The job is done! We sent eight boxes to Minnesota on Wednesday, December 4th to Compassion Humanitarian Relief to be shipped to Chernobyl/Chernigev. We had a total of 87 blankets, 16 sleepers, crocheted sweaters, hats, bootes, mittens and socks.
Thanks to everyone who donated...
Patti Shaw -- Terre Haute, Indiana United Church of God
December 1, 1996
I first thought about making baby blankets when we heard you describe your trip to Ukraine and seeing pictures of babies in a hospital wrapped in rags. When the Chernobyl Fund was started and we heard about the plans to send container of goods to the area, I thought that it was time to get something started. I explained situation to the best of my knowledge in mid-September, to Ann Emken, the head of our Crawford County Homemakers Extension Association (HEA). She was very interested in helping.
She put an announcment in the HEA newlsetter for donation of flannel material, used or new baby blankets and for volunteeres to sew blankets on November 7th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. The office collected quite a number of blankets -- old, new and quite a of a bit of fabric. A woman from Oblong, Illinois who owns a fabric store donated four very nice pieces of material for us to work with.
On November 7th seven ladies (and one eight year old daughter) showed up with three sewing machines and two surgers, and we went to work in an HEA meeting room next to the office (with much talking and laughter!).
We made close to 35 blankets (I'm still finishing up a few at home) and have an additional 45 blankets donated . And I'm receiving more from the ladies at church.
Its' been great to see this kind of response -- the women seemed genuinely pleased to be able to help, and only wish they could some pictures of our gifts being used by Ukrainian babies and children.
Patti Shaw
20156 E. 450th Avenue
Palestine, Illinois 62451
Patti Shaw and her husband John are members of the United Church of God in Terre Haute, Indiana.