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

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

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

.

At Relief Share we receive many packages of love and caring. Some are sewing, knitting and crochet supplies, some are finished items and some are notes that express the desire to help others with a few dollars tucked inside.  All packages are signs of compassion, nurturing and wanting to make this world a better place for all.

Recently we received two sewing machines from a very special source.  Debra and Ray Cox are long time followers of Christ and show their love for others through years of service by helping the sick and needy.  Many times they put their own needs aside to take care of others.

True unconditional Christlike love is a hallmark of the very elite who understand how love is at the very center of a peaceful productive life. Through Ray and Debra’s excellent example, many others followed through the years to work with the charity chapter they ran to help hospitals and other organizations with essential items for the sick and  needy.

Debra has since ‘graduated’ and returned home to live with Heavenly Father.  We love her and miss her but know we will all be together again on our ‘graduation’ days as we follow her home.  Ray continues her legacy of love through service, dedication, donations and caring.

May God bless them for all they do for others and may we follow in their footsteps to be better, kinder and more compassionate.

Carol Green
President
ReliefShare.org

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

.

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.

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

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

Debra Cox - - -Aug 18, 2011

Debra Cox, our long time friend and sweet wonderful volunteer has left this world and is with Jesus today in paradise.  Debra is very much missed and loved by those here on earth who are separated from her temporarily in death.  When it is our turn to go home to our loving God, we will rejoice again in the company of our precious friend.

Debra passed away last night, leaving behind her cherished husband and beloved children.  She still reaches out to those in need through Ray as he is donating what she had gathered in her lifetime and will now be blessing others with it.

She has a darling little granddaughter, Amber, that we will be watching grow up in the legacy of love her grandmother set for her.  Our hearts and prayers go out to the entire family and all that know and love her.

Ray is such a special sweetheart. He is honoring Debra’s memory by making sure that all of her work, collections, clothing and things she left behind are being used to bless the lives of the sick and needy.  In his time of sorrow and need, he is expending efforts to carry on the work that he has spent a lifetime sharing with Debra.  Such an unselfish kind response to his own pain is typical of Ray.

Debra and Ray are God’s special team to answer prayers of those here on earth desperate for assistance.  Even though Debra is working on other other side in paradise and Ray is working on this side on earth to help God answer prayers, they are only physically separated from death but always together forever in the life and love of the heart.

Debra’s children, grandchildren and extended family have a legacy of all the love, work and kindness both Ray and Debra have extended to the downtrodden, sick, afflicted and most helpless of God’s children.  May her memory always burn brightly as a legacy of love and caring to everyone.

Prayers for Ray and Debra’s extended family are most gratefully welcomed.  Thank you in advance for your love and caring for this special family in their time of separation and sorrow.

————————————————————

Here is our original post on Debra a few years back:  Let us introduce you to a very special leader-servant.  Her name is Debra Cox and she is very much in tune with the Holy Spirit. She has been answering prayers for many years, along with her husband Ray.  In her community, babies have blankets, sleepers, soft toys, special needs filled and given love from a stranger they may never meet that loves them so much she will sacrifice even her health to provide essentials for them through local hospital and organizations.

I first met Debra years ago.  Such a wonderful lady, and so kind. When told about the how the sick and needy babies in her area were suffering from the lack of essentials, her response was “Yea, Lord, I am here – send me!”  She jumped right in and gathered volunteers around her to help.  Most of the work she did herself, and she is very much loved by all of us.

Debra paid a very high price – her sacrifice and efforts over the years has claimed her health.  Today she had surgery for cancer and while some of it was removed, she has weeks of chemotherapy to rid her body of the thousands of nodules that remain.  She is no longer able to do all the compassionate service work she has done in the past, but her husband told us today that as soon as she is able, she has already targeted another area of need to address when she gets her feet under her.  What a lady, what an angel, and what a fine example of being Christ-like she has set for all of us.

We know God is carefully watching over her with love and compassion and our prayers are with her.  What we are calling for today, is not fabric, baby clothing, sewing supplies or hygiene supplies – though we do need those – what we need the most today are prayer for our beloved Debra, and for her comfort and peace while she goes through this earthly trial.

Soft hugs, Debra – we love you!!!!

President Carol C Green
6200 N River Pointe Dr C208
Boise, ID 83714
www.ReliefShare.org
info@ReliefShare.org

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*

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

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

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

Together we can make a wonderful difference!

I am so grateful to everyone who is more than willing to step up and help.  The donations are much needed and immediately put to use and the kind words and encouragement are the icing on the cake – I love getting the little notes tucked in with the donations that I share with the volunteers

Hugs
President Carol Green
info@ReliefShare.org – you can help!
www.ReliefShare.org/wordpress/

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.

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 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!

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

Christ shows the way with charity.

Here is a wonderful quote about service.. I love the Saviour and his protecting, guiding care. When those around us get too critical, life can become burdensome. All I have to do when situations occur is remember what the Saviour did in the same type of circumstances – he turned the other cheek and lost himself in service.

He knew and understood well what his mission here on earth was. It was not about Him, it was about serving others and offering us His selfless gift of the atonement.  Jesus Christ told those who would be His followers that they were to give meat to the hungry and drink to those who thirst. His is a gospel that includes taking in the stranger, loving neighbors as self, and visiting those who are sick or imprisoned. He taught that we are to love and care for each other, that we should visit the fatherless and the widow in their afflictions, and lift up those whose hands hang down and whose knees are feeble.

May this help you as much as it helped me!
President Carol C Green
ReliefShare.org

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Marion D. Hanks on Christ’s Example of Service

“We rejoice in the wonderful welding in his life of principle and performance. The Savior taught precepts of spiritual perfection, and he practiced and applied them with perfection. He could with authority declare that he was the light and example the people should follow: ‘I have set an example for you… I am the light which ye shall hold up — that which ye have seen me do.’ (3 Ne. 18:16, 24.)

“What he *did*, as we read in a splendid verse in the book of Matthew, was to go ‘about all Galilee, teaching… and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of… disease.’ (Matt. 4:23.) Matthew also recorded that, as he approached the final events of his earthly ministry, Jesus taught his followers the parable of the sheep and the goats, representing the judgment to come, in which he clearly identified those who will inherit ‘life eternal’ and those who will ‘go away into everlasting punishment.’ (Matt. 25:46.) The key difference was that those who should inherit the kingdom with him had developed the habit of helping, had experienced the joy of giving and the satisfaction of serving — they had responded to the needs of the hungry, thirsty, homeless, the naked, the sick, and those in prison. Well known are his words, the words of comfort to them: ‘Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me’ (Matt. 25:40), while to those who were condemned to ‘everlasting punishment’ he made the sad pronouncement, ‘Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me’ (Matt. 25:45; italics added).

“Nothing would seem more clear than the high premium the Savior put upon selfless service to others as an indispensable element of Christian conduct and of salvation. Helping, giving, sacrificing are, or should be, as natural as growing and breathing.”

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

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