I have a little good news-bad news story for you all today.
Long ago back in 2013 there was a disaster in West Texas. As part of the effort to help, I asked blog readers if anyone had any quilt tops. I would finish them and donate them to the cause. I had a great response and packages flooded in. It took a few weeks but I got them all quilted and sent off. It was a wonderful feeling and I was so happy to be a part of a great cause that helped so many people.
That was the start of the community quilt project.
Here is what I believe to be the first community quilt that I finished where the top was donated to me.
From there the community quilt project gradually grew. More quilt tops were sent…more and more and more. It got to the point that I couldn’t handle it anymore. Ronda stepped in to help and so the community quilt project grew. From there more and more came in…so much so that Ronda and I needed help.
Happily, help has arrived. We have added so many finishers to the bunch…Jazz, Cheryl, Lori, Ray, Laurie, Karin, LaNan, Karen, Elizabeth, June, Christi, and many more. I have been so blessed to have these people step up and finish quilt tops.
Along the way, other people and causes have entered. There is Julie who makes pillowcases, Carolyn who makes baby gowns and my friend Lana who makes kits for Lutheran World Relief.
It has turned into a mighty network and I’m really proud of it all. I never dreamed anything like this would happen.
Along the way, I also learned…Good is happening in so many different ways…
People who are making the tops feel like they have a purpose. They often get together with a friend group that puts tops together…like the Cresco ladies group. It’s so good for them and others like them to have a group to belong to with a shared purpose and goal to help others. Many of these gals appreciate having a social outlet.
What was once quilt top donations has morphed into so much more. People are cleaning out their stash. They are getting rid of things that no longer make them happy. What a wonderful feeling to have a clean space. All that is sent out to people who are needing fabric to make the tops. Families are happy that grandma is “getting rid of that stuff”.
The finishers are able to help more people as they finish and donate tops to causes they hold dear.
Then, of course, the people who finally get the quilts are blessed with the actual quilt.
I love all of this. I have been thrilled to watch it grow and be a part of it all…but, I need this whole project to grow again…but I need it to grow in a different way.
Behind all that goodness…this is happening…
This is at my backdoor…boxes, and bags of stuff coming in and going out.
This is my kitchen…
My laundry room…
More from my kitchen…
My dining room table…
but wait…there is more. My garage along where I park.
A sorting spot in my garage…
Shelving in my garage.
The extra bay of my garage.
I forgot to take a picture of my computer desk but there are things here. There is email in my inbox all related to the community quilt project that needs attention.
There are probably 75 pictures in my camera that all need documenting and blog posts written about the donations.
All of this needs to be dealt with. That means hours of sorting and opening packages finding who best needs what items. That means packaging and trips to the post office. That means people at my house to pick up donated items. That means me delivering stuff. That means emails. That means hours of time writing blogs about it all.
I can’t do it like this anymore.
I am overwhelmed.
In the stack of letters on the kitchen counter is a letter from a sweet blog reader. She sent a box and wants to know if I got it as I didn’t blog about it yet. Hmm. Frankly, I have no idea. I feel terrible that I don’t know. I feel terrible that I will likely have to ignore the note because I can’t resort and look through everything at this point to tell her…Is her package in one of these piles…maybe. Did I already take pictures of it and haven’t posted the pictures yet? Maybe.
I feel terrible about not knowing.
I am sincerely grateful for the donations. I love the potential they have to bring. I love the kindness and generosity they represent. I love being a part of the network of good deeds that all of this spearheads.
I’ve known this was getting to be hard for me ever since December of last year when I went back to doing childcare again. The boxes sat here and I didn’t have time for them like I previously had. I started getting stressed that I wasn’t keeping the right names with donations.
I talked with Ray about it then and he encouraged me to work harder on encouraging direct donations. That’s when I really started pushing the donations page. FIND THAT HERE. It was a great idea and I ran with it hoping that more and more readers would catch on a start making direct donations. It has helped but donations have soared.
That’s a good problem to have.
Ronda has had great success with getting donated tops from blog readers. In fact, I don’t send quilt tops to Ronda anymore. Readers send them directly to her and she gets enough that she can’t accept more from me. That is AWESOME!!
So…what can be done so that the community quilt project can go on, but I get my house back?
I’m totally willing to be a part of this all but, I can not keep doing this like I am. I see so much good being done through the project. I don’t want to give it up. I don’t want to see it die. I don’t want to completely let it go…but I can not keep doing it like it is.
One of my favorite stories ever was the day Ray met up with Debbie and her friend. Her friend was downsizing and wanted to gift her stash to a charitable group. Ray and Debbie each drove about two hours to meet. They hooked up and Ray was gifted all of the goodies.
You can read the whole story HERE.
So much good and happiness came from this donation. If you read the posts about Ray finishing quilts, Ray often writes that the fabric came from this gift. It truly has been the gift that keeps on giving.
I want to still be a big part of all of this but more in a way that this donation happened. Debbie contacted me. I passed on contact info to Ray. They set up the meeting. They made it all work.
I again talked with Ray. Not only is he a great longarmer, but he also has a great set of listening ears. He encouraged me to be upfront and honest with all of you. He, like me, doesn’t want the community quilt project to end but knows we need to make some changes.
I NEED people to use the donation page. Again, the DONATION PAGE LINK IS HERE. Please continue to donate but PLEASE find someone on that page, contact them via email and ask for their address. Send your donations directly to them. If you’d like you can ask them to take pictures and send them to me and I will post them on the blog…or you can take pictures of your donation, let me know who you are sending them too and I can blog about that. It would save so much postage money and time.
The link to the donation page can always be found at the top of the blog in the tab section.
If you are a group who is wishing to get donations, contact me and I will add you to the page. I am going to start asking groups to list the state they live in so that if people want to donate locally/regionally they can. Also, postage is less if you send packages within your postal region.
The same agreement will still be asked:
Finishers please take pictures of the finished items you make with the donation. Send them to me and I will put them on the blog so we all can enjoy the finished product AND the person who donated can see the good their donation made.
If you have a donation and need help knowing where to send it, shoot me an email and I’ll help as I know things like, Lori and Cheryl need large quilt tops. I will happily find a group that will take your donation.
As for postage auctions, I am changing the name of that to Community Good Deeds Fund. I originally started the fund to help defer the costs of sending quilt tops or fabric to finishers after the postage bills started being around $300 per month. Nowadays the costs for postage are even higher-closer to $500. Many of you have donated to the fund and I really appreciate that. Much good happens because of that fund.
I will continue to hold the auctions to raise money for that fund as there is a need for batting and other supplies for the quilt finishers. Ray has gone through the first roll of batting and needed a second. I just ordered a roll for Ronda. In the future, I would love to buy some backing fabric wholesale for some of the finishers. I would love to forward some money to Carolyn who makes the baby gowns and is spending $100 per month or more on postage to send baby gowns to my friend who makes the baby care kits. There are plenty of places to spend money to continue good deeds…even simple things like this.
I bought this stamped embroidery baby quilt for $1.50 at the thrift store.
I sent it to Jazz. She is working on the embroidery and will be donating it to the hospital she supports once it’s finished. Postage money will still be appreciated for projects like this.
I think we can work smarter and make this community quilt project even better.
My great hope is that maybe I can turn into a finisher…or a binder for the Cresco ladies…or sew Lutheran World Relief quilts for my church. Right now every minute of my charity time is wrapped up in the donations that are sent to me. I think I would be so much happier if the donation page did the donation work and I could sit behind a sewing machine.
Again, if you have a donation you want to send, the DONATION PAGE LINK IS HERE. Whatever you do, please don’t stop donating…instead find a great charity group on the donation page and donate directly. Many are eagerly waiting for your donation.
I am asking that any packages sent to me only be for potential auction items or if it’s something for me personally. I have sincerely appreciated each and every donation along the way…Thank you for understanding.
I think a great option for your piles of donated stash would be a home for it in a local church that is willing to house the stash as well as organize and send it out to the ones quilting. Along with receiving drops that had been sent directly to you.
You might need to get them organized and trained in channeling it but it would ultimately free you up as well as empty your house of the overwhelming stash piles.
Awesome Jo! It’s a wonderful problem! I am afraid for the boxes I’m expecting with shirt collars in them just because you asked your readers. If you have any readers who are Thrivent members, they can direct a $250 stipend to you. Also, if you ask, local quilters to come once a month to help you sort fold and post, I bet you would get lots of helpers from Cresco and Decorah. It would be a wonderful great day! Set a day and invite.
Carol, are you looking for 100% cotton men’s shirt collars? If so, I have a few as well as cuffs, and button front/button holes. My email is vivwayland@aol.com. I’d be happy to send your way. I’m only talking a few but would love to donate. Thank you!
Hi Vivian. Thanks for the offer but I’m full on shirts right now. It was so sweet of you to think of me.
Jo, I wondered how in the world you could do all this coordinating! It’s a full time job. You do so much good but you need a break. You are such an inspiration, I so appreciate all you do for others.
Marilyn! I was thinking the same thing. Jo, you are an inspiration and a force for good. This wonderful effort you began just needs some restructuring. It will happen.
Well said Jo. Such a great cause, but you need to take care of you.
Jo-I have been thinking about how much work this must be for you all the time! I’m so glad you are going this route………its just too much for one person! You have and will continue to do so much good!
If you are de-stashing, you might check with the local guilds in your area and get in touch with their charity coordinator. I belong to a local guild and we appreciate donations. This year we have made 300 quilts and are working toward 600 pillowcases (we have 530 so far). We donate to 4 different organizations and to St. Vincent De Paul Christmas angel program.
You started a good thing and because of you we can now see this great donation page! I hope people will read and send direct. Save money, save Jo time and money!
Wise move. Glad Ray was available to advise.
Where is the bad news in this post, Jo? I see only GOOD!!
It’s good for you to want to take your house back. It’s good for your to take control of your Community Quilts sewing time. It’s good for you to ask for our help when you need it. If you are overwhelmed, which is certainly understandable, we’re here to help! It may take multiple askings on your part, but donors will get the hang of using the DONATION PAGE. Here’s hoping they figure it out sooner rather than later!!
I agree! Giving yourself a break and streamlining the way donations are done is GOOD news, Jo! As I keep telling my farmer husband, you can’t keep going 24/7 week in, week out, without a break. You are human, not a machine!
Take care, Jo xx
UGGHH!! Every time you’d make a huge post about all the stuff you’d gotten in the mail, I always thought to myself ‘that would drive me INSANE if I had to open, take pictures, sort, blog, etc about all that’. I could never and don’t know how you did. It is good to try to go this different route and hopefully the load will shift and be evenly distributed among many. I have 3 tops with backing that I keep meaning to take to Cheryl but haven’t done it yet. From the very beginning I thought it would be crazy to send to you just so you could send it back here. Hope your transition goes smoothly and you have less stress on your shoulders.
I’ve thought the same thing, how do you deal with the constant chaos? My only question is. What took you so long? Love reading your blog, and all you do for others. Please take care of yourself, the world needs you!
Thank you Jo, for all you do. The idea of sending directly makes so much sense.
You have my full support.
Thank you for “standing up for yourself”. You certainly deserve a life of your own.
Suggestion to get caught up: ask Sandra from Cresco to bring 3 friends. Have the 4 go through everything. Have them take all they want to their cars. Then ask them to organize donations for the others based on the criteria they have.
You need help getting back to ground zero. If I were within 200 miles, I would come do it for you! but 1800 miles is a long drive ;-)
And if boxes show up anonymously as they are likely to do, save up a bunch and ask Sandra to come for a day and do it all again.
Thank you for building this community. Thank you for not “closing it down”. Thank you for all you do.
AND most of all, thank you for taking care of you!
Jazz, great idea! Call in the reinforcements! Sandra and Cresco friends to help!
Jo and generous readers, thank you so, so much for all the good you’ve done! I’ve benefitted tremendously from your kind generosity, and every single quilt I’ve made with the donated fabric, batting, threads, trims, has gone to charities. I’ve given away about 1,000 quilts since I’ve been quilting, as well as over 500 masks in the last 20 months. I’m retired and without these gifts from you and your readers, Jo, none of this would have been possible.
For the past few years, I’ve given all the quilts I’ve finished and made to the two biggest county hospitals in Texas. They are in need of baby quilts for newborns and wheelchair/lap quilts for adults. They do so much uncompensated good for so many needy patients!
I love the idea of matching donors with quilters by region. It not only saves postage, it makes friends. Some of the very nicest people I know (looking at you, Becky M. of Whitney, Sarah W. of Houston, and Sue R, of Pearland) I met through these exchanges.
Jo, thank you deeply for all the heart and soul you have invested in this magnificent project!
good for you! it’s a lot- and SO MUCH OF YOUR TIME! thanks for being honest, and speaking up to clearly communicate what you’re needing, and how you’d like things to change. i do a lot of charity quilting, too, almost all for my church, and MCC. i can see how spending so much $$$ to send fabric and tops, and quilts around would really end up being conterproductive.
OH my ! I have been wondering how you are doing all that you do! obviously you are overwhelmed! no problem, take a step back!
I can see how overwhelming this has become for you. It’s a great idea to send donations to your network. I wanted to suggest that you also change your about Jo page on the blog to have your link to your network there. Your idea is a huge blessing to so many. We can all make it work better.
You write about receiving tons of fabric & I couldn’t help but wonder how you keep your head above water. I would come 1 or 2x a week to take the pressure off you but I’m 350 miles away so that’s not possible.
I took the initiative 2 weeks ago to contact Carolyn directly because it made sense to do it that way. (BTW, box of cotton knit is still here but it’s going in the mail to her soon.).
God Bless all who pitch in and help.
As the saying goes it takes a village, and charity work of any kind takes many hands. I agree with a few others that there must be some wonderful groups out there who can take over the wonderful work you have started over many years and continue. The kindness of all your readers and the many helpers to finish quilts show that others will help if you ask. Make a few calls to quilt groups in your area or those you have connections to and see if you can pass the batten on, not just helping to sort all those wonderful donations.
Wishing you all the best from Australia
I wonder if a Facebook page (or some type of platform) for the group would help. If each finisher/recipient of donations could post his/her own pictures and stories about the donations and the quilts, you wouldn’t need to handle all of that, too.
Maybe Instagram? I’m glad you’re trying to go a different route. It will get figured out, and you will gain more time for your family and life.
I had the same thoughts. People could post their own photos and donations. Jo needs her own life back. We love all she does, but everyone has their limits. Limited space and limited time.
Jo, I’m so glad you came to the conclusion to change things up with donations. I confess I was worried about you dealing with the whole situation as wonderful as it is. You need to take your house back. Thanks for all you do (which amazes me) and for being so generous with your time and talent. Hugs!!!
You’ve worked so hard and accomplished so much! Without your generosity and the generosity of your readers, I couldn’t have possibly completed and donated the quilts I have, all over the country. You and your readers have completed quilts in Arizona, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Oregon, California, Florida, and maybe a couple more states I’ve forgotten about. It has been my pleasure to participate in this project and I hope that I can continue to do so by accepting destashes and purges! Thank you for all your hard work and encouragement.
Oh, that idea from The Eclectic Abuela about a Group Facebook page sounds GREAT!! “If each finisher/recipient of donations could post his/her own pictures and stories abut the donations and the quilts” – THEN Jo Kramer wouldn’t have so many blogposts to do on her time!!!!!!
Of course there would need to be someone to administrate that Group Facebook page, and perhaps someone will offer to take that task on. (I’m not on Facebook)
I’m glad that you spoke up Jo, I’ve been thinking you must be getting overwhelmed with all the boxes coming in. Let’s hope a better way can be created. Good Luck Everyone!
Jo, I often felt you were “Superwoman “ trying to accomplish so much. I’m so grateful you added me to the donation list. I have received 2 boxes of wonderful fabric and squares to use from Judy and Jeanne. I am one week away from my sewing room becoming the place I need it to be to start the Community Quilt project here in Llano Tx. You’re just so Amazing in your skills and heart of gold. I’m just so glad to know of others who hold your same joy and compassion for others. God Bless you and may we have many hands to make your work lighter.
I was worried about how much you’re doing, along with your health complications. I had no idea how big tyourcherity quilting had gotten. Some great ideas have been posted and I believe more help is on the way.. breathe deep put your feet up for a little bit and relax a short while. Taking ca free c of yourself is important too. Praying that it works out quickly. Now that you have let us know.
Your heart of gold has brought out the good in people. Thanks for all you do. I think it’s a great idea for donors to send their donations directly. Looks like it has become overwhelming. Hugs to you.
Well said. Sorry to hear that some are not be happy unless their package was posted. It would be nice but I know you are busy. I have started to send small packages to Ray. I am lucky that I and my friends can donate things locally.
I hope all will check out the donation list and send directly, especially with postage going up. Happy Creating.
Jo, I can only see the positive in this posting and how we can all continue to participate but do it in a more direct fashion and yet we will see all the lovely quilts that come from it. Your Donate Page is well laid out and easy to use, I’m glad to refer to it before I just send it. Hopefully you can regain some of the space in your lovely home from all of those packages.
I have often wondered why quilters are sending the donations to you rather than sending them directly to a group on the list. Why the extra and expensive step of double mailing? I was/am beginning to feel the people donating are looking for the attention and acknowledgement via your blog for the donation. It’s not about attention, it is about making a donation. Why do all the donated items and finished tops have to be photographed and blogged about? When a donation is made, the donater has relinquished those items and what is done with them should not have to documented. Much like when you gift a quilt, what the recipient does with it is their right, you relinquished it. I say donate your excess stash where you feel it will do the most good and leave it at that.
Leeny, I am not replying on Jo’s behalf, only mine, but I think the finished tops “have to be photographed and blogged about” to inspire those who do the giving as well as those who do the finishing. I volunteered to participate after I saw the other’s work on this site. This is a charity sewing site, after all.
When donors send quilt tops and supplies they expect the recipients to honor their part of the contract and complete the project. These materials are not personal gifts to be kept or sold; the whole point of the blog is charitable.
Of course no one is obligated to donate anything, but the people who accept the donations also accept the responsibility to honor their promise to make a completed quilt and to give the quilt to a charity.
I hope all those who are fortunate enough to give sewing supplies away will select from Jo’s vetted list and send them to sewists who will continue the tradition of completing them and giving them to people who need them. Jo has initiated a wonderful outreach. Let’s help her continue it by coordinating among ourselves.
I worried when I sent my stash to you that you would be burdened or overwhelmed. I wish I had known about the donation list earlier. I would have been more than willing to split it up. I certainly don’t need to have my donation acknowledged in your blog or photographed. That’s not why I sent it. You do with it as you wish. I will send some postage money with my prayers. You are such a blessing to all of us!
Oh Dianne. This is not you at all. Not for a second. It’s actually just as complicated to deal with many small packages and letters. There I have to keep everything straight and that is its own challenge. This has been brewing for a long time…almost a year. I appreciate your donation greatly and am so thankful for it. I can send it off and end knowing everyone was stocked when I stepped back. It lets me leave on a high note!!
Thanks so much, Jo! I’ll be able to sleep much better tonight without thinking that I was the straw that broke the camel’s (or your!) back. You do so much good work, and Jo’s Prayer Army, as I like to call us, came up with many great ideas to lighten your load! Love and Prayers from NC…
It never made sense to me to have people send quilt tops and miscellaneous items to you and then you have to sort, package, and send them on to someone else. I just discovered your blog about a month ago and now I read that you’ve been doing this about 17 years. You are indeed a super woman! But, you need to take your life back and we can all help. I have a SUGGESTION: I looked at the quilts donation list and suggest that the people listed identify the state or area/region that they donate finished quilts to. Some I can figure out by clues in their description but others not. Maybe if those listed people contact you and get that information added in their description our donations could be used in our own areas of the country if we so desire. Thank you for all you do…..time to take off your cape and keep your feet on the ground WONDER WOMAN!
I am so impressed with your ability to keep it all straight. If one or two get lost I am not surprised. Thank you for all you do. Prayers and blessings to your whole family.
I should have added it takes so much of your time too. I completely understand the need for people to just contact someone directly and cut out the “middle man.”
I just happened on your About Me page and you might want to update the information there, so it doesn’t say to send tops to you directly anymore. I was there because I wanted to say thank you for the link to the post about figuring quilt backing yardage, that was brilliant.
I agree with Jazz that the finished quilts need to be photographed and blogged about in order to inspire people to donate. It’s not about the recognition of the donation, but it is so nice to see the appreciation shown when a quilt is finished. Sometimes it’s hard to give up fabric or quilt tops that you’ve spent good money on but, knowing how appreciated the donation is, makes it feel like your huge stash was money well spent . Thanks Jo, for all you do.
Thank you for all you do, Jo! It sounds like a great plan, and I hope you can reclaim some of your precious time for yourself, your family, and the things that are meaningful to you. I wonder, re the DONATIONS page, if you could add a general location or region where the helpers/donees are located (for those who have only an email address listed). I understand some may not wish to disclose their address, but it might be helpful to see the general region (Northeast, Upper Midwest, Southeast, West Coast, etc.) or what state these people are located. I’m thinking for postage cost reasons myself, but others may want to donate somewhere closer to home, etc.
Bless you Jo, for starting all of this work. Please put a link at the top of your blog, for easy access to all the worker bees.
If I lived closer or even in the same country, I would come and help you out. I love organizing fabric! I do have a suggestion for you. Maybe you could have it where you only accept donations in certain months. And post it nice and big across the top of your blog. Really BIG so it gets noticed. I read your blog from Feedbro and unless I comment, it only shows the day’s posts, not the headers on your home page.
I would love to find someone local-“ish” willing to adopt some of my excess stash. I would have gladly mailed directly to you, but the cost of sending it from W PA made that impossible for me. I have probably (at least! ) a full set of (8)15” deep by 30” wide shelves full 2 of homespun, the rest quilting cotton and a little flannel. If anyone in W PA wants to claim it leave your email here and I will contact you!
I tried the local guild, and they never returned any of my calls.
Hi there! I recently watched a “Create with Claudia” segment on YouTube where she posted a haul video on fabrics she got at an October 2021 Salvation Army fabric sale in Western PA. The women’s auxiliary there does an annual sale to benefit their charity causes and accepts donations. I wonder if that might be an option for you? After seeing her video I looked it up and found that the SA in Janesville WI was having a similar sale. I drove 60 miles from my home in Illinois to go and found it wonderful. Those volunteers told me they work all winter long on sorting and measuring fabric for this fundraiser. Not sure it would be close enough to you, but maybe a possibility? Kind regards to you.
I don’t see anything bad about your post, Jo. Your heart of gold just doens’t want to say enough is enough. I did send you a small prepaid postal box with my extra Bonnie Hunter quilt pieces. Please don’t take any time to photograph and acknowledge them. If the colors are close enough to yours use them, pass them on, or pitch them.
I’m thrilled about your package Robin. It was for me and I’m already playing with them. This is exactly the kind of package I still want to get. Read about it tomorrow’s blog post!!
I thought something like this post might be coming. It must be overwhelming to get all the boxes. For quite some time my bought has been don’t post about all of them. Maybe make the last paragraph of your blog one day a week a thank you and list the names that you received donations from that wek. If they want visual photo confirmation then that’s just being selfish. Or require an email address be included that you send a “copy and paste” thank you to. Sending directly is a great idea.
I completely agree with Lisa B! I have actually stopped reading about and looking at the pictures of all the stuff you receive. I also think a weekly post to thank and recognize the people making donations is enough. If they need to know if their box arrived, they should use their tracking info. I have mailed several quilt tops to people on your list. As the price of postage keeps going up, it is more economical to ship direct to a finished. You lead such a busy life, I have been thinking for quite some time that you were being overloaded! I am glad you made this post and I hope many, many people think twice before overdoing the donations.
I, too, stopped reading certain posts, such as the ones with the ten pictures of donated quilts in them, as I would rather read about Jo’s actual life. I like looking at the goodies in the boxes (sometimes I recognize a fabric!), but it’s the day-to-day activity that is the most interesting to me. Of course, Jo can always run anything on her blog she likes!!
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I was so happy when you created the contact page so I could directly send donations, I just couldn’t see you having to incur another postage expense. The people on your list are very responsive and I’ve mailed to Agnes and Jazz. Great idea that works well.
Your work is so important today. It’s great to actually see someone doing good in this crazy world. But, totally overwhelming for one person to handle. You need a local group and a place to house all of the wonderful donations that keep coming to you. A chutch or a fire house with a room for you to use. Or a schoool somewhere other than your WHOLE house. And a group of peeps to “help” you weekly keep up with the sorting & blogging about it all. Yes, it takes a village to do what you as one person has been doing for way to long.
Hi Jo, first off let me thank you for all the time you have invested in the past years to your project to help others. I know that your help has not only been appreciated by those who receive the finished quilts, pillow cases and baby gifts to name just a few things that have been gifted to those in need, but also the many friendships you have helped to come about because people started looking for ways they could help and by doing so they met a new friend or someone who was sitting by themselves working on these kinds of projects were able to find a group that they were able to get together with and now they no longer craft alone but in fellowship. I can see by the notes people leave on your blog how much this has turned into something that is bigger than you could have dreamed of happening and am glad that you are ready to let it grow outside your sphere so that what you started can live larger. I look forward to spending more time reading about what your sewing projects are now instead of what comes to you in boxes and packages.
I do have one request of you though—would it be possible to add the state location on the donation page for each of the groups and people listed. I don’t mean a full address as I wouldn’t want anyone to be exposed that way. But knowing at least what state they are in would make it easier to know how close they might be to someone they can work with and help. Then if they want to meet up or deliver personally they can contact by way of the info provided on your blog page and make their arrangements to suit them. Just a thought.
May the next steps in your project bring you as much success as you have had with this phase. My prayers are added with the others that you and your family stay strong and well.
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