Hand in Hand Program
We are not telling you how to volunteer your time just giving suggestions. Trust me when I say there are more children needing a hat than you can make. An example; had a show and tell at the Hillcrest library around the beginning of August 2008. A woman walked into the conference room and we struck up a conversation. Within fifteen minutes later five hats and three scarves went home with her. She was there to help a neighbor in need. A couple of weeks later in the evening six hats and four scarves left the building to keep elementary age children warm this winter, (2008).
For the next eight weeks on Saturday we are doing a fund raiser at the local coffee bar, 3 Bzzz on Broadway. We are selling hand crafted hats and scarves. A percentage of the proceeds are going toward the $500 needed to aide us in becoming an official organization through the IRS. October 18, 2008 we sold our first scarf, yipee. You are more than welcome to donate to us. We appreciate all of the help we can get.
Ask family members if they need anything to keep them warm. How are there neighbors doing? What about church members? Co-workers?
You're encouraged to start with your local community. Your local library is a great resource for: conference rooms, books, computers and socializing. Knitters and crocheters may be stiching away there in the evenings. You have your churches, schools, social services, the volunteer's office at the hospital and the Retired Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP). During times of economic difficulty your community will need you - a lot.
This just in. . . we may be assisting the local refugee's. Will keep you posted.
In September of 2008, we have generated an inter-generational classroom (knitting and crocheting) structure to aide in this program. The young ladies worked for the immediate needs of their family. They have all agreed to continue to make a hat or scarve for those in their community and abroad. Down the road and with more experience the ladies can sell their hand-made items - fiber gallery.
New area for our program: We are in the porcess of working with fleece (spinning) from the farmers who raise alpacas, llamas, sheep and others. This will be added to the tentative five year schedule. The children will be able to learn about agriculture and aide them.
Everywhere in this big bright world of ours are malnourished children under five. (We are aware that children older than five are going through the same thing. Once we get the 10 million down we will tackle aiding the older children also.) This allows for more illnesses, adult disabilities and early death. This happens to those that are in rural areas, low-income and little education. This is a world wide problem - America too.
With the mortality rate being at enmorous numbers then combined with the economy; we'll be making hats and scarves for a continuum amount of time. A goal is to reach 1.2 million children under five through our program within the next 5 years through, awareness and participation. Every Thursday evening will be our intergenerational class until we are no longer needed. Below you can read the tentative five year schedule.
First Year - September 2008 - September 2009
Hand crafted hats and scarves plus spinning the fleece. This will help those newborns and children in their immediate community and around the globe. Teaching children and adults to knit, crochet, sew and spin the hand-made items.
Quick facts about the program.
» The expenses are coming out of my pocket. Our goal is for the fund raiser to erase this.
» I am not a millionaire or a billionaire.
» I am a woman with a big heart doing a humanitarian program.
Lets get on to ways how you can help. You are needed and welcomed here.
1.) Announcements need to be made with your family, friends, schools, neighborhood, groups, Internet groups and churches. Examples in spreading the word; word of mouth, broadcast, blogs, forums, email, Internet resources and letters.
2.) Volunteers willing to develop a business plan to have the program turn into a nonprofit by keeping the name, Hand in Hand. We will need to generate money (grant writer), shipping and handling, yarn, supplies, Internet marketing, marketing, advertising, Internet advertising, web-site updates, and content writer.
Second Year - September 2009 - September 2010
We will continue with hand crafted hats and scarves plus spinning the fleece. Teaching children and adults to knit, crochet, sew the hand-made items.
» Advertising and marketing will need to be pushed for the public to know about this program through the masses. Steps 1 and 2 will be carried on through the second year also. Expansion to the needlework magazines hard-copy and on-line.
Third Year - September 2010 - September 2011
Again the continuation of making the hand crafted hats and scarves plus spinning the fleece. Teaching children and adults to knit, crochet, sew and spin the hand-made items. Awareness and participation will also be continued through your local university and high school education. Also, the marketing and advertising in these organizations also, hard-copy and on-line.
» High School Students and College level (The Pacific NorthWest as the pilot group.) to receive a course credit as a volunteer. You are required to make six (this number will change), scarves or hats for the semester. A written term paper about your experience and your learning. (Will need to change this to fit the requirements per the rules of the administration.)
Forth Year - September 2012 - September 2013
The long-standing adventure of making the hand crafted hats and scarves plus spinning the fleece. Teaching children and adults to knit, crochet, sew and spin the hand-made items. Also, the marketing and advertising in these organizations also, hard-copy and on-line.
The expansion of the inter-generational program between children and seniors throughout the nation. This will require a co-ordinator through the 'assisted living' communities and schools. The adults will have a student to work with or there may be an established ratio from adult to student. This program aides the students to learn about seniors and vice versa. The growth in self-assurance, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-reliance, self-sufficiency for all involved with this. Again this will change when more information is gathered.
Fifth Year - September 2013 - September 2014
The abiding saga of making hand crafted hats and scarves plus spinning the fleece. Teaching the children and the adults to knit, crochet, sew and spin the hand-made items. Also, the marketing and advertising in these organizations also, hard-copy and on-line.
A group of Hand in Hand members go to Africa (We already have contact through the LIE) to teach the mothers and daughters to make hand crafted hats and scarves plus spinning the fleece. The importance in working with those in the argiculture field.
This way the young women in Africa can learn how to make things for their own children. While they are making items for their brothers, sisters, neighbors and the local community. Everyone involved will learn a new skill and learn new things about themselves. Voluminous resources will be needed in order to take this trip.
Not a fan of making hats and scarves not a problem. Double check your family, friends, neighbors, church, local community first for other hand-made items. The organization LEI does accept other hand made items too. They also have other areas where you are needed also.
Internet Locations For "Hand in Hand"
Ravelry Beta members will find me as 3storyteller and Hand in Hand.
Squidoo members will find me as creativecindy through the group, Hand in Hand included is the lens name, HandzinHandz.
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