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* Bundles of Love story
* Fundraiser T-Shirt
* Agency Spotlight
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* Funding
* Help Wanted
* Ebaying for Bundles
* Pictures of Connor
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* Thanks
to Share
* Donation Thank-You's
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* South
Metro Work News
* North Metro Work News
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* Rochester
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* Minnetonka Work News
* Board of Directors
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* Special
Thank You
* Flammability Questions
* New Patterns
* Preemie Size Measurements
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* Volunteer
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* BOL Results
* Board Changes & Spotlights
* Spreading the Word
* Donations that Thank & Honor
Volunteer Spotlight
We’d like to introduce you to some of our caring volunteers...
JAN WINSTEAD
written by Belinda Ostrowski
Jan Winstead, coordinator for the Minnetonka group and a regular South Metro volunteer, so modestly describes her own contributions to Bundles of Love that it takes a moment to realize just how much she’s done.
After working with us for a couple of years, she took on the task of organizing a work group for the west suburbs, certain that plenty of volunteers would come forward if they had a place to meet. That meeting place has turned out to be her own home, where a regular group of volunteers arrive each month to tie quilts for several hours and others drop off completed projects or pick up supplies.
Although Jan encourages her group to bring their sewing machines to the meetings if they wish to, she’s found they prefer doing their sewing at home.
“One lady was so anxious to help, but she doesn’t sew, knit or crochet, and wasn’t sure what she could do,” Jan said. “I told her I was sure she’d be able to tie quilts and now she’s here every month, enjoying the work and the friends!”
Jan has also had the opportunity to speak to groups in her area about Bundles of Love, and her excitement about the results is contagious.
Recently a class of 9th graders at Hopkins North Junior High School made preemie caps for us after being taught to crochet by their teacher.
“They set a goal to make 100 caps, and they ended up with 125!” Jan said. “One boy made a point to tell me that while he didn’t do any crocheting, he was in charge of “marketing and advertising,” which meant he got local stores to donate crochet hooks and yarns.”
When she asked the students if they understood why these caps are so important, one boy responded, “Oh yeah – we know all about hypothermia!”
Jan and her husband are now “empty nesters,” with one son in college and another living in California. She knew she’d need to find something to fill the void her boys left, and Bundles of Love has been a perfect match for her. Clearly, it’s worked out pretty well for us, too!
DOROTHY (STOHL) GRANFORS
written by Mary Jo Prinsen
I have never met Dorothy (Stohl) Granfors, but I know she has a heart of gold. Dorothy lives in Iron River, Wisconsin and mails in beautiful crocheted items to Bundles of Love.
The first time I received a package from Dorothy, it contained about 40 colorful crocheted baby sweaters which were definitely a hit with the Hispanic community at West Side Clinic. Since then, I have received many more crocheted sweaters and other items, including burial gowns, from Dorothy.
Some of the yarn she uses comes from her church and friends who are cleaning out their stash before moving. Dorothy uses even small scraps of yarn in her colorful sweaters.
Dorothy, 68 years old and retired, married William Granfors last September. When I spoke with her recently she told me she has 4 children and 5 grandchildren and she loves to crochet. She lost a grandson to a drowning accident when he was 8 years old and likes to help other children in his memory.
Dorothy has also made monetary donations to Bundles of Love in memory of other loved ones. Thank you Dorothy for sharing your talent with so many babies through Bundles of Love!
BRIDGET MUELLER
written by Mary Rossman
Bridget Mueller has been with the Rochester work group since it started. She is married and has two teenage children. She works partime in a lab at Mayo Clinic. Her mother, Nancy O’Neill, is also a volunteer in this work group.
On Bridget’s days off from her job, she works on quilts for Bundles of Love. She is our quilt coordinator and there is always a supply of beautiful quilt kits available for the volunteers to sew.
Bridget is also very prolific crocheting afghans in colors coordinated with the quilts. She puts them together in sets with matching sheets. Recently, she added sleepers and “onesies” to her list of projects when she purchased a new serger.
She is always available, and her many talents include organizational skills. Imagine what our store room at Assisi Heights would look like if Bridget did not pop in during her “spare time” and organize things. The shelves are full of labeled containers. This makes it very easy to gather things together if there is a crisis situation such as an urgent need for a bundle.
Bridget also steps in and helps with our workdays providing much leadership. She is dependable, dedicated and a pleasure to work with. Bridget is a caring and concerned person who truly does make a difference in the lives of many needy babies.
Our group would not be as productive as it is without Bridget and the many other wonderful people who volunteer with Rochester Bundles of Love.
Thank you Bridget - Your work and your friendship is cherished!
KRYSANDRA HISLOP
written by Belinda Ostrowski
Krysandra Hislop, coordinator for the East Central work group, first learned about Bundles of Love when she and her five daughters were seeking a home school service project.
“We looked on the Internet to find a project where we’d be learning as well as blessing the community,” Krysandra said. “Our family has been so blessed, we just wanted to be able to give back to our community.”
Although she was drawn to the work of Bundles of Love, she and her daughters wanted to learn the necessary skills before making a commitment to our group.
Sadly, while they were brushing up on their creative abilities, the family faced a loss that ironically reinforced Krysandra’s appreciation for the work of BOL.
“We lost our first son at 20 weeks gestation, and then our second son at 19 weeks,” she said. “We were at Abbott Northwestern for our second son, and they offered us burial garments provided by Bundles of Love. It was such an affirmation that others knew this was really a baby.”
Soon Krysandra and her daughters, now ranging in age from 3 to 15, began creating garments, but when they realized how long the drive to the nearest work group would be, they decided to organize their own team in their hometown of Cambridge.
The East Central work group has been growing steadily since its start in 2002. Best of all, the Hislop family welcomed a baby boy, Roger John Jr. (“R.J.”) on April 29, 2003.
“I just really value children,” Krysandra said.
Of course, anyone who’s had the pleasure of meeting her knows that without being told. Thank you, Krysandra and family, for your passion and service for Bundles of Love!
LISA CABALLERO
written by Teresa Wilts
Lisa has been a real asset to our North Metro group. Since joining us about three years ago, at the invitation of her friend and fellow volunteer, Beth Livingston, Lisa has been the life of the party. She’s one of the many reasons we have so much fun at our work meetings, with her wonderful stories about her friends and her joking and kidding. Lisa has made friends with all the other volunteers from the babies up!
Although Lisa likes sewing sleepers best, she doesn’t have as much time for sewing as she’d like. And no wonder, she works full time and attends school in the evening, recently graduating with an Associate of Applied Science degree in Software Technologies. Lisa also cuts all the diaper bags for the North Metro work meetings, about 40 every month!
Lisa says her short term goal with Bundles of Love is to find a more effective way to report volunteer hours in a timely manner. But don’t let that snappy comment fool you. Lisa is such a dedicated volunteer that she shows up at meetings after sleeping only 3 hours.
Recently Lisa has volunteered (all that arm twisting is really painful!) to help coordinate the work meetings. This has been a huge help to the North Metro group because now we have two people to help greet volunteers as they come in, find them something to work on and answer questions.
Lisa, a great big thanks from everyone, especially the members of the North Metro work group; we couldn’t do it without you!
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