We are still in need of eight quilts by the end of 2014, however, I know that is just tomorrow. So I am reaching out to all of you to see if you would be willing to contribute quilts for 2 families that both lost their homes and possessions to fires.
The Stenmark family of Shasta, CA. We need 1 large quilt for the parents and 2 large quilts for the teens. The boy loves the 49ers and California teams.
The other is for the family of a Missouri dispatcher who was living with her sister when their home burned to the ground.
Quilts needed will be 2 adults, an 8 year old girl, 9 year old boy and 2 year old. I am checking the shelves, but most of the quilts we have on hand are for infants and toddlers.
If you can send a quilt to any of these families by the end of January, please let me know as it is important that I know these families have all been covered in warmth and shown how much we care and that strangers will reach out to help them!
Blessings!
Tuesday, December 30, 2014
Monday, December 29, 2014
Final 2014 Request
Missouri Dispatcher Loses home to Fire
Today an unfortunate event occurred to one of our own and so close to Christmas. Alicia Davis, one of our dispatchers, lost her home to a fire. It is a complete loss. She is a single mom to an 8 year old little girl and resides with her sister who also has a 9 year old boy and 2 year old girl. The girls are wearing size 9 and size 2T and the boys size is 9/10. If you want to donate any items or a monetary amount please contact Carrie Stephens or Rance Duffy. Checks can be made out to Christian County Telecommunicators. Deposits can be made to the same account at any Guaranty Bank location. More information will be sent as we get it. Please keep Alicia and her family in your thoughts and prayers. All donations will go to benefit Alicia and her family. Please forward this email to anyone who may want or be able to assist.
Checks can be mailed to:
Christian County Emergency Services
Attn: Carrie Stephens
110 W Elm St, Room 50
Ozark, MO 65721
Contacts:
Carrie Stephens
Cell: 417-300-5830
Office: 417-582-1027
Rance Duffy
Cell: 417-353-5905
Office: 417-582-1024
Thank you,
Carrie M. Stephens, RPL
Training/Quality Assurance Manager & TAC
Christian County Emergency Services
110 West Elm St. Rm 50
Ozark, MO 65721
R
Today an unfortunate event occurred to one of our own and so close to Christmas. Alicia Davis, one of our dispatchers, lost her home to a fire. It is a complete loss. She is a single mom to an 8 year old little girl and resides with her sister who also has a 9 year old boy and 2 year old girl. The girls are wearing size 9 and size 2T and the boys size is 9/10. If you want to donate any items or a monetary amount please contact Carrie Stephens or Rance Duffy. Checks can be made out to Christian County Telecommunicators. Deposits can be made to the same account at any Guaranty Bank location. More information will be sent as we get it. Please keep Alicia and her family in your thoughts and prayers. All donations will go to benefit Alicia and her family. Please forward this email to anyone who may want or be able to assist.
Checks can be mailed to:
Christian County Emergency Services
Attn: Carrie Stephens
110 W Elm St, Room 50
Ozark, MO 65721
Contacts:
Carrie Stephens
Cell: 417-300-5830
Office: 417-582-1027
Rance Duffy
Cell: 417-353-5905
Office: 417-582-1024
Thank you,
Carrie M. Stephens, RPL
Training/Quality Assurance Manager & TAC
Christian County Emergency Services
110 West Elm St. Rm 50
Ozark, MO 65721
R
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Merry Christmas
We never know what God has planned for us. As I am waiting for my husband to come home from work after working on call today, the kids are actually getting along, dinner is in the oven, I thought I would share some photos of the many quilts we received this year from all over the world.
Then, this Email came into me:
Ken Beltran
Even on Christmas eve, battling cancer those who receive the gift of one of perhaps your quilts, let us know how much the gift meant to the family.
I will be sending the kids quilts soon and pray that you will continue to reach out to Layers of Hope - Quilting 911, so when a need arises, we can meet that need.
Here are some of the amazing quilts we received this year:
I thank you, the quilt recipients thank you each and everyone of you, I wish I could hug you all! God Bless!
Then, this Email came into me:
I wanted to thank you for the
beautiful quilt given to me by Layers of Hope. In your card you asked
for my children's names and ages. I have two girls and a boy. Alexa is
11, McKenna is 9, and Matthew is 3.
Also,
I was curious as to how you were made aware of my condition. The
overwhelming amount of support has been humbling and I want to be able
to thank those who have taken their time help me and my family.
Thank you once again for the quilt. My wife (Lynn) and I are very appreciative.
Sincerely,
Arvada Fire Protection District
Even on Christmas eve, battling cancer those who receive the gift of one of perhaps your quilts, let us know how much the gift meant to the family.
I will be sending the kids quilts soon and pray that you will continue to reach out to Layers of Hope - Quilting 911, so when a need arises, we can meet that need.
Here are some of the amazing quilts we received this year:
Sunday, December 21, 2014
Merry Christmas and Thank You For The Amazing Quilts in 2014
Thanks to each and everyone of you, may you all have a joyous, love and family filled Christmas and may we pray for peace and love in 2015!
2014 Financial Statement
I always want to be in the open about anything this organization does and whether or not it becomes a Non-Profit or not, I feel it is important to let you know where the quilts and your money goes to.
I am NOT an accountant, however, I do keep logs of my expenses, my donations both monetary and tangibles. I hope you feel that in 2015, you can continue to support this organization with your quilts and donations.
I am NOT an accountant, however, I do keep logs of my expenses, my donations both monetary and tangibles. I hope you feel that in 2015, you can continue to support this organization with your quilts and donations.
Layers
of Hope Financial Report 2014
Monetary Donations 2014 - 585.00
Gift Card Donation 2014 - 25.00
Quilt Sales 2014 -
105.00
Total Receivables $715.00
Expenses:
Trademark 55.00
Logo Design
190.00
Postage
795.24
Office Supplies 58.11
Gas For Distribution
Trips
189.20
Meals For Distribution
Trips 114.08
Fabric & Batting
249.82
Thread 54.85
Ebay/Etsy/Paypal Fee’s 45.51
Total Expenses 2014 $1752.53
Total Monetary Donations
2014 - 715.00
End of Year Balance -$1037.53
**Negative Balance
Came Out of Personal Budget to Continue This Mission of Love**
Non-Monetary Donations 2014
Bolt of Batting 1
Total Bolts Received 1
Quilts Received
598
Handmade Blankets 95
Total Blankets/Quilts 703
Quilts/Blankets
Distributed
Quilts To Oso 469
Quilts Okanogan 95
(Includes 20 Baby Quilts 3
Rivers Hospital, 30 Room 1 Non-Profit for Fire Victims)
Quilts 911 Dispatchers 55
Quilts of Compassion 6 Baby Quilts (Oklahoma Tornado)
Brookings Gospel Mission 8
Fleece Blankets
Total Distributed 2014 633 Quilts & Blankets
On Hand, 12/21/2014 70 *
*65 of these are baby/infant
quilts
Miscellaneous Received
Knitted Baby Hats 40
Pillowcases 40
Direct Quilt Mailings 2014 *
*Quilts from Quilter to
Recipient 23
Unknown Sent
1
Vehicle Mileage 2014 for Layers of Hope
Oso Miles
1380
Okanogan County Miles 670
Postal Miles 183.60
Total Vehicle Miles
LOH-Q911 2233.60
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
My Heart Is Broken
Several weeks ago I sent out a request for quilters who would be willing to send quilts to Midland Police Dispatchers due to working a police involved shooting where one of their officers perished.
Today with the wonderful help of a dispatcher friend, I was able to send off those 12 quilts to give them warmth and comfort and let them know we care.
When I returned from running errands, I broke down after learning one of Midland's police officers shot and killed himself and his wife and they leave behind 2 year old twins.
The quilts are sent, perhaps today's timing was God finding that perfect moment for me to send them out.
Won't you please consider sending them a card and let them know you are praying and thinking of them?
Midland Police Department
601 Loraine Street
Midland, TX 79701
http://www.newswest9.com/story/27643563/midland-police-identify-officer-killed-in-murder-suicide
Today with the wonderful help of a dispatcher friend, I was able to send off those 12 quilts to give them warmth and comfort and let them know we care.
When I returned from running errands, I broke down after learning one of Midland's police officers shot and killed himself and his wife and they leave behind 2 year old twins.
The quilts are sent, perhaps today's timing was God finding that perfect moment for me to send them out.
Won't you please consider sending them a card and let them know you are praying and thinking of them?
Midland Police Department
601 Loraine Street
Midland, TX 79701
http://www.newswest9.com/story/27643563/midland-police-identify-officer-killed-in-murder-suicide
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Even During the Holidays When it Rains, It Pours
Kymer Walker, was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma and
Leukemia. She has no insurance coverage at this point. She still has
medical insurance. She has just exhausted all of her leave time and is
out of work indefinitely. I have included an e-mail from their Training
Coordinator below:
Kymer Walker, Operator 50, at Coweta County 911 has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma and Leukemia, etc. She has been with us 3 years, etc. She is an avid poker player and animal lover.
Coweta County E-911 is selling T-shirts with the logo on the front to raise money to help cover her expenses. The T-shirts start at $20.00 each.
Dustin L. Buckner
Training Officer/Supervisor
Coweta County E-911
195 International Park
Newnan, Georgia 30265
**Remember sometimes cards are the best medicine to let her know we care!**
Kymer Walker, Operator 50, at Coweta County 911 has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma and Leukemia, etc. She has been with us 3 years, etc. She is an avid poker player and animal lover.
Coweta County E-911 is selling T-shirts with the logo on the front to raise money to help cover her expenses. The T-shirts start at $20.00 each.
Dustin L. Buckner
Training Officer/Supervisor
Coweta County E-911
195 International Park
Newnan, Georgia 30265
**Remember sometimes cards are the best medicine to let her know we care!**
Send A Card of Cheer This Christmas
I'm writing on behalf of one of our Dispatchers, Serita
Basilio-Lewis, who is now on extended medical leave for cardiac-related
health issues.
Serita was a long time EMT and SAR volunteer in Marin County, and worked part time then full time for us here at the FPD from October 2001 to April 2004. She left Marin for the east coast for a time, then returned in March of 2011 and resumed working for us part time, which eventually worked in to a full time position in May of 2013. In addition to her duties with the FPD, she also created and ran a non-profit organization in her home town that provides meals for families in need. Needless to say, she is an extremely giving and generous person, and asking for assistance is not an easy thing for her to do.
If you can just send her a card and let her know you care:
Let me know and I will get you an address!
Serita was a long time EMT and SAR volunteer in Marin County, and worked part time then full time for us here at the FPD from October 2001 to April 2004. She left Marin for the east coast for a time, then returned in March of 2011 and resumed working for us part time, which eventually worked in to a full time position in May of 2013. In addition to her duties with the FPD, she also created and ran a non-profit organization in her home town that provides meals for families in need. Needless to say, she is an extremely giving and generous person, and asking for assistance is not an easy thing for her to do.
If you can just send her a card and let her know you care:
Let me know and I will get you an address!
Can You Help This Family
I know Christmas is right around the corner, but imagine if you lost everything so close to the holidays. If you can help this family, please let me know!
On Sunday, November 16, 2014, Jackson Police Dispatcher Lekecia Lee had just finished a double shift at the dispatch center working mid-night. After she went home as so many dispatchers will do she decided to cook her something to eat before she went to bed. She fell asleep and was awakened by a next door neighbor telling her that her house was on fire. She grabbed the only clothing that she could and her seven year old daughter (Asia Norwood). They were able to survive but lost everything in the fire. In this time of giving (Thanksgiving) I recognize that dispatchers have hearts as big as their console. The Jackson Police Department is having a benefit to help her get back on her feet. We are calling on dispatchers to help one of our own. Lekecia is those dispatchers who can smile when everything else around her is going wrong.
Lekecia wears clothes size 12-14 and shoe size 8 1/2. Her daughter Asia is need of school uniforms, khaki pants, and blue shirts. Her size is 12 medium and her shoe size is 13-1.
On Sunday, November 16, 2014, Jackson Police Dispatcher Lekecia Lee had just finished a double shift at the dispatch center working mid-night. After she went home as so many dispatchers will do she decided to cook her something to eat before she went to bed. She fell asleep and was awakened by a next door neighbor telling her that her house was on fire. She grabbed the only clothing that she could and her seven year old daughter (Asia Norwood). They were able to survive but lost everything in the fire. In this time of giving (Thanksgiving) I recognize that dispatchers have hearts as big as their console. The Jackson Police Department is having a benefit to help her get back on her feet. We are calling on dispatchers to help one of our own. Lekecia is those dispatchers who can smile when everything else around her is going wrong.
Lekecia wears clothes size 12-14 and shoe size 8 1/2. Her daughter Asia is need of school uniforms, khaki pants, and blue shirts. Her size is 12 medium and her shoe size is 13-1.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
The Very Best Kind of Thank You!
In 2005 when I began this journey of sharing quilts with our 'unseen heroes,' of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina I didn't reach out to get a pat on the back or a thank you and yet, I received a few thanks that warmed my heart.
One was of a momma and her baby girl with their quilts. I had made 2 different quilt patterns but used the same fabrics since mom and baby were separated while mom lived aboard a FEMA ship so she could work and baby lived in Texas with grandma.
Then, the second one came of an amazing lady named Gloria who had lost everything while she remained at work helping others and I mean literally, her house moved away from where it was sitting.
Gloria's picture showed her in bed with the quilt I had made her and it just warmed my heart.
Here were two people in the most devastating of times and they took time out of their chaotic and turned upside down lives to say, 'thank you, you made a difference.'
Sometimes I get a note saying thank you right away, sometimes I get a thank you in the mail months and even a year or more later and when you lose everything you ever owned in the blink of an eye, it is shocking to me I receive anything at all.
So when I received a letter in the mail yesterday, I cried and I smiled and I felt my heart just filled with warmth as this is the very first time I have ever received a letter from an obviously very young child whose dad is a policeman.
The letter thanked me for the quilt, told me it is being used everyday and that their father is a policeman. I wrote them back letting them know how special that letter is to me and telling them when the time comes that I get my studio built, this letter will hold a special place framed and on the wall.
I always say that we don't expect payment from those that receive our quilts, but I would say this child repaid the kindness in a way that will forever touch my soul and simply put once again...
These children, families and individuals are the reason why I do what I do and why at times I beg for you to help with quilts, with funding, fabric, thread, etc..
Hopefully this coming spring/summer I can meet these two little ones face to face and give them a huge hug!
One was of a momma and her baby girl with their quilts. I had made 2 different quilt patterns but used the same fabrics since mom and baby were separated while mom lived aboard a FEMA ship so she could work and baby lived in Texas with grandma.
Then, the second one came of an amazing lady named Gloria who had lost everything while she remained at work helping others and I mean literally, her house moved away from where it was sitting.
Gloria's picture showed her in bed with the quilt I had made her and it just warmed my heart.
Here were two people in the most devastating of times and they took time out of their chaotic and turned upside down lives to say, 'thank you, you made a difference.'
Sometimes I get a note saying thank you right away, sometimes I get a thank you in the mail months and even a year or more later and when you lose everything you ever owned in the blink of an eye, it is shocking to me I receive anything at all.
So when I received a letter in the mail yesterday, I cried and I smiled and I felt my heart just filled with warmth as this is the very first time I have ever received a letter from an obviously very young child whose dad is a policeman.
I always say that we don't expect payment from those that receive our quilts, but I would say this child repaid the kindness in a way that will forever touch my soul and simply put once again...
These children, families and individuals are the reason why I do what I do and why at times I beg for you to help with quilts, with funding, fabric, thread, etc..
Hopefully this coming spring/summer I can meet these two little ones face to face and give them a huge hug!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)