"HAPPY HANDS #1 - Monika's House

     We will be sending "Happy Hands" gifts to Monika's House.  They will receive not only our slippers and our Cozies for Pets, but also, these items will give them "Happy Hands". 

     Happy Hands will work this way.  There are items that Monika's House would like but not in huge amounts.  If you would like to help out, please make a pledge.  Then, as we do with slippers, when we reach the stated amount, we'll be done.  You may send used knitting needles.  If you send plastic ones, please do not send those that are bent and bowed.  Plastic needles tend to bow if they are heavily used.  Preferences for sizes will be 7, 8, 9, 10, 10-1/2, and 11.  

For Happy Hands #1 @ Monika's House - we would like the following:

  8  skeins of yarn.  Worsted or bulky preferred.  No partial skeins or balls.  -  DONE!

  8 knitting looms of various sizes.  Make sure the instructions are included.  -  DONE!

  8  knitting needles 8", 10".  Single or double point.  Circulars are fine too.  Please do       not send 14" needles.  -  DONE!

15 crochet hooks of various sizes.  Preferred sizes G, H, I, J, K.   -  DONE!

12 prs. of scissors.  I've found children's blunt tipped scissors are sharp enough for          yarn and then the children can use them too.  -  DONE!

15 Gift Cards from Joann's would make a truly wonderful gift for the shelters.  Then        they could buy crafts supplies they need.  Joann's was chosen as there is one              where the shelter is located.  Joann's gift cards are available at many of the gift          card kiosks at Walmart, supermarkets, etc. or online.

         Share your joy of knitting and crocheting by sending the women at Monika's House a gift that will keep on giving.  Pass It On!  

Mailing Deadline:  August  15, 2014.

Send to:

Valerie Bundy
Director of Shelter Services
P.O. Box 91550
Portland, Oregon 97291

*** SPECIAL #2 *** 

    A week or so ago, Judy posted a question to all of our members on Facebook about what your craft (sewing, knitting, crocheting) meant to you.  What does it do for YOU?  We received many responses, but there was a main theme running through all of them......"relaxation", "stress reliever", "adds joy to my cup", "inner peace", "warm fuzzies", "creative outlet", "feeling of accomplishment". 

     "When I made prayer afghans, each stitch resembled a prayer, so I am using mine now in the same way for myself and my family." - Linda Darby Adams

     "I may not be able to solve world hunger, cure cancer, give every child, every homeless person, every battered woman a home, a meal, a hug, but I sure can make a pair of slippers!  Or a wash cloth, a scarf, a hat, a blanket.  And that one person who receives something I stitched will know at least for a little while someone was thinking about them.  Someone was thinking OF them.  Someone cares." - Karen Baisley

     A common thread - making something with our hands for someone else helps US almost as much as we hope that it will bring joy to the other person.  It brings us an inner peace.

     In that light, The Pink Slipper Project is adding another new "special" project for the DV shelters that we reach out to.....the "Happy Hands" Project.   Many shelters are adding sewing rooms, having a group activity for knitters/crocheters, knitting/crocheting classes at their shelters for the women and children, etc.  Many times their "wish lists" include supplies, such as, yarn (new), knitting needles, crochet hooks, and knitting looms.   These programs give the women and children a chance to learn a new and useful "hobby" to help them relax and be productive, too!   By helping to provide supplies to them, we, in turn, will have the wonderful opportunity to "PASS IT ON" to someone else.  As they learn and create, hopefully, they will "pass it on", too, by making items for other women and children coming into the shelters.

     We hope that you will want to join with us in this new endeavor.  As with the "Cozies for Pets", we will not generally be asking for large quantities of the various items and the challenge will only be done in conjunction with a shelter challenge for slippers and/or washcloths.

When the 5th Anniversary Celebration was announced, we said there would be some "special" shelters. One of the "specials" you've already seen with the "Cozies for Pets". Our next "Special" shelter will be coming up tomorrow!! I hope you will be as excited over this one as you have been with Cozies for Pets. 

 I do want to stress that these specials will not be with every shelter we do. I have noticed an increase in the number of shelters that either house pets or make arrangement for housing offsite. This prompted Judy and I to discuss adding special projects from time to time. Judy will handle the Cozies and I'll do the next one. 

 Our next Special is a way for all our members to participate. We have hundreds of friends that haven't taken part in our challenges. This new project will be one in which you can help even from the comfort of your own home. 

 Until tomorrow when our new project "Special" will be unveiled. 

 Rachel

COZIES FOR PETS #2

MONIKA'S HOUSE
 Hillsboro, Oregon

     (CHALLENGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED!)

As Rachel mentioned in the slippers/washcloths challenge, Monika's House is proud to be just one of only five domestic abuse shelters in Oregon which also accepts family pets into their shelter.  Currently, cats and small dogs are allowed to be kept in the shelter, while larger dogs are kenneled outside.   They are currently building their very own Pet Sanctuary where all of the pets will be kept while their owners are at the shelter.   This new Pet Sanctuary will be opening in August.   

For our 2nd Cozies for Pets challenge, we are asking for the following:

     2  -  20" x 20" blankets   -   DONE

     2  -  24" x 24" blankets   -   DONE

     1  -  24" x 30+" blanket   -   DONE

Mailing Deadline:  August 15, 2014

Mailing Address:

Valerie Bundy, Director of Shelter Services
P.O. Box 91550
Portland, OR   97291 

We are done!  With all the wonderful dedicated members we have, the challenges are finished super fast. You all are terrific!  We will be busy this weekend!   Thanks so much for all you do.

*** NEXT NEW SHELTER CHALLENGE ***

MONIKA'S HOUSE
Hillsboro, Oregon

     (Challenge has been completed!)

Monika's House is named in memory of a domestic violence victim, Monika Voits, an Oregon woman who was murdered in her bed by her husband.  Every year they provide safe shelter to more than 200 adults, children and their pets, fleeing from danger of family violence.

Monika's House is proud to be one of only 5 shelters in Oregon providing safe shelter to family pets and companion animals as well.  Therapy and service animals are housed inside.  Their new indoor Pet Sanctuary is currently under construction!  (A challenge for the Pets will be done after the slippers are pledged.)

To quote the Director of Shelter Services:  “This is awesome and very much looking forward to it.”

(For this challenge, please make all teen, preteen, youth, toddler and booties in gender neutral colors.   Thanks.)
  
For Monika's House we will need:

25 women's  -  DONE

  5 booties   -   DONE

10 toddlers   -   DONE

  5 youth   -   DONE

  4 preteen   -   DONE

  1 men's   -   DONE

  2 teen boys   -   DONE

 50 Washcloths   -   DONE



Mailing Deadline:  August 15, 2014

Mailing Address:

Valerie Bundy, Director of Shelter Services
P.O. Box 91550
Portland, OR   97291 

This challenge is also listed on our Facebook page.   If you wish to make a pledge here on the blog, just place your pledge in a comment box in this post and we will receive it.   Numbers of blankets/washcloths still needed will be updated here as well as on the Facebook page.

Our very first "Cozies for Pets" mini-challenge for companion animals at A New Hope Center in Owego, NY, has already been pledged!    Thank you to our wonderful members who stepped up so quickly to this new endeavor.   We are seeing more and more domestic abuse shelters adding a companion animal shelter to their programs.  I am sure we will be posting more "Cozies for Pets" challenges in the very near future.  

"COZIES FOR PETS - #1

A NEW HOPE CENTER, Owego, NY

   *** CHALLENGE COMPLETED ***

     Since this is our first challenge for "Cozies for Pets" at a domestic violence abuse shelter, we are not requesting a large number of blankets.   For now, we are just going to request a few blankets in a couple of sizes.   Blankets can be crocheted, knitted, or sewn.   If sewn and you wish to place batting between layers of material, please sew a few rows of stitching across the length or width of the blanket to secure the batting so it doesn't wad up when washed.
     Just a little information on the Companion Animal Program at A New Hope Center:
     "We offer shelter, respite care, adoption, and other services for companion animals and certain farm animals.
     Animals are beloved members of many families and are often the targets of abuse.  It can be either to intimidate and further taunt a victim, or to suffer additional abuse just because a batterer feels like hurting the animal.
     As a part of our comprehensive services to families struggling with the effects of domestic violence, ANHS feels that this program is critically important and can even make the difference between a battered woman escaping or staying with an abuser rather than leaving a vulnerable animal behind."
     For this very first challenge, we are asking for the following:
     2  -  20" x 20" blankets  -  DONE
     2  -  24" x 24" blankets  -  DONE
     1  -  24" x 30+" blanket  -  DONE

MAILING DEADLINE:    August 13, 2014

MAILING ADDRESS: 
  
     A New Hope Center
     Attn:  Francis Bialy, Executive Director
     20 Church Street
     Owego,  New York   13827

This mini-challenge is also listed on our Facebook page.   If you wish to make a pledge here on the blog, just place your pledge in a comment box in this post and we will receive it.   Numbers of blankets still needed will be updated here as well as on the Facebook page.

**** SPECIAL ****

We recently announced that we had some special things planned for this summer and fall and here comes the first one!!

We are announcing the start of our "COZIES FOR PETS" challenges. Rachel and I have noticed that many of the domestic violence abuse shelters around the country are now starting or have had a "Companion Animal Program". Sometimes the shelter for the pets is at the shelter location and other times offsite with fosters or a local animal shelter. Having this service available often times makes the difference between a battered woman escaping or staying with the abuser rather than leaving a family pet behind to be abused.

We would like to include these family pets in our challenges, too, where there is a pet program available at the shelter, and make Pet Cozies (blankets or beds) to help them adjust to their new surroundings. Pet blankets probably should be about 20"x20", 24"x24" or could be larger for a larger dog. They can be sewn, crocheted, or knitted, or possibly tied fleece. I have some pattern links for pet blankets that I will post later, but you can use any pattern you wish. We will ONLY be doing the pet blankets as a companion project to a shelter challenge if slippers and washcloths have been requested.

Rachel and I hope that you will join with us in this new project.

I will be posting information on our first "Cozies for Pets" challenge later this evening. (Judy)

A NEW HOPE CENTER - Owego, New York

           *** Challenge Completed ***
       (Updated:   7/10/14 @ 10:00 PM)
A New Hope Center is just a small, 7-bed safe home (location is kept
confidential), which gives shelter to around 40 families a
year.   While in the shelter, women are responsible for their
children, making meals, and daily cleaning.

For this shelter challenge, we are going to need the following numbers of
slippers and washcloths:

60   women's/teen girls   -  DONE!
  2   men’s sizes  -  DONE!
  2   teen boys  -  DONE!
  6   preteen girls  -  DONE!
  6   preteen boys  -  DONE!
  9   youth girls  -  DONE!
  9   youth boys  -  DONE!
  8   toddler girls  -  DONE!
  8   toddler boys  -  DONE!
  8   booties -- girls  -  DONE!
  8   booties – boys  -  DONE!
60   washcloths  -  DONE

Deadline for mailing:    August 9, 2014

Mailing Address: 
     A New Hope Center
     Attn:  Francis Bialy, Executive Director
     20 Church Street
     Owego,  New York   13827

Our Challenges are also posted on our Facebook page and that is where we receive most of our pledges. If you would like to make a pledge here on the Blog, please put your pledge in a comment box - number of slippers and/or washcloths and categories (women's, teen boys, teen girls, etc.) and we will receive it. The number of slippers/washcloths still needed will be updated here as often as possible during the Challenge.

Our Facebook page is visible to the public without being a member of Facebook; however, you cannot post pledges there unless you have a Facebook account.

A new Challenge is coming.....

Well, now that the holiday weekend is over (here in the US), everyone is probably back to their normal routines. At the Pink Slipper Project, Rachel has been busy lining up shelters (even though her main computer went down). She is hoping to be "back in business" today. We hope that everyone has had a chance to see our post from Monday announcing the special activities that we have planned for... the next few months and are as excited about them as we are!

Today, it is time to get back to the business of PSP with another shelter challenge. We will be leaving Saginaw, Michigan, and heading to the state of New York for our 24th challenge of 2014. As soon as I have everything written up, I will post the new challenge......probably later this evening or early tomorrow morning! We will be making all sizes of slippers, plus washcloths, for this shelter. So, get ready with your pledges!!        (Judy)

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

I hope that everyone has had a great holiday weekend (and a long weekend at
that). Now that we are all settled in for a beautiful summer, Judy and I want to share with you some of the things that are going to be happening at Pink Slipper this summer and into the fall season. This summer is not going to be business as usual. We will continue to have 2 or 3 shelters per month but we are going to be busy, busy around here. Why? The Pink Slipper Project will be celebrating our (hold on, here it comes) FIFTH ANNIVERSARY in August and we intend to celebrate BIG TIME. I've been searching for shelters for several weeks so we will be making slippers. One or more of the shelters will be special. How special? We will have surprises and that is one of them.

We will have the very first post that Joyce Lucas put up announcing The Pink Slipper Project. The very first challenge she did we will do that shelter again on the day she announced the first challenge in 2009. During our birthday month, August, we will have drawings each week. You'll want to check in often for that as you'll never know what might be in the goody bags.

In October we will celebrate National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The
color for NDVAM is PURPLE so be prepared to make purple slippers.

We will end our celebration in October with, well, it's a secret too and everyone
will find out in due time. Come and visit us often for special surprises and just to keep up with what is going on.

HOW WE WORK

When we have a request for slippers, it is called a "Challenge".  Once I've verified with the shelter about numbers and sizes of slippers, I post an introduction to the shelter.

The introduction will include information about the shelter, the number of slippers needed according to size, and the number of washcloths (if requested).   We make ladies/teen girls, teen boys, babies, toddlers (ages 1-4), youth (ages 5-8), preteen (ages 9-12) sizes and washcloths.  Washcloths are usually 7-8” by 7-8”.   Also included is the mailing deadline as well as the mailing address.

In order to send enough slippers for everyone,  pledges are needed.    Please put your pledge in a comments box below.  (Most pledges are received on our Facebook page, but if you make a pledge here, we will receive it.  Numbers needed are updated here as they are received both places.)   All slippers and washcloths are mailed by the maker directly to the shelter and need to be mailed by the date included in the challenge info.

A copy of our size chart for slippers is in the Notes section of our Facebook page as well as in the right column here on the blog.    You can make your slippers in any style or color you wish.   Bulky yarn, worsted weight using 1 strand or two, or 2 strands of sport work the best for the children and adult sizes.

Please make a note of what you pledged, the shelter name/address and the mailing deadline.  A copy of the challenge introduction and those who pledged will be placed in the Notes section (Facebook) and in the "2014 Challenges-Completed" (blog) if you need to verify your pledge or get the address.

Rachel Terrill,  Coordinator