winter2003newsletter-page3

This photo was shared with us by Regions Hospital NICU nurses, with permission of the twins’ parents. Logan (left) and Riley (right) are decked out in their Christmas finest – sleepers, hats, and blankets made by Bundles of Love volunteers.

A Gift that Keeps on Giving

As a child, I was given the gift of volunteering. As with most things we receive at a young age, I didn't appreciate this gift until long after my parents had instilled the habit within my life. As a teen and young adult, I did not hear the call from work in service fields such as medicine, social work or teaching. In my education and working life, I gravitated towards the business world and the use of financial and analytical skills. Yet in my personal life, I've always enjoyed working with small groups of children and giving handmade gifts to friends and family. The gift of volunteering, the giving of my time worked its way into my life in quiet, unobtrusive ways.

As the years have passed, I've come to realize the precious gift of service to others that has helped lift me up at times when I was struggling. As a leader of volunteer efforts, I've had others confide in me that they really felt the need to volunteer and give to others to help deal with sadness or tragedies in their own lives. They've learned the lesson that I have – that giving to others is the best gift to give to yourself.

It has been a joy to work with all of you in fulfilling the mission of Bundles of Love. I feel blessed to work by your side in this effort. I'm overwhelmed with all that you have accomplished and the many families to whom, as a group, we've been able to reach out a helping hand. Your kindness and generosity and the time that you make to help others whom you may never meet have touched me.

In this New Year, I'd like to ask each of you to consider whether there are others in your lives who may welcome the gift of volunteering in their own lives. Please take time to invite friends, neighbors, and relatives to join our effort. We welcome children, teens, men and women who wish to join this mission of love. As we continue to involve more volunteers in our effort, we'll continue to reach out to more organizations and help more families. Thank you all for sharing the precious gift of your time. I look forward to another successful year for Bundles of Love. ~ Mary Jo Prinsen, President

Volunteer Resource Center Events

The Twin Cities Volunteer Resource Center organized a National Family Volunteer Day on Nov. 23. Bundles of Love submitted a project and we were thrilled when we were chosen as a work site for volunteers. The Volunteer Resource Center sent us 3 families to help us tear flannel for receiving blankets, cut the leftover flannel into bib and burp cloths, cut and stuff and finish stuffed toys. The families that came to help us brought their children with them. We had several volunteers from the South and North Metro groups who also attended and helped sew the receiving blankets, some quilts and the toys. Everyone had fun and all the flannel for one work meeting (about 100 yards) was torn into blankets.

Another event, a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service was held on Monday, Jan. 20. Volunteers were invited to spend the morning commemorating the day, and the afternoon on service projects. Bundles of Love was again fortunate to have been one of the chosen projects, and volunteers helped tear flannel, cut and stuff toys, and other projects. The meeting was held in Mounds View at the Messiah Lutheran Church Luther Hall.

(Left) Twins Devin and Katelyn in the NICU in Rochester say "thanks!"

(Right) Bridget Mueller, Rochester volunteer, holding Ben (born prematurely weighing less than 4 pounds, shown at approximately 4 months old) whose mother wanted to personally thank Bundles of Love for their handmade items. Ben is wearing a sleeper made by Rochester volunteer Nancy O’Neil (Bridget’s mother).

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