Stitching for Hope
There has been a desire from Hope members to find a social justice project in which we could get involved and make an impact in our greater community. One of our members came forward with a wonderful suggestion and with her guidance, we started Project Linus in October 2018.
Our stitching crew produces a large number of blankets - an incredible 189 blankets have been made from Oct. 2018 - Oct. 2019.......189 blankets in ONE year!!!
In September 2019, we changed our name to "Stitching for Hope". We continue to provide blankets to Project Linus but we also makes blankets for the newly baptised at Hope, grade 12 graduates in our Hope family, Campus Ministry graduates and Made by Momma.
On Christmas eve, 1995 an article titled “Joy to the World” appeared in Parade Magazine. It was written by Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist Eddie Adams. Part of the article featured a downy-haired child who had been going through chemotherapy. She held a blanket which had helped her go through the treatments. After seeing this article, Karen Loucks decided to provide new, homemade security blankets to Denver’s Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Centre, and Project Linus was born. There are now hundreds of chapters around the world.
Project Linus is a 100% volunteer, non-profit organization. Their mission is to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are in crisis, seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need of a hug. Blankets are new, handmade and washable. The blanket is the child’s to keep.
The Calgary (SW) Chapter of Project Linus was started in 2014. Blankets are given to children in the Calgary area through the following organizations: Ronald McDonald House, The Children’s Cottage Crisis Nursery, The Rotary Flames House, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Foothills Hospital NICU, Sheldon Kennedy Child Advocacy Centre, YWCA Sheriff King Emergency Shelter.
MADE BY MOMMA is a grassroots non-profit organization and registered Canadian charity located in Calgary. We help families facing situations of adversity and crisis by providing healthy prepared meals, wholesome baked goods, baby essentials, children’s items, supportive in-home visitors and other services to allow mothers the time they need to rest, recover and focus on their families and their health. Because we are 100% volunteer-run, our operating costs are kept low, and the effectiveness of donated dollars/items very high. Over 125 agencies count on Made by Momma for urgent requests for assistance. The need for their services has increased 200% over the past 2 years and they help over 6,000 people each year.
Contact Zena at office or email coordinator@hopelutheran.cato sign up for this project.
Drop off donations of CLEAN NEW fabrics (with babies, children and teen years in mind), yarn or gift cards at the church office.
Tuesday mornings at 10:00am - bring your project to the Fireside Room to chat while you work.