Still Needing Quilt For 12 Year Old

 I am still looking for someone to make a quilt for a 12 year old male whose favorite color is black.  I have the rest of his families quilts ready to go, but just cannot bear to send 3 and leave one out.
**Completed**

I know it is Christmas and at this time it can hold off until January although I really wanted to have these sent out by next week sometimes things get in the way.

I will not ask any of you to take on a new project, but perhaps if you have a completed quilt sitting around that would be perfect for a 12 year old young man, you would be willing to bless him.

Able To Change Hearts

I was a 911 dispatcher for almost 13 years. I loved my job, still love it though I am now retired and it absolutely breaks my heart when I see one of them do something wrong or not send help to someone that needs it.  

That happened to one of my followers and she was very gracious in explaining why after making quilts for the Granite Mountain Hot Shot families, she would not be reaching out to help others.

A few days ago, I received this very amazing and humbling Email from her and asked if I could please share it with all of you and she said yes. So, as they say somewhere, 'without further ado...'

Hi Jean,

 

After the Granite Mountain project, I asked you not to put me on your list because I quilt for local groups and generally don't have warm fuzzy feelings for 911 operators.  My only experience with them was when the operator refused to send help because he was sure the person trying to break in to my home at 3am must be someone I knew.  Living alone at the time, it was probably the most terrifying night of my life, thanks to that operator.  Now I'm sure he was "one in a million."

 

Working on the Granite Mountain quilts gave my quilting a sense of purpose I hadn't felt with any other charity.  I still check your blog so often that I now would like to be on your mailing list.

  

Thank you for the wonderful job you are doing.

 

Through reaching out to others, she was able to heal and accept her situation is NOT the norm!

 

Amazing I say you are all amazing!

 

Merry Christmas and Blessings! 

 

You Did It and A Huge Thanks To Joanne H.!

I just logged into my Email for the evening and almost fell out of my chair!  Thanks to all of you who donated and an exceptionally generous donation(s) by Joanne H. we have reached our goal of $172. 

God Bless You All!  I can't say thank you enough, I cannot wait to see our new logo!

Whoo Hoo We Have Passed Our Half Way Point!

I am so excited and happy to announce that as of a few minutes ago, we have surpassed the half way mark of raising the funds we need for the new design and site.

We are now at 53% funds raised and that is just awesome. I am praying we can begin the design and changes in January 2014. 

I recently had an amazing office manager who works for one of my doctors tell me she will make time for her and I to sit down so she can help me set everything up the way it needs to be done for a non-profit!

YOU ALL ROCK!!  

I hope you know that without you, this would not have ever been possible!

THANKS SO VERY MUCH!!

Another 911 Operator in Need

Odessa (TX) Dispatcher Tina Jones in Need of Support
Public Safety Communications dispatcher Tina Jones with the City of Odessa, Texas is currently in the Critical Care Unit at Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, TX. She has been there for 2 weeks today, suffering from complications of a disease called Myasthenia Gravis. She has been on a ventilator since Nov 26th.
Tina was diagnosed with the disease last February and was forced to retire, and give up her position as a Communication's Supervisor which she had held for many, many years. She made a remarkable recovery (remission) and was able to come out of the medically forced retirement, and had gone back to work part time, working her way back to full time for the past several months, and was in the process of applying for the supervisor position again, and getting her benefits ( insurance, etc) back in force, when the disease took her in a reverse direction yet again. She would have had her 20 years of service completed in 2014......
Tina has been a huge supporter and follower of 911 Cares for as long as I can remember, and always kept a jar on the dispatch counter for everyones spare change, and I have no doubt ya'll have spoken to her several times over the years. I can't even begin to imagine what her medical expenses will be totalling up to, but her medications alone to control the disease were unbelievably high before this setback.
While donations to assist with her medical expenses would be fantastic, cards and letters of encouragement would also be appreciated to keep her spirits up. If that is something possible that could be put out there, please call or email me and I will put your company in touch with a fellow friend of Tina's who is able to give more up to date information and a local address to ensure she receives them in a timely manner.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Cindy Knight
1024 Breezewood Dr
Arlington,TX. 76017

**Please make sure if you send a card that you put Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 on it so they know where you got their information from**

Lets Reach Out to This Single Mom

If you can't donate, please consider sending her a card to wish her well!

Pima County (AZ) Dispatcher Needs Support **SENT OUT**

I am writing to you on a somber note, hoping to see if we could get a 911 Cares Activation going for one of our dispatchers, Ms. Cindy Henderson. Cindy is a 12 year veteran of our department, is a 33 year old single mother of 3, who suffered a stroke last month out of the blue. Cindy has been out of work since October 30th, and is currently still hospitalized, undergoing in-patient rehab.
We were able to make her mortgage payment today with the help of some generous employees and an Officer’s association donation, but she is still in need of help. She will have medical bills to cover, so anything would be helpful.
I can be your point of contact here at the Sheriff’s dept., or you can also contact her direct Supervisor, Cecilia Ochoa.Thanks in advance for your help! Have a great day.
Talia M. Carey
Pima County Sheriff’s Department
Communications Administrative Supervisor
1750 E. Benson Hwy, Tucson, AZ 85714

**Always remember when you sign your card to make sure you put Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 in your signature**

Thank You So Much!

We are now at the 47% mark for raising the funds to pay for our new logo for Layers of Hope. I cannot say thank you enough to the three people who have stepped forward in faith and their belief in me and donated to see this project take a major step in becoming the best it can be.

Christmas is a difficult time for many of us, I cannot tell you how much I struggle this time of year to keep a smile on my face and the depression that works so hard to tear it off.

I lost a child many years ago and Christmas reminds me that a chunk of me is missing, a part of our family hasn't been here to celebrate, I will never know what he grew up to look like, if he married, etc.  But in his memory, we hang an angel on our tree sitting on the moon first each year and there is a contest each year to see who wins the honor of placing it on the tree.

My mom loved Christmas, her house was always decorated even when all the kids were gone and she baked and mailed us goodies like you wouldn't believe.

The one Christmas we spent together with her, her husband, my grandmother (her last) and my son, we arrived at her house and she had so many pies I was in awe.

Mom made hubby his favorite Pecan, me a Cherry pie, my son and her hubby a Pumpkin pie and as we came in the door, she had taken out of skillet a fresh hot pan of fried pie dough with cinnamon and sugar for me because it was my fave as a child!

The following Christmas, grandma was gone and two years later I lost both my mom and dad within 3 months of each other. I felt abandoned and lost and while I know it was their time, it doesn't make Christmas any better.  Or does it?

I decorate more than I used to, I force myself to smile more than I used to and I am blessed to have a family who loves me. Still, depression is a battle.

However, yesterday with no school the girls played several musical pieces for me with their Trombone/Piano and Clarinet, diva girl made a snowman and someone donated to Layers of Hope all of which made me realize how awesome my family and all of you are!

Layers of Hope - Quilting 911 will move forward, we will continue our ministry and we will bless others who work so hard to reach out to help us during our time of need!

Blessings to all of you and thank you isn't enough for all your donations this year!