Message from the Charities Officer

[Lady D]

Heylas one and all!

I've got some plans running through my head for charities to donate to, but I want the opinions of the rest of my guild as well. Per a discussion between Rocket and I, we need non-denominational, non-partisan groups, and groups that don't support anything one wench might consider "not good" [IE no Planned Parenthood because they support abortions].

While I think we're going to be starting in the local NYRF area, if anyone has a particular local charity they think could use a donation, please contact me and let me know. I've finally managed to get my registered Wench.org data correct...I think... so you can reach me via AIM, e-mail, or by catching me at NYRF or CTRF.

At NYRF, I work the Gibby Games booth, which is right up on the porch of Main Merch, by Gate [long drawn-out reasons why which I druther not get into]. You can hunt me down there--I'm about 5'4, probably going to be running around with all my pewter, and my beltpouch has a fox head on it. ;-)

--Lady D--

[vanessa]

My favorite thought:

St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (Cancer specific in the research)

Back in April/May-ish, I wrote to them about costume donations (I have very little financially to donate (husband was out of work for 14 months...) was asking about non-monetary donations) but was denied based on skin conditions. Bummer, but very understandable... :(

Here is the response she sent me via email. For those of us who are stitchers, this could be a great donation cause... for those who aren't, it couldn't be a great monetary donation...

Because of the many restrictions in fabric and fit for patients with Hickman Lines, (semi-permanent lines attached to skin for chemo treatments) we must graciously decline your very kind offer.

However, we would still love to have your skilled support. Hancock Fabric will unveil the 2003 St. Jude line of cotton fabrics with designs inspired by patient artwork on May 12th. Perhaps you and your friends could make some tote bags from this material for children to carry their books and toys through the hospital and then back to where they are staying. ie: Ronald McDonald House or Target House.

Another idea is child size "scrubs" like male and female nurses wear. Just simple short, raglan type sleeve, V neck, pull overs made with St. Jude fabric. The children would love feeling like the grown up nurses at the hospital. We have children of all sizes so you are not limited by age.

The St. Jude fabric is quite inexpensive and by using it, you are also donating a percentage of each yard to the hospital. Not to mention....putting huge smiles on children's faces! Hancock Fabric is also offering a quilt contest and details will be in each store.

Gifts to St. Jude may be sent to: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 595 N Parkway, Memphis, TN 38105. Attn: Donor Services.

If you have any questions or if I can be of further assistance, email me or call Donor Services at 1-800-822-6344. My extension is 2061. On behalf of the families of St. Jude, thank you for your creativity and compassionate support.

Sincerely,
Shirley Indriolo

**edited comment** Looking up on Hancock's webpage, there are more than a dozen different fabrics' related to a St. Jude's search and they run about 6.99/yard. More than I usually like to pay for fabric, but it is certainly a good cause! One pair of scrubs for a size 16 child (large size before 'junior/adult' sizes) would take approx. 2 yds, depending on sleeve lengths.

[Lady D]

That's one that I'd looked at also--we hadn't exactly been thinking object donation, more like raising money in some fashion or another [ie stationing wenches at the kissing bridge with NYRF permission, collecting money and donating it to Said Charity], but I think I can sew. I think. ;-)

[Donnaccia]

Lady D...

I was in Public Relations about a year ago, and still have a lot of non-profit contacts in my handy-dandy li'l Rolodex. :D

Mind you, most of them are for Rockland/Westchester chapters of orgs, but I think sticking to local affiliations would be better/easier.

Here's some of the Contacts I have; again, these are all Rockland/Westchester County NY chapters:

March of Dimes
Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Rockland Family Shelter (domestic abuse/rape/shelter services)
American Heart Association
MDA
Hope International (Internation adoption services)

There's more, I know, but the Rolodex is home. let me know if any of those sound good to you.

PM or email me if you need more info...

[Rhia]

I've got a list of sew/quilt/knit/crochet for charities around the country. I'd be happy to send or post it.

Rhia Firewalker
Wench #328
Texas Local
Wench, Wife, Mommy, Chieftess

[Lady D]

I'll take the sew/knit/crochet for-charity things, as well as Everything Possible Out Of The Rolodex. :D I'm still working on the database, and the more I have in there, the better it is. I'm out of New Milford (CT) and most of my research has been in the area (LItchfield/Fairfield counties)--I do want Rockland/Westchester/NYRF-area charities.

Thank you!

--Lady D--

[Rhia]

The list is about 5 pages long in MS word... I'd be happy to post it or would you prefer me to e-mail it? I don't mind either way!

[Lady D]

Hrm... e-mail it, please. That way I can just cut-n-paste into the database.

--Lazy Darcey--

[Rhia]

On it's Way!

[Kae]

Go Rhia!
Another charity, that is national, is the Special Olympics.
We do a Torch Run for them every year and I know that all big cities do the same. It is organized through the local police and school systems. It would be fun to see how many of us could participate this year.

By the way, you don't really have to run. There is a section for serious runners and then one for the rest of us as well.
Kae

[Nevada]

In the dfw area in Dec there is a 5k and 1 mile event called the Jingle Bell run...it supports the local blood bank...all the runners where jingle bells and they usually have a costume contest before the race and other fun things as well....hey a dec. excuse to wear garb in public...including lovely cloaks that most down here dont get the chance to wear because of the heat during ren season here...

[Kae]

That would be great for us down here. Can we get it approved adn start gathering our "forces"?
Kae

[justLori]

Breast Cancer.

Here in the MD/DC/VA area we have the Susan J. Komen foundation--I believe they have nationwide walks...

Save the Boobies!

just Lori
Team Wench Local #42

[Rhia]

I do the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in Dallas every fall! It's amazing! It's happening on October 18th (ish) and is an incredible experience! I Highly recommend participating; the 5k run/walk is long enough to make it worth your while but is fine with just walking; even strollers are allowed!

[Kae]

We should arganize a group thing for that down here. I have never done that one, but it would be a good thing to do. I will bring it up to the others on the 9th when we gather.

Talk with you soon.

And Rhia, thank you for all your wondeful ideas.

[Rhia]

They do a project called the Recycled Card project; proceeds benfit the ranch as well as the kids' pocket money accounts.

It's REAL easy; everytime you get a greeting/birthday/thank you/ whatever card, toss the front in a shoe box or something. When it's full, send it to the ranch where the kids recycle them into new greeting cards and sell them. Super-simple, virtually no expense - just postage. I've done this in the past with other groups and the members just saved them up, then would give them to a designated person whenever they got together; when we had enough, we'd ship them off.

http://stjudesranch.org/Content/cardprogram.asp

Just a thought!

[Kae]

Great thought. That is something that the entire guild could partake in. I never do know what to do with old cards.

To get people interested we could make it a competition between areas. Compete by wait or something. You know, which area sent in the most cards by weight? Each area could have a designated person who collects and then mails them in.

St. Judes Ranch is a wonderful program for abused and neglected children.

Anyone interested in doing this?
Kae

[vanessa]

Anyone interested in doing this?Kae

Me! :)
Got a huge family and lots of holidays..... (birthdays included!) Never know what to do with all those cards except throw them out....

[Kae]

Anyone want to organize it? I am willing but don't want to be presumptuous. (Did I spell that one right?)

kae

[Rhia]

I'm sort of with you on this one; I'd be happy to organize this unless someone else is just gung-ho to do it.

[Nevada]

I once volunteered at the Komen walk...spent 3 days handing out packs to registered participants...met some really nice people...

[Kae]

Go for it Rhia, at least you could do the Texas area for the cards. Nevada, you want to get us organized for the walk? let's have fun!!!

:lumpy:

[Lady D]

One thing that we're trying to do is get 'thank-you' letters from the groups that we donate to. Let me try to get ahold of these people first, let 'em know who we are and what we do [in general :D ] and then I'm sure they'll be gung-ho.

-D

[Rhia]

Very cool! I'm so very excited about this...

Just let us know what we need to do to be kosher. Not that there's any hurry with mine, gotta gather the cards! Although I've got a ton myself as I've been doing this for a while and am due to send in a box.

Thanks for taking this on!

[Rocket RN]

That would be great for us down here. Can we get it approved adn start gathering our "forces"?
Kae

Sorry it takes me so long to respond to good things like this. I have been forgetting to check this forum. :oops:

If you can let me know the exact organization that is running the charity, we can make sure it has no religious/political ties. As long as there are no such ties, there should be no problem participating.

~V~