeakers or rattles to put inside the bears.
Donations in! Thank you! Quilts and machines, fabric
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share received boxes this week with sewing machines for our volunteers to use to make the twin size quilts needed for the hospitals. We have a very special sewing angel who loves to keep us supplied with machines, material and other essentials so we can move forward quickly when requests come in! May God bless all who hear His call to help the less fortunate and sick.
The Piney Quilt Guild donated 3 quilts to be given to Shriners Childrens Hospital in St Louis to be used on patients beds – they are exquisite and will comfort and warm many sick children who have undergone surgery.
A donation of baby bibs that are lovingly made have been recieved and immediately donated out to babies that need them. They are wonderfully made and very much appreciated.
Donations of warm bedclothes and blankets have been donated out to a family in need who suffers from the cold. Food has also been given out this week to a needy family. Blankets, clothing and essential items are given out regularly to those in crisis or ill health. Thank you to all the wonderful donors and volunteers that make miracles happen and answers to prayers a reality.
Donations needed for urgent requests! U can help!
Posted by: | CommentsRelief Share been very blessed this year with donations of sewing machines and sergers for our charity to make the essential items needed for the hospital and other places we donate to. Our very special sewing angel donor has been going above and beyond as God’s special angel making sure our volunteers have machines and supplies to work with.
Relief Share is a 501(c ) 3 charity so anyone who wants a tax deductible receipt for what they send just needs to put their name and address in the box and we will get a thank you letter with tax paper sent right out.
What is needed:
- QUILTING fabric for the twin size quilts for Shriners Childrens Hospital. Kids print is wonderful, solid colors and patterns off all kinds is super – we patchwork all the fabric together to make interesting and warm quilts. These quilts stay on the beds at the hospital for patients.
- BATTING for the quilts – they are twin size. We have 64 twin size quilts left to go out of the 240 requested.
- PUL fabric for diaper covers for children in body casts. PUL is a laminated fabric that you can learn more about at www.wahmsupply.com
- Thread – all colors all kinds – we go through this like water.
- YARN – our volunteers use every little scrap. If you have been working on projects and have snips and tails left – we’d love these along with balls of yarn you may not need anymore. The fun yarn, like eyelash, feather or chenille is great to mix in with acrylic, wool or any kind or color. The scrap afghans are a huge favorite of the children in hospital.
- Binding – for the bibs we do for the babies and terry for the backs, cotton for the fronts. We have children who have hyperemesis and go through a ton of bibs each day.
- PLASTIC SNAPS for the snap machine. You can see what we need at www.kamsnaps.com – we use size 20. Colors are great, white is wonderful, too.
- PATTERNS – for crochet, knitting and sewing. Our volunteers love the crafting patterns – tote bags, baby items, clothing of all kinds, baby clothing.
As you can see, most of what we are asking for is craft and sewing type items. We do have a need for items for the office. Things like post it notes, toilet paper, clear box tape, and mostly stamps for postage are very much needed as there just isn’t any extra money going around to buy them. We bring what we can from home, but I have cleaned o