Saturday, October 10, 2015

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US!

It's hard to imagine that five years have passed since I took a leap of faith and launched Craft 4 Change.  I know, FIVE years!  So, without further ado...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY
CRAFT 4 CHANGE!
 
As I take this day to celebrate and reflect on all that YOU, our loyal Craft 4 Change followers and crafters have done, it is with a humble heart that I thank you.  I thank YOU for your words of encouragement, your monetary or material donations and most of all, for your participation in helping change the lives of others. I could not do this without you and your generous hearts.  We all have busy lives, but you have taken the time (and money) to go above and beyond what I have asked of you. 
Baby blankets for The Birthing Project


In the last five years, you have provided 588 scarves, 55 hats and 19 head/earwarmers to families in need of winter warmth.  Children with cancer received 90 fun and fabulous pillowcases to help brighten their day. Our soldiers abroad were blessed with 95 cooling neck scarves and 25 handwritten "thank you" notes (from children). Christmas was made a little brighter for families in shelters with the 177 stockings you helped create. New mothers received 46 baby blankets, 15 nursing covers and 1 car seat cover, all created by you. Seniors that use walkers were given 28 walker bags to help them carry their things in. Kids in special shelters just for them, received over 80 fun and creative "superhero" capes. Girls attending prom got to choose from the 24 purses and 17 pieces of jewelry that you helped create. Children in foster care (living in a children's shelter) got to carry their belongings in the 56 large drawstring bags you made, instead of garbage bags. Veterans at our local hospital were remembered and cared for with the warmth of 25 lap blankets that were so lovingly made by you. And lastly, children that have been sexually abused are receiving love and worth in the 115 backpacks, 140 bean bags and 33 journals you have so lovingly and generously made.  Other items donated included: school supplies, personal hygiene products, pillowcases, Beanie Babies and even a pair of shoes for our girls attending prom!

This all adds up to helping over 1300 people!

Backpacks, journals and beanbags for Break the Cycle
 
THIS is what life is all about, helping those in need. Again, I thank you for your generous hearts.

Warm lap blankets for our Veterans in the hospital
Cooling neck scarves and "thank you" notes for our deployed soldiers
 
Walker bags for our seniors needing help
 
 
We have extended our region to other states and I look forward in seeing what the future holds for Craft 4 Change. YOU can help make a difference...one life at a time. 
 
Want to help?  We have two projects currently going on...you can view them HERE!  Pillowcases for a children's camp and hats and scarves for our homeless community.
 
Blessings,
 
~~Robyne~~
 
 

Friday, August 28, 2015

The time to craft has come!

 
Summer is almost over, and that means it is time to start our next projects!  As most of you have figured out, we love to end the year with a BANG!!!  That means, two projects at the same time!
Participate in one or the other, or BOTH!

Project 17:  "Sparks of Hope"

Our first project is for an organization located in Portland, Oregon...yes, we are headed north to help this very special group of children.  Here is a little about them:

*Established in 2011, Sparks of Hope is a 501c3 all-volunteer nonprofit organization that offers direct healing services to children and teens who have been impacted by abuse; assisting child survivors by walking alongside them in their healing journey to find their courage and their voice.  Based in Portland, Oregon, Sparks of Hope offers services statewide.  The plan for the future is to expand nationwide. Sparks of Hope's number one priority is to meet the needs of our most vulnerable youth in whatever capacity we can. Sparks of Hope believes that every child deserves to go to a safe, supportive, and fun camp.

It is through Sparks of Hope's Healing Youth Camps that these children can move from brokenness into wholeness, which encourages healing. It is a lifetime journey of healing for many abuse survivors.  Sparks of Hope Healing Youth Camps are centered on assisting the child/teen survivor to heal and reclaim their childhood, their power, and their voice.*

Upon arrival, each camper is given a Welcome Package that includes: New sleeping bag, pillow, pillow case, toiletries, flashlight and camp shirt or sweatshirt.

SO, our project will be making pillowcases for these campers.

HERE and HERE are fabulous tutorials...make it fun!  These camps are for both boys and girls, so find some colorful and fun fabrics to make them with. Help bring a "spark of hope" to these kids with a fun and fabulous new pillowcase.

DEADLINE:  November 1st

(This will give us time to ship them so they have them in time for their next camp, the first week in December.)

~~~

Project 18:  "Winter Warmth"

Our second project is one that we love to do every year...hats and scarves!  Since a lot of you love this project and continue to create beautiful things even in the summer, we are making it a fall tradition! 

This year they will go to Loaves & Fishes, located in Sacramento, CA. Here is a little about them:

**Without passing judgment, and in a spirit of love and hospitality, Loaves and Fishes feeds the hungry and shelters the homeless.  We provide an oasis of welcome, safety, and cleanliness for homeless men, women and children seeking survival services.

Founded in 1983, we are governed by a board of directors selected from Loaves & Fishes and from the community-at-large -- people who have demonstrated compassion and concern about the needs of the homeless and the indigent poor.

We recognize the dignity and the spiritual destiny of each person, and hope by our attitude of hospitality and love, to nourish not only the physical needs of those to come to Loaves & Fishes, but also their spiritual need for love, acceptance, respects and friendship.

We serve each person with the belief that "as often as you did it for one of my least brothers and sisters, you did it for me." (Matthew 25:40)**

Knit, crochet, sew and no-sew!  Any or all kinds are just what we are looking for...men, women and children's are all needed.  Get creative, have fun!
 
DEADLINE:  December 1st
 
Let us know when you are finished with your projects and we will make arrangements to collect them.  You all ROCK!
 
~~ Robyne ~~
 
* Sparks of Hope website
** Loaves & Fishes Facebook page





Monday, June 22, 2015

Delivering smiles

My heart is full!  YOU came through once again!
 

We asked for drawstring style backpacks for Break the Cycle and you did not disappoint.  In fact, you went above and beyond our call. Not only did you make and donate 83 bags, but also 10 journals, 17 pillowcases and many Beanie Babies!  For these children that have had so much abuse and injustice, just imagine the smiles on their faces when they receive these awesome bags filled with goodies from Break the Cycle.

We can't thank you enough for your love and generosity for this project. We are making a difference, one life at a time.


We will be taking a crafting break for now, but will be back in September for our next project! Stay tuned by keeping up with our Facebook  and Instagram pages!

~~Robyne~~

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Project 16: "Break the Cycle"

My heart aches. My heart aches for kids.  My heart aches for kids that are sexually abused. My heart is telling me that we NEED to do this project again.

The bad news, is that Break the Cycle is in need of more bags to send.  The good news, is that they do send them and WE can help. For those of you who aren't familiar with our previous project, here is part of our post from Project 10:

 Did you know...
 
 that 1 in 4* or, in some research ,1 in 3 girls and 1 in 7 or, in some research, 1 in 6* boys will be sexually abused before their 18th birthday?

Nearly 3/4 of victims will not tell anyone for at least a year. Nearly half of victims will wait at least 5 years before telling. Some never tell. **

90% of cases are never reported. Ever. Which mean the majority of sexual offenders are walking the streets free and unknown to society.
A report of child abuse is made every ten seconds. Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.*****

The Abusers:  30-40% are immediate or extended family members of the victim.***
As many as 50% of abusers know their victims and are in a position of trust with the victim and/or family.***
As many as 40% of abusers are larger or older children - siblings, cousin, friends, neighbors, community members ****

Only 10% are estimated to be strangers****

The VictimsThe average age for reported sexual abuse is 9 years.
50% of all victims of forcible sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and forcible fondling are under age twelve
20% of children will receive a sexual solicitation via the Internet

The Cost Victims PayChildren that are sexually abused are at a higher risk to suffer from: low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, obesity. attempted suicide or suicide, and prostitution.

This is appalling!  What can we do? 

There are countless people and organizations that are helping these children.  One of them in our area is called, "Break the Cycle"., in Orangevale.  It is run by one woman, Averen Bareggi, who makes jewelry to raise not only awareness but also funds to create and distribute "comfort packs" that are given to law enforcement and other agencies for children reporting abuse. 
 
These bags are filled with all kinds of things to encourage creativity and comfort.  Things like:  art supplies, children's help books, a Curious George CD, bean bags, journals, gift cards to fun activities and a hand-stamped BRAVE bracelet (made by Averen).

Sew...(pun intended!) we are making more backpacks!
 
Some fun bags from our last project
 
   Please use a sturdy, cotton or canvas-like material.   Either a solid color or have fun and use kid friendly fabric.  These bags are not just for younger kids, they are sent to kids of all ages.
 
 HERE is a link to show the construction of the backpack style that is needed.  Please, make them about 10" x 12" in size.
 
For more information on the actual items and to see the bags, please visit Break the Cycle website.  There is a great video of Averen, telling about the backpacks. 
 
  
For those of you local, please contact us for fabric!

Let us know when you are finished with your project, via email, Facebook or comment here and we'll collect them!     ~~ Robyne ~~


Deadline: April 30th


*(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2006)
**(Smith et al., 2000; Broman-Fulks et al., 2007)
***Elliot, M., Browne, K., & Kilcoyne, J. (1995). Child sexual abuse prevention: What offenders tell us. Child Abuse & Neglect, 5, 579-594
****Kilpatrick, D., Saunders, B.W., & Smith, D. (2003). Youth victimization: Prevalence and implications. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice Report.



 

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

"Warm and Toasty" delivered!

Last fall, the call went out for hats and scarves for our families at Cottage HousingYOU made a difference in the lives of so many people. It is heartwarming and overwhelming.  THANK YOU!

They were sorted, counted and photographed...all ready to go!

GRAND TOTAL:

155 scarves, 6 hats, 3 headbands/earwarmers and even 8 pairs of warm gloves!


How cute are those hats? 

It was such a blessing to be able to provide these things to our families in need.  43 of the scarves went to our adults living at Quinn Cottages and the remaining 112 scarves, hats, headbands and gloves went to our families living at Serna Village.


Kimberly, Ayana and Lorena, staff at Serna Village enjoying some Craft 4 Change LOVE!
Jeanne from Quinn Cottages modeling a scarf that was giving to  residents.



Beautiful colors and styles for everyone!
We could not have done this without your love and support. I am blessed by all of your continued commitment in helping those in need!

All boxed up and ready to go!!!


My heart is full! ~~Robyne~~

Our next project will begin in Mid-February!