Page
1:
* Bundles of Love story
* Fundraiser T-Shirt
* Agency Spotlight
Page
2:
* Funding
* Help Wanted
* Ebaying for Bundles
* Pictures of Connor
Page
3:
* Thanks
to Share
* Donation Thank-You's
Page
4:
* South
Metro Work News
* North Metro Work News
Page
5:
* Rochester
Work News
* Minnetonka Work News
* Board of Directors
Page
6:
* Special
Thank You
* Flammability Questions
* New Patterns
* Preemie Size Measurements
Page
7:
* Volunteer
Spotlights
Page
8:
* BOL
Results
* Board Changes & Spotlights
* Spreading the Word
* Donations that Thank & Honor
The Bundles of Love Story
by Mary Jo Prinsen
How did it all begin? I’ve been asked several times recently to explain how Bundles of Love was started. Why did I decide to start this volunteer charity? How long has it been in existence? The evolution of Bundles of Love has been a faith-building experience for me and I’ve come to believe that God had a hand in the creation of Bundles of Love. Here is a brief summary of Bundles of Love’s history.
In February 1999, my husband and I entered the Internet age. We purchased a home computer and obtained service to access the World Wide Web. In spite of my doubts that we really needed a computer at home, I became intrigued by the vast amount of information at my fingertips.
During my late night “surfing” expeditions, I stumbled into many web-sites related to my hobbies – sewing and needlework – and became aware of some of the many charities who have benefited from the ease and low-cost of networking and communicating via the information super-highway. I was especially drawn to charities aimed at helping infants.
At first I was dubious that so many infants could be in need in our wealthy country, but soon I became determined to clean out my fabric stash and start helping. My time was limited and I determined that paying postage to mail items long distances would further curtail my ability to help.
I sought the counsel of my supportive mother (Joanne Larsen, now the leader of the Rochester Bundles of Love work group) about starting a local sewing group. Then, I stubbornly disregarded her advice to avoid over-committing myself and jumped in any way – over my head, but unable to ignore the strength of the inner voice that told me I needed to do this. Being a very supportive mother, she, of course, bit her tongue. Newly retired from her nursing career, she agreed to help and recruited fellow retired nurse Mary Rossman.
By late April, Marilyn Rukavina, one of my former co-workers, and Maggie Holland, who had found us through an internet message board joined the effort and the 5 of us became the local chapter board of directors for a national charity. Initially, we met in Marilyn’s home.
Our first goal became making up five infant layettes that we had agreed to provide to a Dakota County crisis pregnancy center called Life Care Center. We worked on sewing baby quilts, blankets, and clothing and found a few more volunteers.
We made our first donation in June, and agreed to continue to provide 5 bags of infant bedding and clothing each month for the clients of Life Care Center who had been determined to be in the greatest financial need. We provided bags of hand-made items, and through another agency, Life Care provided a crib to each of the families.
We continued to meet this goal, then started exceeding it as word of mouth brought in more donated supplies and volunteers, as well as more requests for our help by area clinics and hospitals.
A work group was started in Rochester and the group meeting in Marilyn’s home in Arden Hills continued to grow. Maggie’s career took her to New York and Heather Malecha became a board member. As Ruth Volk and Teresa Wilts came forward as new leaders, the south metro work group was formed and sewing classes were begun at the West Side Clinic to teach their prenatal students to sew quilts and blankets for their own infants.
In February 2001, after the board of directors struggled with the decision for several months and researched state requirements for setting up a new state-based non-profit organization which would allow us to make decisions locally and better meet the needs of Minnesota infants, Bundles of Love was “born”.
Today, Bundles of Love volunteers are supporting more than 30 hospitals and other organizations which help infants and their families in Minnesota and deliver thousands of items to help infant and their families. Work groups are meeting in Mounds View, Rochester, Apple Valley, Eagan, Minnetonka, Cambridge, south Minneapolis and downtown Minneapolis.
The “bundles” we produce and donate – originally a challenge at 5 during our first month few months, now regularly number between 80 and 90 each month. Generous volunteers continue to join our efforts, building my hopes that we’ll continue to grow and help even more families in the future.
How could we have come so far in just 4 years? I certainly could not have done this alone. I believe that we are doing God’s work and that only by divine guidance and the able assistance of each one of our volunteers could we have made such a miraculous journey.
I pray that our work will continue to touch the lives of more volunteers, babies and families in the years to come. May God bless you all for the part you each play in the Bundles of Love Story.
Fundraiser T-Shirts
Back by Popular Demand… embroidered Bundles of Love T-Shirts, Sweatshirts and Denim Shirts. The embroidered logo is two colors and you can choose your color, size and style of shirt. Tote bags are also available.
The price list is as follows: (add $2.00 for XL and larger shirts)
T-shirt (in a range of colors).....$14.00
Blue Denim shirt.....$24.00
Sweatshirt..... $19.00
Tote bag:.....$15.00 (natural color 13" x 15.5" with a 15" handle.)
If you are interested in making a purchase, please contact Teresa Wilts via e-mail at twilts@bundlesoflove.org
Agency Spotlight
by Teresa Wilts
The North East Strong Together Way to Grow program is a Minneapolis community-based school readiness program for all families who are expecting a baby or have children under the age of 6.
The program encourages families to prepare for success in school starting from before birth, with regular prenatal visits to health care providers, a prenatal class, safe living environment, parenting knowledge, child development and health issues. NEST also provides information about school choices and can even help parents with school registration.
The North Metro Work Group has been delivering 2 bundles a month to N.E.S.T. since September of last year. The bundles go to babies who will be followed by the Way to Grow program until they are in school.
Recently, because of State budget funding cutbacks, the North East and South East programs have merged and we have agreed to provide the combined programs with extra bundles to help with their increased needs.
It has been a pleasure working with you, N.E.S.T.!
Page 1 | Page 2 | Page 3 | Page 4 | Page 5 | Page 6 | Page 7 | Page 8