St Joseph Burn Center shares story, photos of Stitches of Hope recipients

Hi!

These are photos of some of the recipients of our caps: Kacy (mother), Hannah (girl), Riley (baby). They received Stitches of Hope caps through St Joseph Burn Center in Ft Wayne IN. Tragically, they were involved in a house fire explosion more than a year ago. The result was deep burns with scattered permanent loss of hair.

This is a truly sad event, but they are receiving great help at this renowned medical facility (http://www.stjoehospital.com/).

Still, my heart aches for them. I can't imagine how devastating this prognosis would be to this small family—2 of them babies!

I could go on, but I think the photos say it all. Several of our volunteers have said how much it helps their frustration when they can make a little difference in the lives of hurting people by making and giving away soft, clean, well-made caps.

If you’d like more information about how to help people like Kacy and her girls by making free crocheted and knitted and stitched caps and turbans as part of Stitches of Hope, please let me know. We’re always looking for volunteers.

Take care,

Kayleen Reusser

stitchesofhope@gmail.com

A Note about Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana

Hello! Greetings from Stitches of Hope!

I’ve asked personnel from the medical facilities that receive our free caps to provide information about themselves and photos of their facilities. That information will be posted here so they can be recognized for their hard work. Here is one:

Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana is committed to helping people with cancer by providing individual support, durable medical equipment, information, transportation, health supplies, financial assistance, complementary care and support groups.

To be eligible for services, a person must have a diagnosis of cancer or brain tumor and reside in one of eleven counties in northeast Indiana: Allen, Adams, DeKalb, Huntington, Kosciusko, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells or Whitley.

What we do makes a difference here in our community for friends & neighbors. We are that knowledgeable and compassionate friend who supports the patient as well as the family.

Visit our website at http://www.cancer-services.org/ or call for information: 260-484-9560

toll free 866-484-9560.

Gail Hamm LCSW
Program Director

**

If you live in one of these counties and need someone to talk to about cancer, I encourage you to give them a call. They are friendly and knowledgeable about the subject and willing to lend a listening ear.

If you are a medical facility that would like to receive free crocheted, knitted caps or sewn turbans (summer weather projects), please let us know. We are happy to accommodate those who need us.

Have a happy day!

Kayleen Reusser

stitchesofhope@gmail.com

Caring Kids Rock!

I love my job of being a librarian at a middle school. After raising my own 3 kids, I confess it was a jolt to get back into that age group. But now that we’re used to each other, I love seeing all of the kids every day. I often chat with them during lunch.

Lately we’ve been using part of our lunch periods to make get well cards for Stitches of Hope recipients with notebook paper and markers. I will stick the notes inside the boxes stuffed with Stitches of Hope caps for the recipients. So when the boxes arrive at medical facilities with free caps, the patients will also receive get well notes from caring, wonderful kids. This group of boys and girls, numbering around 12, are doing their best to create bright, beautiful notes to people they don't even know in hopes it will help them have a better day.

The group has grown from an original number of around 4. I don't force or bribe the kids to do this loving gesture. I always tell them, “You can take a break today if you want.” But they’re always back there, creating messages of hope. Their turnout is incredible. There are probably 50 pictures now in my stack. Since these don't weigh anything or take much room in the boxes, it’s all a bonus!

What can you do today to help someone or encourage another person to help? Sometimes it doesn't take much incentive.

Below are the 2 websites for free hat patterns. One is for knitting and the other crochet. At the top of each page is a link that will take you to a list of all kinds of free patterns from afghans to women's clothing. There are lots of patterns for all kinds of skill levels (beginner, easy, etc.). The majority of Stitches of Hope caps are skull caps (they fit around the head). This crocheted pattern in one color takes me 1.5 hours.

http://www.knittingpatterncentral.com/directory/hats.php

http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/hats.php

Please contact us at StitchesofHope@gmail.com with questions. We hope to hear from you!

Phone Call from Thankful Medical Facility

This week I received a wonderful phone call from one of the medical facilities that receives our Stitches of Hope caps. It was the Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center in Hartford, CT. Their rep said, “I just wanted to thank the volunteers of Stitches of Hope for continuing to send caps for our patients. They are a hit here as I’m sure they are each place they are sent. Please thank all of the talented stitchers. I hope you will continue to send caps to us.”

That is a truly appreciated call. We don't go to the effort of making and sending the crocheted, knitted, sewn caps for accolades, but it is good to know people are finding the caps useful and helpful in raising spirits. We never send anything out but the best and what we would want our own loved ones to wear.

The Helen & Harry Gray Cancer Center was recommended to our group from a friend of mine who received treatment there. We’re always on the lookout for new facilities that could use our free Stitches of Hope caps. The caps are handmade and individual in design. We make them for men, women, and children. They are well-made and often prayed over as many of us go to church and think about the caps’ future recipients while we are stitching.

If you are a cancer patient in need of a cap, please let us know the name of your facility and we’ll get in touch with them to see if we can arrange a distribution through them. We may be able to send you a cap in the meantime. Here is our email address: stitchesofhope@gmail.com.

If you’ve received one of our caps, we would love to receive a photo of you wearing the cap. With your permission we’ll paste it here to show others how nice it can be to have a cap to wear.

I’ve just completed another cap for a man as our latest order from California is asking for 25 caps for men. Most of our volunteers prefer to make caps for ladies or children, so I tend to fill in the gap for men. Admittedly, some men don't mind the bald look, but at least they could wear it to bed and keep their head warm. I never thought about how hard it is to keep warm without hair.

We’re all learning a lot through our involvement with Stitches of Hope. We look forward to helping as many people as we can in the future. Stitches of Hope is in God’s hands.

Donations can be dropped off or sent to:
Quilts n Gifts Shop
2035 Commerce Dr
Bluffton IN 46714
www.quiltsngifts.net

Take care,

Stitches of Hope Winter 2010 Newsletter

Stitches of Hope
Volume I Issue 3 Winter 2010

Hello! I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas.

We sent out some heavy numbers of free homemade chemo/medical caps during Nov and December. 500 each month!

That brings our total of number of free chemo caps distributed to medical facilities to 4,000 since July 2008. I’m just amazed and so proud of each one of you. You’re such a blessing by giving and expecting nothing in return for your talent, money and time.

A few weeks ago, a co-worker showed me a video made by St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (one of our recipient medical care providers) of how some of their littlest patients were celebrating Christmas in the hospital. It was a tearjerker, let me tell you. Some wore caps as they played and some didn’t. At least through our efforts they have a choice about whether to cover their sweet heads or not.

My favorite activity now that the cold weather has definitely set in is to snuggle on the sofa with a favorite movie and with an assortment of yarn around me to make caps for people in need. I hope everyone reading this is keeping warm also and enjoying a pleasant indoor activity. What better way to spend our time than in helping others? Recently I read that, according to a survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the rate at which Americans volunteer regularly has remained at 26% of the population and it has not increased in 40 years.

That sounds discouraging. But while volunteerism usually declines during periods of economic distress, it is currently on the rise in America, particularly among young people!

So consider inviting a person younger than yourself to make caps. We all know cancer and other medical problems transcend age, ethnicity, economics, sex. Everyone can be blessed at giving and receiving beautiful, warm caps during these wintry months.

Just a review for those who might be reading about us for the first time – the members of Stitches of Hope distribute each high quality cap or scarf at no charge to recipients at medical facilities around the US.

We meet the 4th Monday night of each month from 6pm-8:00pm at the 1st United Methodist Church, 325 W. Washington St in Bluffton IN. We do our best to notify members if there is a change, due to weather.

The next Stitches of Hope meetings will be on the following dates: January 25; Feb 22; Mar 22.
Everyone is welcome to bring projects to the meetings to work on and items to donate.

Donations can be dropped off or sent to:
Quilts n Gifts Shop
2035 Commerce Dr
Bluffton IN 46714
http://www.quiltsngifts.net/
Donations are welcome to help cover the cost of mailing the packages.

Stitches of Hope volunteers Kayleen Reusser (260.824.8573) and Karen Story (260.824.8743) are happy to answer questions about the organization.
stitchesofhope@gmail.com or K4storys@gmail.com.

Thanks for all of your help! We couldn't do it without you! Karen, Kayleen

Stitches of Hope Specs for Donations

Good Morning!

It’s a pretty and cold winter morning here. No school delays so that’s something. Today I sent out another 5 boxes of caps to facilities around the country. That puts us at 4,000+ caps! Wow!

In future entries I’ll highlight some of the facilities where we send caps. Some are to places with sick children. Some are to VA Hospitals. Some go to burn patients. Many go to cancer patients.

Today I want to go over some of the specs for the caps we send out for readers who may want to contribute:
Each cap should be made with new yarn.
The yarn for each cap should be pet and smoke-free. We’re providing these to people whose immunities are low and we don't want to contribute items with allergens.
Please make the caps as soft as possible. Certain brands of yarn specialize in this. A craft store should have samples available. I prefer Caron yarn.
Do not use glue to attach buttons, or other adornments, as this dries rough and can irritate skin. Plain is OK as long as the cap is well-made and soft.
We can use caps for men, women and children in various sizes.
Make the cap long enough to cover the ears. This provides a welcome “disguise” to people that the person beneath does not have any hair. It also is a welcome help in cold winter.
It isn't too early to think of sewing turbans and scarves for spring/summer. Last summer we had more requests than we could accommodate. Most of our stitchers crochet and knit. So we’re looking for more sewing volunteers. If you like to sew and need a pattern, let me know and we’ll work it out.

That’s all I can think of for now. Here’s another quote:

One of the things I've learned is that the best way to enhance your own life is to contribute to somebody else's.
— Oprah
http://www.oprah.com/entity/pressroom

By working with us on Stitches of Hope, you’re enhancing dozens of lives, including your own! Thanks for your contribution and God bless!

Stitches of Hope children's caps and a thank you.

It’s a wintry day today in the Midwest. The school where I work has closed early. I’m praying all teachers and students get home safely.

This is the kind of weather that is conducive to working with soft yarn and creating beautiful crocheted, knitted and sewn garments for people in need – Of course, it helps to have a fun movie to watch at the same time. J I think mine will be a British murder mystery (again)

Here are some photos of our Stitches of Hope children’s caps. One has a tag that we attach to each cap so recipients know who we are. The other pic has matching scarves.

I’m pasting a thank-you from one of our medical facilities here:
“Dear Stitches of Hope: We received the adorable hats today from your organization…What perfect timing!! It is negative 12 degrees here in Columbus! (Ohio) The love that you put into your hats is obvious…Thank you so much for thinking of our children…

Sincerely,

June Palm
Family Outreach Coordinator
Kids 'n Kamp
http://www.kidsnkamp.org/

We don't go to the effort of creating free caps just to be recognized, but it is nice to know our caps are helpful.

I’ll put other notes from recipients here from time to time to tell you some of the places we distribute. This is all free of charge to the people who receive the caps. We pay for mailing and all materials and labor. Our goal is just to get them into the hands/onto the heads of people who need them. We rely on donations to help with the shipping costs.

Please let me know if you would like to contribute to the cost of mailing or if you work with a medical facility that could use our caps. We have sent caps to facilities in seven states on a regular basis, but thanks to the support of our terrific volunteers, we have a steady stock and so are looking to expand to help more people.

I thank God for wonderful giving people. They make life worth living. If you're reading this, you are one of these special people.
Take care,

Little Things Mean a Lot

Do quotes ever motivate you to do something?

They do for me.

I’ve always liked this one from anthropologist Margaret Mead, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
http://www.heroesfoundation.org/

I found it again today and thought about it as I packed up more boxes to send out our free caps to people with cancer and other medical problems. Some of our caps are tiny as they are for children and babies. Its terrible to think of children being ill. I have no medical background whatsoever so I can't treat them. I have no money to start a foundation or add a wing to a hospital.

But I do have 10 fingers that allow me to make pretty, warm caps for men, women and children in need.

I have a computer that allows me to contact places that can use our caps.

I have a post office system (USPS) that will pick up Stitches of Hope packages at my home, instead of carrying them to the post office (ClicknShip).

I have friends and family who support this effort.

All of it together adds up to a lot of pluses.

Here’s another article that talks about small gestures that mean a lot. I encourage you to read it. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/06/22/politics/main5104343.shtml

Here's a quote from the story that reminds us little things mean a lot:
"Sometimes, it's the smallest gesture that makes the difference to these vets," Duckworth said.

Whenever you’re thinking that the number of caps you create to share with others doesn't amount to much, just remember these sayings. They’re true.

God bless those of you who help Stitches of Hope and other organizations who provide comfort to people with cancer and other medical needs.

We may never know the difference it makes in someone’s life – and that’s OK.

These knitted caps w/ a twist are lovely and warm outdoor caps. We emphasize high quality work for our recipients -- they deserve the best!

Take care,

Kayleen