by Teresa Wilts

The North Metro work group has been growing quickly in the last year. Our volunteers have contributed an amazing average of over 1500 hours every month since October. In January we had over 150 volunteers report hours! Everyone works so hard and is so willing to share their time and talents. I can't thank you enough.

Work Space
The North Metro work group has gone to a permanent all day work meeting on the second Saturday of each month. Volunteers can come from 9:00am to 1:00pm or 12:00pm to 4:00pm or you can come all day or just drop in whenever you feel like it.

We hold a "business meeting" at 12:15pm so everyone can find out about all the latest news, so plan to be there for that! I'm looking forward to seeing you all at the next meeting.

Extra Work Meetings
Bundles of Love would like to thank the following groups of volunteers that held special work meetings and/or collections for us to help us keep up with the growing demand for our bundles:

• Skyway Seniors
• Shoreview/Lino Lakes Mom's Club
• New Brighton/Mounds View Mom's Club
• Kaposia
• Anoka County Shelter
• People's Congregational Church of Bayport
• Fridley Chapter of the American Sewing Guild
• St. Stephens Lutheran Church
• Church of St. Therese of Deephaven
• Lord of Life Lutheran Church
• Prudential Financial
• Embroiderers Guild of American/St. Paul Needleworkers
• All the participants at National Family Volunteer Day
  

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Minnetonka Work Group

by Jan Winstead

In 1981, before our youngest son, Jeff, was born, we received the gift of a hand-knit afghan. This gift was given to my husband at work from one of his employees that told him, "My mother made this". It was made of ecru cream yarn, knit in a basket weave pattern and was always one of my favorite baby gifts. When it came time to pack away baby items, it was packed away carefully in tissue, to save for "someday" when he might have his own child to use the afghan.

Fast forward 22 years later to the first meeting of the Minnetonka work group where Mary Thome arrived at the meeting and donated a couple of basket-weave patterned afghans. "I've always loved this pattern," I said and put them with the other afghans to go to the South Metro meeting. Several months later during our quilt tying and conversation together Mary happened to mention where her daughter had worked as a teenager. It was then that I realized she was "the mother" that had hand knit the afghan for my son. What a surprise to finally meet the person that had made this baby gift some 22 years earlier.

Each month as the ladies in our group turn in hand knit or crocheted items I continue to be amazed and delighted at their beautiful work. I believe they are truly making heirlooms that will last for many years and can be passed down to the next generation.

Thank you ladies, and keep up the good work for the babies!

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Introducing our newest group in the Lakeville/Farmington area...

Cross of Christ Work Group

by Sharon Moore

I have been attending the Bundles of Love work group meeting for about a year. At the Apple Valley work session I have the privilege of being the bundle assembly coordinator. When I started attending the Monday work group meetings at Ruth's house, I thought I would only sew quilt tops. Straight line stitching was hard enough. But a dear friend of mine let me use her serger; both Ruth and Lisa were very patient teachers, and now the person who got a D in home economics (the teacher felt sorry for me, I probably should have failed) is serging away. Even around curves!

Ruth Volk (middle) teaching crochet

This fall, two of my co-workers had premature babies within two weeks of each other. Bundles of Love presented both boys with preemie clothes, and later a bundle. The parents were very grateful. They asked for the names of everyone who sewed such lovely items. When I explained that probably up to 40 people were involved in making the bundle, they were overwhelmed!

A very big thank you to everyone.

I decided to start a Bundles of Love work group at my church. Please thank Ruth and Lisa the next time you see them – coordinating and running a work group session is a lot of work. Both Mary Jo and Ruth have attended the meetings to help me get started. About 15 people have participated so far, starting as young as 10 years old. Everyone is having fun learning to sew, crochet and knit new items. My hope is to involve a variety of people with different ages and backgrounds, to develop new friendships, have fun and learn a new skill or two.

Jeremy Paul in his Bundles of Love outfit

Cross of Christ Work Group Meetings

When? Third Monday of the month from 7:00pm to 8:30pm

Where? Church offices in Farmington (5200 W. 211th St., just two blocks east of Pilot Knob on Hwy 50).

Who? Everyone!! So if you live in the very south metro, we would love to have you join us.