Leadership

As founder of Bundles of Love Charity, I feel I am fulfilling part of my life mission by combining my educational background with my lifelong hobby of creating handmade gifts and my passion for volunteering. My husband and I, parents to 3 adult children, 2 sons and a daughter, are very close to “empty nest” stage. I earned a BA in Economics from St. Olaf College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the Carlson School of Management. I currently am employed at Thomson Reuters as a Sr. Financial Analyst supporting Global Legal Technology leadership.

I began volunteering for BOLC in 2009. I recently retired from a long career, I picked up my crochet hook to volunteer making things for newborn babies. Being around the caring volunteers who make the handmade items is a real joy. Their warm hearts and generous spirit is what keeps me volunteering for Bundles of Love Charity. My husband and I have two daughters and 4 grandchildren. While family occupies most of my time, there is always moments for crocheting or reading.

I first started volunteering for Bundles of Love Charity during an employee event to share and learn new crafting skills on items for Bundles of Love. While giving back to others, I met individuals with similar interests and utilized my sewing skills. I enjoy the friends I have made through volunteering at Bundles of Love Charity and the sense of community. Volunteering at Bundles of Love is a nice change of pace from my full-time job as an IT Project Manager.

Actively giving back to the community and providing services and supporting those with the greatest needs has long been important to Julie on a personal and professional level. Julie is a general practice litigator with DeWitt Mackall Crounse & Moore S.C., where she litigates disputes of all sorts and also devotes substantial time to providing pro bono services. She is excited to serve the Board and those it assists and looks forward to continuing and furthering the positive impacts by Bundles of Love Charity in the lives of others within our communities.

Amy joined the Bundles of Love Board as the Director of Organizational Effectiveness in Dec 2016. Her interest in BOLC can be attributed to her 86 year old mother’s long time passion of sewing and knitting. Amy’s background and experience includes: vendor management, project management, business operations and change management. She currently is the Head of Planning & Governance in the Technology organization at Thomson Reuters. Amy enjoys watching sporting events and spending time with her husband and their three adult children.

I have been a BOLC volunteer since I moved to Minnesota in 2008. I love planning events and working with the fundraising team. Knowing that even the smallest of things that are done in BOLC make the biggest impact is an amazing feeling. Outside of BOLC, I am an IT professional and a professional wedding/special event DJ. My family is my life and I love to spend time with them whenever I can. I greatly enjoy music, fishing, food, spending time with my cats, and traveling.

I was drawn to Bundles of Love because of their simple message of care and love. I have worked with other organizations developing fundraising strategies, planning events and creating a dedicated donor base. My hope is to reach a wider audience and offer more opportunities for a new generation of crafters to learn about our mission. I am honored to be part of an organization that steps in when being cared for means the very most.

I joined Bundles of Love in the spring of 2001 after I delivered a serger to a Bundles volunteer. She said, “I’m so excited! I’m going to use this machine to help newborn babies in need. You’ve got to see what I’m making!” I had asked God for a mission, a ministry, a purpose; to use my gifts of sewing quilts and baby clothes. I often say, “These were his babies long before they were ours. He chose for them to be born.” I love that we create and distribute our bundles in Minnesota. We are neighbors helping neighbors for a stronger future.

I have been volunteering with Bundles of Love Charity for the past 18 years. When my fourth baby was born, I realized how lucky I was to have everything I needed for my family. It broke my heart to think that there were new moms out there that didn’t have the means to provide for their newborns. This organization makes me feel such a sense of accomplishment, as I’m able to use my skills while helping other families in our local area. We have grown into an amazing group of dedicated and talented volunteers, and I’m proud to serve along side each one of you!

Volunteering for Bundles of Love has been a great experience. I started a group in the small town of Chatfield and it has now grown to serve 5 counties and we have 5 or more meetings a month. I thought we would just make a few bundles but our group got the “bug” and just kept on growing. It is a joyful experience to help babies and families in need. There are many ladies that it has helped as well as they have wanted to give of themselves and use their skills in this endeavor.

I have been working with Bundles of Love for 8 years. On my first visit to the warehouse a woman gave me a tour and she had tears in her eyes. I knew this was the place that God was calling me to serve. I started out by sewing quilts together in my home and later came to work in the warehouse. Bundles has given me the opportunity to use many of the gifts and talents God has given me. Making new friends while meeting the needs of babies in my own community brings me much joy.

I am one of the original four women who started Bundles of Love Charity. I enjoy using the talents and gifts God has given me to help mothers and their babies who are less fortunate than I am. I sew and knit for the babies. I love seeing all the beautiful items our talented volunteers have created. My Accounting degree and years at U.S. Bank have helped me to be a leader at New Brighton. I always tell people that volunteering is addicting – and I am VERY addicted to volunteering.

My life was busy raising a family. Having had five children, I know what babies need. Helping other families provide for their infants is dear to my heart. I am thankful to our daughter who is the founder of Bundles of Love. She encouraged me to sew with a serger when I did not think I could. Now, I especially enjoy serging infant sleepers for the bundles. I am a retired RN. Some of my nurse friends also volunteer for Bundles of Love. We continue to be caregivers. This keeps our relationships close and endearing. Helping others makes our lives better.

I joined Bundles of Love in order to put my God-given gifts to good use. So that I might use them for His purposes instead of just my own. As a mother of two healthy young boys, I could not imagine not being able to give them everything that they need to survive: food, shelter, clothing and love. I was loved so that I could love others. The mission of this charity group helps me to do that and two-fold. I am providing clothing for the newborn and love for a newly formed family. I could not ask for a better opportunity to serve.