A new Threads Chapter in CT!

In July I was contacted by a lady in Connecticut. She had questions about starting a Threads of Compassion chapter there.  I shared my experiences with her and hoped it all worked out.

I heard from her recently, they have started a new chapter there!  They have a great website and a facebook page. 

You can check them out at www.threadsnb.org

It so cool to be part of something that continues to grow and offer comfort to people at such difficult times.

Working with Pepperdine’s Step Forward Day

September is Step Forward Day at Pepperdine University.

I’m excited to share that this year the Alumni Organization’s Waves of Service program is joining up again with Step Forward Day to give more people a chance to participate all around the country, and Threads of Compassion OKC is one of the projects.

So all you Waves out there: join us for this day of service. Not in the Oklahoma City area? No problem! We’re a virtual location, so you can join in wherever you are and just let Pepperdine know you’re participating. Once your scarf is done, you can send it to us for distribution.

Visit www.threadsokc.org for more information about how to get involved with Threads of Compassion.

Joining Pepperdine’s Step Forward Day

Next month is Step Forward Day at Pepperdine University.

One of my favorite experiences as a Pepperdine Student was Step Forward Day,it was so fun to join with classmates on service projects around the community. I remember seeing dolphins swimming in the waves as we cleaned up trash at the beach one year.

It’s exciting to share that this year the Alumni Organization’s Waves of Service program is joining up again with Step Forward Day to give more people a chance to participate all around the country, and Threads of Compassion OKC is one of the projects.

More information is available online at http://www.pepperdine.edu/alumni/chapters/stepforward/sfd2011.htm

Thankful for the mail!

It was so cool to come back from vacation to a box of scarves! These beautiful scarves were sent in the mail.

I think it’s great that we have so many ways for people to be involved with Threads of Compassion OKC. Some come to our monthly work days and get to meet others while working together, while others can work at home and just send the scarves. Still others are close enough that they stop by my office with scarves from time to time. This really is a project that has a lot of flexibility!

I’m hopeful that we can continue to provide scarves throughout the summer, as the need continues to go on, even though our schedules may be changing a bit.

The YWCA 2 Minute 5 K

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April 16th the OKC YWCA is hosting a 5 K to raise funds and awareness to help victims and prevent future sexual assaults.

There is a community fair happening at the same time and we have a booth!

If you’re available the morning of the 16th, please consider participating in this event. You can register online to walk or run, or to volunteer, or you can join me at our Threads of Compassion OKC booth.

The information about the event is online at the YWCA site.

Hope to see you there!  

Planning Ahead…

At our work day this past Sunday we started talking about how fun it was to work together and someone asked what the schedule is for the future.

So, I went ahead and planned the rest of the year. 

Here are the 2011 Work Days. 

April 3rd

May 1st

June 5th

July 10th

August 7th

September 11th

October 2nd

November 6th

December 4th

We always meet in the Potters Room at the Memorial Road church of Christ in Edmond. It’s from 2-5, and it’s totally fine to come for some or all of the time.

Most of these are the first Sunday of the month, when that fell on or very near a holiday we switched to the 2nd Sunday of the month

Let’s Keep Going

As the weather starts to get warmer it’s easy to wonder if we really still need scarves… the answer is yes, we do!

We give scarves all year long, whether it is 20 degrees outside or 105. The comforting function of the scarf is the same whatever the weather is.

So, let’s keep going; let’s keep knitting and crocheting; let’s keep donating to the YWCA; let’s keep comforting survivors of sexual assault.

Our “work days” continue, once a month in Edmond so that we can enjoy working together and seeing some of the other beautiful creations made by our participants.

Feb. 6th Work Day Cancelled

We had a work day scheduled for Feb. 6th from 2-5.  However, due to the snow the Memorial Rd. church has changed their worship time to 2:45 in the afternoon, so we’re going to cancel the work day. 

Everyone is invited to the service at MRCC and welcome to stay & visit after it.

Our next work day is March 6th, we look forward to seeing you there!

Ready!

I’m so thankful for the great variety of people that are helping make Threads of Compassion OKC possible! 

card stack

This is a stack of 4 or 500 cards!

It was waiting on my desk when I got to work today.

I suspect it will be enough to get us through 2011.

I had mentioned to a good friend and co-worker how the expense of the cards was adding up over time.

She has a relationship with a printer here that has provided great service over the years for her work projects. She contacted them and they were able to donate the cards that we need for next year!

What a blessing to have such good friends, and such generous companies here in Edmond/OKC!

card top

Year One…

It’s amazing to look back and realize that Threads of Compassion OKC became a reality in 2010.

It went from me reading about it online in late December to contacting the OKC Rape Crisis Center, delivering 6 scarves in January to actually delivering 225 scarves by end of the year!

It’s hard to find words to share the impact this project has had on me, and on others. I’m so thankful that my husband encouraged me to go for it and that the YWCA staff was willing to give it a shot as well.

As I look back over the year, I see that 32 different people gave scarves (well, actually more than that because 1 of the 32 was a group, the Knit Wits). Many of these are people that I’ve never met – they heard about us on the news, or from friends, or other online resources. Some have been very experienced knitters/crocheters and others have just learned—including at least one who learned specifically to help with this project. So cool!

So many people have helped make this possible, and to each of them I want to say thank you! Here’s a brief list:

  • Those who have knitted/crocheted a scarf
  • Friends and family who gave gift cards, cash, yarn, and words of encouragement
  • The Memorial Road Church of Christ for allowing us to use their building
  • News Channel 4 for helping get the word out by interviewing us

2010 was a great start; I’m excited to see what 2011 will bring!