service project

last year on my birthday i decided to celebrate with a service project- it was so fun + successful, and i received so much help and support from all of you- i decided to make it a yearly tradition.

for each year i rack up in age, i want to organize a drive to help impoverished mothers-to-be with their "birth-days". this year i turned 32, and so i'd like to put together 32 newborn kits to distribute to mothers and newborns in need.

my church has a super-organized world-wide humanitarian effort, and the service missionaries who work in that area have given lists of supplies that are the most beneficial to third-world families with babies.

in places where women are bringing home their babies wrapped in newspapers, without hygenic means of changing and washing them (please, just imagine yourself in that situation for a moment), there are some basic items that really help:

• 1 double receiving blanket
• 4 flat fold (single thickness) cloth diapers.
• 4 diaper safety pins
• 1 pair booties or baby socks
• 2 regular-size bars of non-allergenic soap
• 1 newborn layette gown

these things put together in a 2 gallon ziploc constitute one kit. then they are collected in the humanitarian center near me, and then sent off in huge shipments to areas of need. so the 32 i want to put together this year is just a tiny drop in a bucket, but it's something. and even as little as this is, i can't do it without you! the donation guidelines are super strict because of the experience the service workers have with what works and what doesn't.

i need donations of the following items to equal these amounts:

• 32 double receiving blanket (see receiving blanket guidelines below)
• 128 flat fold (single thickness) cloth diapers- 100% cotton birdseye Cloth or 100% approximately 25". Please do not use pre-folded or disposable diapers.
• 128 diaper safety pins
• 32 pair booties or baby socks
• 64 regular-size bars of soap (ivory or other non-allergenic brand)
• 32 newborn layette gown (please, no footed sleepers)
• 32 2 gallon sized ziploc bags

receiving blanket guidelines:

• fabrics: cotton flannel or lightweight fleece
• size: two pieces of fabric, each between 36" square and 45" square
• you may also use a medium weight fleece. it needs to be a single layer, 36" by 36" with the edges serged.

to make the blanket:

• with right sides facing each other, sew the two pieces of fabric together with a ¼" seam around the edges. leave a 6" opening.
• turn the blanket so the right side is out.
• you may also serge two pieces together, no turning needed.
• baste opening edges and topstitch around the entire blanket for durability.
• sew a 10" square in the center to keep the fabric from shifting.
• a narrow crocheted edge or piping border is acceptable but not required.

here's what you can do to help:

email me with what and how much from the list of needs you'd like to donate. i will give you my address to send it to. then i will fill in the holes, assemble the kits, and get them sent off.

i really would like the receiving blankets made first and then sent to me- i have enough just fabric to make more here. also! you knitters and crocheters, i need your help with booties. any basic newborn pattern will work.

after you email me be patient, it will take me a few days to organize what has been donated and to confirm with everyone. i will post updated totals of what we need. please email: kellymccaleb@hotmail.com

side note: i was thinking this year about changing the project to something that would go to help the relief efforts in haiti. i really really love haitian people. i was once a missionary for 18 months in poor east coast inner cities, and worked with mostly immigrants from haiti. i have really been praying what i could possibly do that would do anything to help these people i love- but the more i researched, the more i found, that really the best way to help the haitian effort is with money. from a msnbc article: "when people give $1, it translates into $7 in the field," he said. "if they spend $5 for bottled water, that’s nice and it makes them feel good, but probably it costs us more than $5 to send it. if they give us $5, we can get $35 worth of water."

so if you are inclined to give financially, rather than making/ shopping for something for the newborn kits, i would encourage you to donate the money toward the haitian efforts by texting "haiti" to 90999, which will charge $10 to your phone bill and be given to the relief funds, or online through the lds humanitarian emergency response fund here. you can see what they are using the donations for here.

thank you so much! and again, my email address is: kellymccaleb@hotmail.com

Comments

[Cissy]

Thanks for the Haiti info. I often want to do something tangible--something that means more than money--but this is a good reminder to find the needs of the people, not just respond to my own need to give.

What a beautiful birthday project. I'll see what I can do to help.

[Beth]

I'm going to figure out what I can do to help with your project-love this idea!!

In the meantime, I am donating 100% of proceeds to Haiti Relief from my pattern sales in my shop.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/loveseptember?section_id=6441808

[Amanda]

Just and FYI on the Haitian effort: check out the UMCOR website. The biggest thing they need right now is health kits. It is basically the same thing as the birth kits. Eventually your birth kits will probably make their way to Haiti too!

http://new.gbgm-umc.org/Umcor/

I think the MSNBC article is a little misleading. There are ways that you can make your dollar go further, you just have to know who to ask :)

[JoLyn]

What a great idea -- isn't it a wonderful thing to unite in an effort to do good?

Here's another great way to give to help in Haiti...I was sent this graphic link that can be put on blogs and facebook pages about the Church's efforts for Haiti.

http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/

[Heather]

Great Idea Kelly! I love this tradition of yours!

[Amber]

Off topic (sorry) but I love the new blog look and I just saw that your me + you quilt pattern is on the front page of Etsy right now! :D

[coco]

this makes me really proud that you are my sister....
dig on your shirt

[shawn]

Count me in for $38 in honor of MY birthday! :)
Love your tradition, Kelly!
Your new profile pic is adorable!

[carolyn]

I finished my first quilting project of my own (and posted it on my site) based on your tutorial. Thanks for such great instruction! You are my quilting hero ;)

[Jennifer rima]

Kelly, this is sooo awesome. I will make a receiving blanket with some flannel that I have. Thanks for the measurement guidelines. The flannels I have are cute patterned fabrics. Are patterns okay on the blankets or do they need to be solid? I also would love to send some soap. I have a brand of almond bar soap that is so gentle, but it doesn't come packaged. Is that okay? If not, I'm happy picking up some packaged soap bars instead. :0) I'll be in touch. Thanks.

[Ashley S.]

This is so great. I would like to send some soap. Where do I mail it?

[~beautyandjoy~]

I love your new banner, I love your ideas, I love that you share them and I love who you are. Thank you for all of that...

[amanda]

Oh my goodness; I sooo don't want this comment to turn into a love letter, but I just have to tell you how completely impressed and moved I am by you and your spirit. Seriously, I couldn't stop thinking about the things you said around Christmas when you were deciding what present to give Cate. Truly, you changed my life a little then. I started thinking about what I'm teaching my kids about consuming and wanting and having; your reflections and honesty moved me deeply.

Now you bust out with this - it's your birthday and you're thinking about what you can give to others versus what you want people to give to you. Amazing. I'm sure you won't believe this nor will it affect you nearly as much as I wish I could express it has affected me, but your Christ-like attitudes, unselfishness, humility and genuine kindness make me want to be better every day.

Thank you for your example.

[communikate]

what a great way to celebrate your birthdays! it's amazing how many people have stepped up to the plate with the tragedy in haiti. let's hope many people continue to give and serve in the future.

p.s. love your blog. silent stalking no more! :)

[an encourager]

hi. yes... i will get on that receiving blanket. email the address where i send it to encouragingforyou@gmail.com thanks. awesome bd gift for everyone. happy bd day!

[Dara]

I will make two or three, just send me the address.

[Nancy Jacobs]

What a beautiful project you are doing. I'm working on a charity project called "Think Pink" for the Susan G. Komen foundation. How beautiful it would be for everyone to help build up their favorite charity or cause. You are an inspiration.
Blessings,
Nancy

[Ellen Patton]

you are awesome. happy birthday!

[Lori]

How awesome! It's funny, I actually just got a group of my friends together (that we all graduated together) and we're doing a "30 for 30" for our birthdays. Basically we're all pledging to help each other with their service projects in exchange for help with ours.

[Paula Wiggam]

You are such an inspiration! I am considering doing a similar thing for my upcoming birthday. I hope you don't mind me taking your lead!

[Val]

I would say the same as Paula, my problem is I shall be 65 in April - but I feel really inspired by your idea and will consider how to "do my own thing" . Thank you!
Blessings! Val