Make A Difference Day Crafting Baby Shower

Howell, New Jersey

Saturday, October 26, 2002

Our Make A Difference Day event was a wonderful success for being our first attempt and fighting a very rainy and dreary day.

Items

The use of the community room that was donated by the Friendship Garden Senior Housing. We decorated the room in a baby shower fashion with teddies and baby blocks on the walls. The table that displayed the finished items had baby theme table cloths on them, making room rather festive.

The Optimist Club of Howell members, S & B Club of Howell and TLC began setting up at 8:30 in the morning. We had sewing machines, sergers, embroidery machine, fabric, batting, crochet hooks, knitting needles, yarn, patterns that were for the use of all persons attending. Through the course of the day, we had about 50 or so persons that attended, lending time and talent to make items to be donated to Kimball Medical Hospital.

Companies around town donated several items for our door prize raffles (we had a total of 32 raffle prizes). Others donated food and beverages for our refreshment table, which consisted of 5 dozen bagels complete with cream cheese and butter, 4 dozen danish pastries, 4 pounds of Italian cookies, platters of sub sandwhiches that we cut up in finger food fashion, 2 three foot subs, soda, coffee, hot tea, and ice tea.

At the end of the day, we were able to present to the Head Nurse of Kimball Medical with 72 blankets, several crocheted ponchos, numerous hats, 27 handmade toys, plus a variety of outfits and other baby items that were purchased. Several people also brought yarn and fabric as a donation to help replenish supplies that had been used during the course of the day.

I had a DELIGHTFUL surprise that day. Terri (Nanna12) traveled 60 miles to attend. Everyone knew she was coming except me. You can only imagine my surpise when I looked up and saw her coming through the door. I was extremely honored, as it is difficult for her to do traveling since she does not drive, but thanks to her wonderful daughter who drove her, she made it. Thank you Terri for coming!!!!

Other TLC members that attended were Kaye from Florida, Barbara from Brick, New Jersey along with her daughter and her 5 year old twins that make lovie dolls and angel cache boxes for the hospitals. Other TLC members that participated by way of sending items were Sue of Massachusetts, Nancy of New York, Dorrie of New York, Dee of Massachusetts and her daughter Paula, Debbie of Massachusetts, Cay of Wisconsin.

I would like to extend a special thank you to Kaye, she worked extremely hard and picked up the slack for me when my back wouldn't allow me to do anymore.

At the end of the day, the Head Nurse arrived and we packed her mini van full of items to take back to the hospital for their babies. She was thrilled and wanted me to extend her gratitude to everyone.

The president of the Optimist Club took charge of the drawing of door prizes. The grand prize winner was Dee C., she has won the Necchi Sewing machine as well as other prizes to people who won that had already left for the day.

It has been indicated by several that they would like for TLC to have this event every year, so we will be planning on doing so and will prepare for next years event well in advance.

Thank you everyone who participated.

Vicki