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

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

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

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

If you are trying to keep your New Years resolution of losing weight, we have some suggestions that might help

1.  One day a week fast for one meal (or two) and donate the money you would have spent on those meals to charity.   Give it to your church, your local food pantry or send it to Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr, C208, Boise, ID 83714.  If you would have eaten something you already have in your home in your food storage – take the cans or boxes you don’t eat to your local food pantry, or donate them to a family you know could use them.

2.  We all know exercise helps us lose weight.  Get off the computer, stop watching the TV and dig out your sewing machine, knitting machine or serger and make some baby blankets or receiving blankets – perhaps a quilt or two to give away.  It will stimulate your heart and mind at the same time and bless the lives of the sick and needy.  If you prefer to hand knit or crochet – I bet there are some chemo patients that would love a hat to keep their heads warm or a prayer shawl or afghan to keep them snuggled and warm during the long hours of laying there getting chemotherapy for cancer.

3.  Gaining weight, for some of us, comes from comfort eating, do something else instead! Bad day – chocolate, upset – ice cream, family party and feeling good – Grandma’s famous peach pie, special occasion – root bear floats and birthday cake…well, you get the idea. Good or bad, we tend to reach for food to complete the situation.  Space abhors a vacuum.  Instead of reaching for food eating food, try doing something nice for someone else.  It’s hard to fork more pie in your mouth if your hands are busy sewing quilts for the crisis center and you can’t reach for the jelly beans at home on the counter if you are giving your neighbor in his wheelchair a walk in the sunshine for a much needed outing. Attend a local charity work meeting, volunteer time at the local library, or keep your hands and mind busy doing another productive service for someone – like weeding their garden when they can’t.

4.  There are good weight loss products to help boost your efforts (and there are many bad ones).  We recommend a supplement that compliments your efforts, not one that shocks your body into unhealthy weight loss.  After a great deal of research, we found that America’s number one health weight loss supplement is HCG drops.  Not all drops are good for you, though, depending on what the manufacturer has put in the bottle.  The most productive, safe, and cost effective can be found at www.herbalhealthco.com – you must stick to the diet suggested, but if you do, it works well.  HCGslim can help you get the body you want, healthy, strong and trim.  The company also donates to Relief Share – we are grateful for that.

Good luck! We would love to hear how your New Years resolutions are coming. Please feel free to respond to this post and share!

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

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

info@ReliefShare.org

God calls us to help his children. Will you?

Waiting for others to do something about the world’s pain and suffering…. something we don’t have time for at Relief Share, as our time is spent knitting, crocheting, sewing, serging, and making items to be donated out. When that is done we must take the donations to where they need to go.  Think we are done? Nope.  That’s when we have to ‘fill the pipeline’ and get needed supplies to do it all over again.

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?  Supplies or donations?  The answer – both.  With no supplies, there aren’t any donations and with donations not being given out, there would be no need for donations.  What creates the need at all?  The sick and needy.  What if all the sick and needy were taken care of and our efforts weren’t needed?  The Bible tells us that the poor and afflicted will always be with us.  What that means for us is we need to pick up our feet and work harder, longer, more productively and faster.

Sounds like a lot of effort? You betcha.  But…it is worth it and it is fun and rewarding.

Do you want to help?  It’s really easy – pick one:

- send donations of supplies or finished items to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65483-2225 OR Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714 – there are volunteers at both locations immediately putting your donations to good use and getting them to where they are needed most urgently.

- rev up your sewing machine, knitting machine, knitting needles, crochet hooks or crafting skills and create the items that are needed.  There are lots of free patterns on our blog. If you don’t  see what you are looking for, email us at info@ReliefShare.org and we will send you a pattern. What is needed?

Here is a list of the most urgently needed items.  You can either make them, ‘find’ them in your closets or a friend’s closet while de-cluttering, or buy them and donate by popping them into a box and mailing it or bringing  it by one of our locations.

1.  Baby bedding – quilts, receiving blankets (if you are making them 36″ x 45″ is marvelous, 45″ x 60″ is wonderful and any size is great), crib sheets, cocoons, anything to keep baby snuggly and warm

2. Baby clothing – onesies, shirt, outfits, sleepers, gowns, socks, booties, shoes, hats, etc

3. Baby accessories – diaper bags, tote bags, toys, nursing pillows and covers, hygiene items (shampoo, wash, diaper cream, conditioner, etc), diapers – cloth and disposable, pacifiers, boppies, bumbos, baby baths, high chairs, cribs, playpens, exersaucers, carriers, wraps, mobiles, toys, books, CDs and DVDs – anything baby.

4.  Items for families – food, clothing, hygiene items, books, learning items for homeschooling families or those augmenting public school learning such as workbooks for preschool and grade school, art supplies, pens, pencils, coloring markers, paints, etc.  Pots pans, dish cloths, and basic household items as we help the homeless and those in crisis centers.  We love to accept donations of prayer shawls and hats for chemo patients.

5.  Items for displaced animals – we help animal shelters, individuals that foster displaced animals and can use dog and cat food, veterinary supplies, equine supplies, small animal supplies – cages, flea and tick collars and liquids, milk replacement, dog and cat beds, scratching posts, collars, leashes, and more.  Those old blankets make really nice animal pads as well.

5.  You fill in this blank. Do you have it and don’t need it? Do you want to de-clutter your house and help someone else?  We take anything you want to send and give it to where it is needed the most.  Please send items that are clean and in good condition.  (I really didn’t want to say that but after having to get the office fumigated because of bugs sent in a large donation of really nasty condition, I have to).  Here is your mini lecture – the people who need your help are God’s children.  Only send items that you would give to the Christ child, himself. Nuff said.

6. If you want to help with fundraising (this said while lifting our eyes to heaven pleading for help),

- please consider donating part of your ebay auctions to Relief Share.org – we are listed with Mission Fish on Ebay and run charity auctions through GrandmothersAttic.net (for FREE – the time and expense for the ebay auctions is from our family owned business and many items you see offered on ebay are donated from our family store – we put our money where our mouth is) – just choose us from the drop down list on ebay when you list auctions.

- Consider making a donation through Paypal to info@ReliefShare.org – just click on the donate button on this page.

- Drop us a check, money order or cash (accepted but not recommended in the mail) to Relief Share, 6078 Lundy Rd, Houston, MO 65484-2225.  We have been at this address for over 20 years doing charity work and will always be here (barring unforeseen catastrophes that have not been penciled in on our calender so not likely to happen!  We will be old and grey and in a wheelchair still here working hard for many years to come.)

- Donate stocks or bonds  We have a wonderful stockbroker we work with who will be more than happy to process your donation.

- Donate  inventory or goods – many times you can write off the full value for tax benefits.  Have a car sitting around, an airplane, a house, closing a business?  Talk with your tax people or book keeper – you may find out it is cheaper to donate the items you have than sell what you have and don’t need or want.  We have had donated entire inventories of craft and general merchandise stores as the work of trying to tell the left over inventory from a store closure brought a lot less in value that simply donating the inventory and claiming the full value than just pennies on the dollar.  We have warehouses and garages to store the inventory as our volunteers quickly process the items to get them to where they are needed the most.

How do we get ‘it’ all done? Folks have asked us that before.  It’s easy.  We network with other charities and organizations to leverage volunteers and supplies so we are able to respond quickly and effectively to disasters, crisis, and pleas for help from the sick and needy.  There is no corner on charity and no need to get credit for what we do.  Networking is good for everyone – you included. Network with us to bless God’s children.

Jesus shows us how to be kind & loving. It is up to us to follow him and put our love for others into action.

Relief Share Founder, Carol Green, commented:  “We don’t care who gets credit, as long as the need is taken care of.  If we all work together, everyone is helped. The only one that really needs to get credit is God. Give ALL praise and glory to God, our Father,  as He is the real source of all blessings.”

Having said all this – we want to you consider donating to your own community first.  What? Yep, that’s right.  Yes, we desperately want what you have to donate to us to share with the sick and needy, but if you donate locally first and strengthen the community you life in – this creates a better world for everyone.  Strong caring supportive communities make a better world.  So, please consider first what you can do locally, and then, please help us.  We need you.  The sick and the indigent need you.  Please do something and do it today.

Hugs to you for reading all of this, and bigger hugs when you act on it. Thank you so much to all of you who have made miracles happen for those who are in need.  Together we are making a wonderful difference in the world.

So now you have items gathered and want to send them, but need to know where they should go.  Consider this information and prayerfully consider where you want your donation to go:

Carol C Green and her husband, Richard, are the Founders of  Relief Share.org and  NewbornsInNeed.org

A comment on Newborns in Need (NIN) from Carol Green:  ” My husband and I are the founders of NIN.  It is our first ‘baby’ that we helped untold numbers of babies through and our friend, Connie Edwards, took over the reigns when my genetic blood disease  got the better of me for a couple of years.  She is running NIN as a large successful charity started from the first baby item cut out at my kitchen table.  Last year she handled over 6 million dollars in donations.

True to the dream we envisioned when we started Newborns in Need – no one is paid in all of our 50 chapters across the nation and none of the board of directors are paid – it is a work of the heart, not of the wallet. Knowing Connie, there are probably more chapters than that now.

Please check out the NIN website and find a chapter nearest you.  They need your help. Now that I am back on my feet and running ReliefShare.org – I expanded my charity mission to include more than just the babies we all adore and promote both ReliefShare.org and NewbornsInNeed.org – find the locations nearest you and help today!”

Knitted baby cocoon pattern – http://www.reliefshare.org/wordpress/index.php/2010/10/26/knitting-for-baby-cocoons/
Knitted braided woven ball – http://www.reliefshare.org/wordpress/index.php/2011/06/07/braided-knitted-ball-for-charity-pattern-children-love-these/
Sewn baby cocoon pattern – http://www.reliefshare.org/wordpress/index.php/2010/11/30/free-baby-cocoon-pattern-to-sew/
Infant demise sewn pattern – http://www.reliefshare.org/wordpress/index.php/2011/08/20/relief-share-infant-demise-burial-gown/ – http://www.smocking.org/files/nt7n_weecare_program1.pdf

Hugs,
Carol Green,
ReliefShare.org charity
Ebay – dec2057 auctions
Fine-Air.com blog
GrandmothersAttic.net store

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

Getting into the Christmas Spirit - NEED vs GREED

I have been reading and pondering the list of “I wants” for Christmas that have been hitting the internet and the circumstances around them with some folks justifying their requests for ‘help’. I wonder how many of them Christ would have approved of.

Asking for help to bless the life of a baby, who no fault of their own, has a dire health situation thrust upon her that needs serious attention and help is a sweet, selfless kind thing to do.

Asking for MORE presents because you don’t feel that efforts of mooching has gotten enough freebies for your kids or yourself who are already getting presents at Christmas is simply not Christ-like.  I am referring to a mother stating that her kids were ‘only’ getting a few presents each from Toys for Tots and that just wasn’t enough!  To make it worse, she and her husband work, but she decided to ask for more Christmas presents from the public anyway.  (that sound you just heard was my jaw dropping at the ingratitude and blatant greed).

What has me in such a knot? As most of you know, I run a charity. I see the worst of the worst and the most helpless and serious cases of lack. It really makes me sad to see essential donations siphoned off because of greed, when they are desperately needed.

The truth is there are people who have zero food, they aren’t even asking for a traditional Christmas dinner (though there is nothing wrong with that, food is essential) – they are asking for anything – a little bit of bread and clean drinking water. Yes, there are areas in the USA that people have to purchase their water as the drinking water is not safe. Imagine that – just wanting some water to drink and not getting it because someone decided that ‘Santa’ needed to be more generous with them and their already taken care of kids.

Let’s turn these negative comments I just made criticizing people for being greedy and selfish (yes, I admit I did that out of sheer frustration and indignation) into something positive.

If folks really want to make a difference this Christmas, here is the start of a list of some things that are actually needed and wanted:
- bottled water, food, multi-vitamins, bread, milk, fruits and vegetables
- body soap, shampoo, conditioner, dish soap, cleaners
- clean underwear, a basic outfit – a sweat suit or something warm, a coat, gloves, hats, mittens
- basic baby items like diapers, blankets, sleepers, hats, pacifiers, etc.
- a toothbrush ( and if you are feeling really frivolous, some toothpaste
as well).
- blankets, sheets, pillows
- a Christmas card. Oh, you don’t think this is an essential? Ask the folks in the old folks home whose kids – living off the money they are taking from their aged parents and going on beach vacations – never come to see. The ones the workers in the less reputable old folks home drug to make them easier to take care of and dampen their sadness and upset.

Take these items to your nearest homeless shelter, crisis center or church to donate out. Those folks, like me, work with the sick and needy all the time and know exactly where the items need to go. We stand anxiously waiting for donation boxes to arrive to immediately get the life saving food and water and clean clothing to those who have nothing.

It is best for folks to donate locally to save on shipping – the money spent shipping items can help more people, but when you have taken care of those in your area, please consider donating to other charity.  There are folks in the US who desperately need your kindness and help so step up this Christmas, lengthen your stride, and please, please do something. Anything. Send essentials and whatever else you would like to send and do it wholeheartedly with your love and prayers.

This is a wonderful horrible time of year. Wonderful if a miracle happens in your world and terribly horrible when it doesn’t and suffering happens. Somehow everything is magnified at this time of year – happiness, sadness, love, hate, joy, sorrow – you can be the difference in your life and someone else’s life, if you choose to do so.

If you find this post overwhelming, please just delete it. Sometimes we need to withdraw from life to catch our breath, and that’s okay for survival, but if you are feeling able to help – do something, give something – even if it is just a kind word, a smile or a little help. One pacifier send in a package will just cost a few dollars, but to that mother whose baby needs it, it is very much important. One box of Mylicon drops for baby’s gas from Wal Mart (the generic Equate is a lot less and just as good) makes the difference between tears of joy and tears of sorrow for a family who just doesn’t have the money to get any.

If God has placed you in a position to sacrifice to bless someone else’s life and you can give more, let me share with you a secret of the universe. What you send out in love, returns back to you many times over.

Service and charity blesses the giver just as it blesses the receiver. We can be both givers AND receivers at the same time. That’s the secret and the key to happiness. The world says it like this: Spread the joy. And I say, please do.

May God bless all of you according to your actions, and may you be worthy of great blessings.

Carol Green
ReliefShare.org
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225

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

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

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/wordpress/index.php/2010/11/15/350-baby-cocoons-for-the-hospital-are-needed/

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/wordpress/index.php/2011/08/20/relief-share-infant-demise-burial-gown/

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

Wait, did you catch the last idea? Shopping? Yes, we meant to put that in. We have wonderful donors who LOVE to shop.  Our marvelous talented shoppers take their ‘fun money’ and go shopping thrift stores, flea markets, garage sales, outlet malls and clearance isles to help others with items such as baby blankets, clothing and accessories, hygiene items like soap, toothpaste, hair brushes, diaper ointment, shampoo and conditioner. Boxes of books, videos, toys, diaper bags, large print books for the elderly, movies to keep children in hospital peaceful and happy, and makeup for teens in Shriners Childrens Hospital who have spent months in hospital – many times years filled with many hospital visits and need to feel ‘normal’.  That eyeshadow or lipstick on sale for .25 many not make much of a dent in your household budget, but it could mean the world to a teenager who has been staring at the hospital wall for months, stuck in her body cast and feeling left out of the world.

Children’s videos are extremely important.  We have watched children who are in a great deal of pain and have had surgery after surgery settle down and calmly watch a Disney movie and let their bodies heal instead of fighting the nausea that haunts them and focusing in on the pain that washes over their days endlessly.  You can give them the distraction they need by providing a toy, book, video, coloring book and crayons to allow them at least a few stolen moments away from the constant pain and drudgery of hospital life. Will you?  We do hope so.

A few extra moments of your time, a couple of extra items in your shopping cart – you could be the angel of mercy for those who are suffering, sad and needing your help to feel God’s love through the gift from a stranger who cared.  Please don’t wait – the pain and loneliness for the children in the hospital and the aged in the old folks homes doesn’t wait.  Do something now, today.

If you only have a moment and no time to go shopping or pack a box for the sick and needy, then please just take a minute to click on the link to donate a few dollars through Paypal to Relief Share.  We have volunteer shoppers who would be happy to go shopping on your behalf and take the items to those who need them.

The last donation of funds was given by a beautiful kind lady who wanted to help us with yarn.  She donated $50 through Paypal.  We were thrilled that she would be the answer to prayers for those who need the baby cocoons that the hospital requested to distribute to the most destitute of their patients.  Because we are a charity  and have a non profit status, often times we can get the needed supplies and items for a lot less when donations of money come in. Her $50 bought far more than if she had gone to the store and bought it herself.  Both Relief Share volunteers and the donor were thrilled!

Carol Green
President
Relief Share
6078 Lundy Rd
Houston, MO 65483-2225

or

ReliefShare
6200 N River Pointe Dr c208
Boise, Idaho 83714

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.

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

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

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

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 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

Relief Share – Knitted baby hat pattern for newborn – free, fun, quick, easy!

Baby hats are so easy! All you do is cast on 60 stitches on size 7 circular needles – mine are 16″ circulars and knit for 5 1/2″ to 6″ then decrease. The decrease is done by knitting the 8th stitches together, then knit the next row then knitting the 7th stitches together, then knit the next row then knitting the 6th stitches together, then knit the next row then knitting the 5th stitches together, then knit the next row then knitting the 4th stitches together, then knit the next row then knitting the 3th stitches together, then knit the next row then knitting the 2th stitches together, then knit the next row then cut the thread long and thread a yarn needle. Run the yarn through the last few stitches and pull tight. Weave in the end. Voila! Done!

Here is a hat I finished last night.  Instead of doing the top of the hat in the pattern above, I used the last few stitches to knit an icord and then knotted it.  Sometimes I will do an icord loop.  These hats are fun, quick and easy to knit and the hospital and homeless shelters love them.

If you knit your hats in purple and donate them, you are honoring the ‘prevent shaken baby syndrome’ effort.  This is a serious problem and a simple purple hat can help hospitals work with new parents to stop this growing trend that is hurting little ones.

If you have a picture of a baby hat you did you would like to share – please email your picture to info@reliefshare.org with the pattern and we would be happy to include it on our blog.

All of us working together creates a synergy that blesses the lives of the babies we love so much and bonds us together in friendship and purpose.

If you would love to share some of your yarn stash with the volunteers to knit and crochet baby hats, cocoons, afghans and layettes – please send your donation 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.  Share the love

Hugs

Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org

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

Yarn spinner / winder / twister

I just listed this on ebay.  It is a yarn/winder/spinner/twister to make your own yarn.  ReliefShare.org needs a jumbo yarn winder and the best way to get it is to sell the yarn spinner/plyer to buy one.  The one we need is a lot cheaper than the one we are selling as it only takes yarn from a skein and puts it into a center pull ball for our knitting machine and for hand knitters and crocheters.  The one we are selling can actually make plyed yarn from a number of different balls creating a new individual yarn.  It is fun and works well but we need the other winder worse as it makes jumbo balls and we use a winder daily.  We are in need of 2 or three more for the volunteers.

Please spread this link around so we can raise the funds for the jumbo yarn winders to make center pull balls that we need.  If you have one you can donate – even if it isn’t a jumbo one – we would love it.  Our address is Relief Share, 6200 N River Pointe Dr C208, Boise, Idaho 83714.  We made 250 queen size quilts last month with donations of batting and fabric that went to the hospital – a huge thank you to everyone who participated in that effort.  Now we are making baby blankets, afghans for the aged and cancer patients, baby cocoons and hats for all ages with fall approaching and winter coming on. This is when we ramp up to get everyone knitting and crocheting to meet the needs when the weather turns colder.

We got a wonderful donation of knitting needles to share with our volunteers and gorgeous yarn from our angel donor who always sense exactly what we need when we need it – I swear she has a direct connection with God – she’s amazing (yes, she is here on this list   We can use any yarn you have, even scraps, as we make the wonderful scrappy afghans that the children in Shriner’s Hospital love – all the colors and types of yarn in their afghans keeps their attention away from the pain they are in and keeps them cuddled and comfortable.

President Carol C Green
info@ReliefShare.org
www.ReliefShare.org
www.ReliefShare.org/wordpress/

Dear little baby, born this day - may God be with you all the way.

Being a ‘good’ Christian.  What does that mean to you?  That’s the opinion that matters to the face in the mirror.

There are quite a few people who don’t go to church anymore because they were offended by their brothers and sisters who went there.

The bible says not to offend and not to be offended. Easier said than done when our emotions kick in.  I’ve been horribly offended, too, and wanted the perpetrators nailed to the cross for the pain they inflicted.  It wasn’t right, it wasn’t fair, it was unjustified – oh ya, I could really rant on in what I saw as a justified position as a victim.

Then I realized that I wasn’t a victim.  I had become the sinner by refusing to forgive and wanting ‘justice’ – lets call it what is really was – I wanted revenge.  Oy!  Put an entirely different light on things.

Being a good Christian – and loving God enough to obey him – I took a hard look at MY behavior and realized I needed to stop playing the ‘blame game’ and justifying my non-attendance on others.  I humbled myself, forgave the perpetrators (never having received an apology or even seeing any change in their behavior) and found peace.

I now attend church for the right reason (in my eyes) and that is to worship God.  Church is not a social club. You don’t primarily go because of mortal friendships but you are supposed to mainly go because of eternal and spiritual friendship with your Heavenly Father and your brother Jesus Christ.  It isn’t the “Church of Sally” or the “Church of Ron” – its the “Church of God” and while mortal friendships are beneficial and supportive, it is best to realize that the true purpose of church is to connect with your Creator – the one who loves and supports you the best.

Going to church allows you to strengthen your testimony and faith in God.  If you can’t humble yourselves enough to forgive and going to church is counterproductive, then fine – stay away and struggle on your own for a while.  However, if you can rise above the pain and misery inflicted on you by others, so you can once again enjoy basking in Gods love with others – please do go to church. Seek out and find a church that meshes with your concept of God, find one that brings peace to your soul. When you find that wonderful place – then you can reach out to others who are hurting, like you are now hurting, and bring them into your circle of love to shelter, care for, and support.

The Bible tells us to become strong first – then reach out.  If we are weak and hurting, instead of helping others, we could be dragging them down as we spew anger, frustration and pain all over their life – making it harder for them, instead of being a blessing for them.

Life is a journey, not a destination right now.  We live each day at a time, one footstep at a time.  Most days we move forward, some days we are backsliding, but we are always going from day to day, moment to moment and praying for help so that it can be forward motion.

Let go of the insult, the anger, the indignation, the frustration – all the negative emotions associated with what is holding you back.  You don’t have time or energy for it, life is short and time is fleeting.  When you do that, life gets into clearer focus and it is not as hard.

What really gets our life in focus is dealing with challenges, and sometimes other’s challenges can make us very grateful that our similar challenges in the past are over and we can now help others out who are in the same situation we were that hurt so badly.

Before I start to cry again so badly I can’t see the sewing machine, I am going to get off the computer and back to sewing burial gowns.  I have such a hard time making them.  I lost 3 children and while God has made the loss bearable, it still stings enough to make it very hard to sew the tiny gowns and bonnets for babies whose parents never got the chance to say a decent hello before they had to say goodbye.

Please, dear friends, forget your own pain today and soften the blow for others.  Speak kindly, wisely and comfortingly.  There are others all around you who are drowning in sorrow.  they show it in different ways – some of the evidence of pain is negative – striking out, saying or doing not nice things.  Find those people and be a blessing to them. Sew a burial gown, bake a batch of muffins to feed their body as your hug feeds their soul.  Give them a hug, Take them to the doctor or shopping for groceries, if thats what they need.

Listen to those who are in need of help without criticizing or even speaking if they need to unload, but most of all – listen to your Heavenly Father who loves you. He needs you most of all as the greatest blessings from heaven usually flow through hands that serve Him here below.

Off to do what has to be done now….pray for me, it’s very very very very hard.  (If you need me, I’ll be there.  That’s what being a ‘good Christian’ means to me, listening to my Heavenly Father and reaching out to help others as He helps me. )

Soft hugs
Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org

(Note – this post is introspective.  It is not a rant on religion but sharing why we do the things we do at Relief Share. )  We would love to hear from you on your perspective of charity work.  Email us at info@ReliefShare.org

Cocoon made with Love That Yarn stripe from Hobby Lobby

Experiment with color. Enjoy the process of crafting a remarkable item to share with those less fortunate or sick. You will be doubly blessed as you put your love for your fellowman in action through service and charity.

We make so many items for the hospitals and for the sick and needy that it can get pretty hum drum to use the same yarn and colors over and over.  To spice up our charity work and enjoy what we are doing again – we simply add variation and color.  We either change up the pattern just a bit to make it slightly different and interesting – adding seed stitch to our knitting or using a variegated yarn instead of solid colors – and the joy in creating comes flowing back in again giving us a renewed love for the projects we are working on.

I ran across a wonderful tutorial on youtube on how to get the most from your variegated yarn. The idea was simple but brilliant. Mike suggests pulling the yarn from opposite ends to get a color reversal to double your benefit from using variegated yarns.

One of our Directors also has a marvelous way to make the most of variegated yarns. Jennifer Sundquist is an experienced knitter and crocheter and owns “The Tiny Panda” business – you can see her facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tiny-Panda/177250085656698 Her technique for working with variegated yarns is to watch how the colorway interacts with the pattern. When she sees that there is too much of a color being added to the project, she ties off some of that color and omits it from the yarn being used. By doing this simple technique, she can control how much of any color being integrated in the pattern is impacting the final result. This is especially helpful when using your own dyed yarns if the colorway turned out different than what you wanted. Don’t toss it out or put it in the back of your craft room – simply use the tying off technique to get the amount of any given color you are looking for.

Dyeing yarn with koolaid

If you are in a rut with your charity knitting and crochet by being bored with color – make your own!  Another way to get the most from variegated yarn is to dye your own yarn. Wool is the best choice of yarn to work with and it can be dyed with koolaide and your microwave. Yes, it does work and the color is permanent. Jennifer has dyed some incredible colorways that are absolutely gorgeous. Using Koolaid to dye yarn to make beautiful colorway (variegated yarn)

Here is a tutorial on the internet on how to dye wool with koolaid: http://knitty.com/ISSUEfall02/FEATdyedwool.html

Yarn dyed with koolaid - simply gorgeous

Some of the wonderful colorways you can purchase in variegated yarns are found at the major chain craft stores. My favorites are:

Hobby Lobby – the store brand of Love That Yarn is always a good choice. You can find two types of variegated yarns in that brand. The ‘stripe’ version of the yarn will give you, yes, you guessed it, stripes – but not just solid stripes. There are pretty accents in the stripes that make your finished items wonderful. The other type of variegated yarn made by Love That Yarn is the ‘ombre’ – the more traditional type of variegated yarn with spotches of color.

Ombre pattern turned in to argyle with just a tension change - how fun!

I discovered, by accident when working on a charity fundraiser cocoon, that the ombre also makes amazing patterns when you least expect it. When making a cocoon, I put extra tension on the yarn and the basic ombre or splotch coloring turned into an argyle pattern. Very beautiful and more complex coloring and completely unexpected and welcome!

Another colorway that I love to use is Caron Simply Soft. In my opinion, that is some of the best yarn to use for baby projects as it is silky and soft and drapes beautifully. I also discovered that Wal Mart has three colorways that just came out a few weeks ago, as Wal Mart is adding all their fabric departments back (yay, Wal Mart – we love you again!) and the colorways are gorgeous. They are not available at any other stores in our Boise, Idaho area yet so I quickly bought up all that I could.

If you have ideas and comments on using color with yarn in your charity or other projects, we would love to hear from you.  Our email is info@ReliefShare.org

Carol C Green
President
ReliefShare.org
ReliefShare.org/wordpress

Chow dog dyed to look like Panda

Oh – just a fun aside note:  Yarn isn’t the only thing people like to dye.  This is a picture of the latest rage from China – people are dyeing their dogs like other animals.  Its safe and fun and quite interesting, but that is an entirely different post altogether *smile*

A donation of 5 boxes of fabric just arrived from a wonderful donor. While we use most fabrics, we rarely use double knit polyester but we know that if we put our thinking caps on, we can find a use for it. We are looking for input and ideas on how to use for the benefit of the sick and needy. Please email us with your ideas – we would love to hear.

Have a wonderful summer and enjoy the gorgeous days that God has given us to be happy in.

Carol C Green
President
ReliefShare.org

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