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1:
* Bundles of Love story
* Fundraiser T-Shirt
* Agency Spotlight
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2:
* Funding
* Help Wanted
* Ebaying for Bundles
* Pictures of Connor
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3:
* Thanks
to Share
* Donation Thank-You's
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4:
* South
Metro Work News
* North Metro Work News
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5:
* Rochester
Work News
* Minnetonka Work News
* Board of Directors
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6:
* Special
Thank You
* Flammability Questions
* New Patterns
* Preemie Size Measurements
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7:
* Volunteer
Spotlights
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8:
* BOL Results
* Board Changes & Spotlights
* Spreading the Word
* Donations that Thank & Honor
Rochester Work Group News
Articles written by Joanne Larsen
In
Memory:
Ivy Schwieters (pictured at right) sewed baby clothing and quilts. She put love into the beautiful stitching she did and many babies and families were blessed by her love and handiwork.
Ivy sewed when she was confined to her home. Her immune system was suppressed due to the treatments she underwent for recurrent cancer. Sewing brought some light to her days when her destiny was clouded.
Mary Rossman and I visited her while she had hospice care and she gave us the last quilts she made for Bundles of Love. Reaching out to others helped her cope with a diagnosis she could not overcome.
Ivy died in April and her family asked for memorials to help babies. Bundles of Love has received many monetary gifts in memory of this volunteer who was a very special member of the Rochester work group.
We will miss her dearly.
Greater Needs:
New Life Family Services has informed us that the cuts in the state budget have caused an increase in the number of our bundles their agency distributes.
The county has had budget cuts that result in decreased funding and even staff reduction. The economy, job losses and a decrease in state funding all mean that what we do is even more important!
Even though an income level may have once qualified for state aid, that same income may no longer qualify for financial help. When that happens, needy parents and families turn to private organizations like New Life for help.
The Rochester Bundles of Love work group has now pledged eight bundles every month to New Life Family Services. If there are greater needs in any month, we will try to provide more if we can. We will be challenged but those who are in need are perhaps challenged to a much greater degree!
Thank you for whatever you are able to do to help.
For upcoming Rochester Meetings and Work Sessions, click HERE
Minnetonka Work Group News
by Jan Winstead
Contact: Jan Winstead
E-mail: Jan2win@aol.com
The Minnetonka work group has now been meeting for one year! Up to a dozen volunteers meet once a month on the Tuesday before the South Metro meeting in the home of Jan Winstead.
It was decided early on that no one wanted to haul a sewing machine or a serger, so tying quilts (and visiting) quickly became the order of business for these monthly meetings.
Each month 20 to 30 quilts are tied and the ladies say it is a relaxing activity and they’ve enjoyed meeting new people. The meeting is also a time that items completed at home can be dropped off and supplies can be picked up.
Finished items are delivered to the South Metro work meeting in Apple Valley for assembling into bundles. The group agrees that they like knowing their handiwork is donated to a local charity and the items don’t have to be shipped out of state. They also like the flexibility of working at home.
Each month many beautiful crocheted, knitted and sewn baby items are turned in at meetings. One member cuts out garments, which are immediately turned over at the next meeting to members that do the sewing.
New patterns are shared, traded and exchanged with discussions on just how to complete the item. Family news is shared during the “visiting time”.
We were all relieved when one volunteer’s son returned to the U.S. after being in Kuwait. Another volunteer is looking forward to the birth of her first great grandchild.
Although we come together in order to help others, we receive so much back in return for our efforts!
For upcoming Minnetonka Work Group meetings, click HERE
Bundles of Love Board of Directors
Mary
Jo Prinsen, President
Lakeville
Teresa
Wilts, Vice President
Mounds View
Lisa
Buesing, Secretary
Apple Valley
Joanne
Larsen
Rochester
Mary
Rossman
Rochester
Ruth
Volk
Eagan
Beth
Koskie
St. Paul
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