CHALLENGE #37 - 2015

From Colorado, we are heading to the Northwest  ------  OREGON!!!    So, without further ado, here is the information for our next Challenge:

OASIS SHELTER HOME
OREGON

****CHALLENGE COMPLETED****

The Oasis Shelter Home is a small, 15-bed shelter which has been in operation since 1995.  It was founded as a result of a grass roots effort dedicated to establishing a safe haven for DV victims in Curry County, Oregon, population 22,000.  It is the only emergency shelter in the 150-mile stretch from Coos Bay, Oregon, to Crescent City, California. 

Here is what we would like to send to the Oasis Shelter Home.  Except for the Women's and Teen Boys, please use gender neutral colors for all other slippers.

     18  Women   -   DONE

       6  Teen Boys  -  DONE

       6  Preteens   -   DONE

       6  Youths   -   DONE

       6  Toddlers   -   DONE

       6  Newborn Booties   -   DONE


     40  Washcloths   -   DONE


MAILING DEADLINE:    DECEMBER 12, 2015


MAIL TO:     (PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE THE SHELTER NAME IN THE ADDRESS.)

                     LEA SEVEY

                     P. O. BOX 932

                     GOLD BEACH,  OREGON   97444


This Challenge is also posted on our Facebook page and most pledges will come in there;  however, you can make a pledge in a comment on this post and we will receive.   We will keep the numbers still needed in each category updated here as quickly as possible.   If you have any questions, please do not hestitate to contact us!

Rachel, Judy, and Lynne

HAPPY HANDS #12 - 2015

***CHALLENGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED***

Over on our Facebook page, we just completed a challenge for A Woman's Place shelter in Greeley, Colorado, (which didn't get posted here on the blog), and we would also like to do a "Happy Hands" challenge for them.   "Happy Hands" provides the women and children at the shelter with the supplies needed to either learn or continue a craft that they can carry with them when they leave the shelter.....one that we hope will provide them the many hours of enjoyment and relaxation that we receive from our craft.

For A Woman's Place, we would like to provide the following:

     15 skeins of yarn   -   DONE

     10 pairs of knitting needles  (size 8, 9, or 10 - no longer than 14")   -   DONE

     10 crochet hooks (sizes G, H, I)   -   DONE

     10 pairs children's blunt-tip scissors   -   DONE

     10 large-eye plastic yarn needles   -   DONE



MAILING DEADLINE:    NOVEMBER 30, 2015


MAILING ADDRESS:    (Please do NOT include the name of the shelter when mailing!)

     TINA JOHNSON
     CHILDREN'S ADVOCATE
     P. O. BOX 71
     GREELEY,  COLORADO    80632


This Challenge is also running on our Facebook page and many pledges will be coming in there.  We will update the numbers still needed as pledges come in.   If you would like to make a pledge for this challenge, please put your pledge in a "comment" below and we will receive it through our email.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask!

Rachel, Judy, and Lynne

HAPPY HANDS CHALLENGE #11 - 2015

TUNDRA WOMEN'S COALITION
Bethel, Alaska

Since the Bethel shelter has an art therapy program in place for its residents and we haven't done an HH challenge since August, we would like to be able to provide them with some supplies to encourage them and pass along our love for our crafts.

Members of the local community are the shelter's "support group". During these support group sessions, a lot of knitting, crocheting, sewing and art projects go on.

For the Bethel shelter:

15 skeins of yarn (worsted weight, acrylic) - Still need 15 skeins

15 prs. of children's scissors - Still need 5 prs.

15 prs. knitting needles (sizes 8 to 10, preferably) - Still need 15 prs.

15 crochet hooks (sizes G, H, I, or J) - Still need 5 hooks

15 large eye plastic yarn needles - Still need 5 yarn needles


MAILING DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 10, 2015

MAIL TO:   KIM TWITCHELL

                 P. O. BOX 2029

                 BETHEL, ALASKA 99559

As with the other two challenges, please DO NOT INCLUDE the name of the shelter in the mailing address. Thank You!

COZIES FOR PETS #11 - 2015

TUNDRA WOMEN'S COALITION

Bethel, Alaska

****CHALLENGE COMPLETED****

Many domestic violence shelters around the country have realized that providing pet shelter services to their clients often means the difference between a DV victim remaining with the abuser or leaving and seeking shelter. They know that if they leave their pets behind that there is a good possibility that the pets will be abused in their absence. More and more shelters are beginning to add on-site pet services or partnering with local animal shelters or rescues to take care of these pets or find foster or other permanent homes for them.

The shelter in Bethel, Alaska, partners with a local Canine Rescue group to house animals when the ladies need to come to the shelter. Just recently, they watched the cats of one of their residents. The shelter staff think that it would be"awesome" if our group could provide some nice warm cozies (blankets/mats) for this group. We all know that it must be very, very cold in the northern part of Alaska and they have very long winters up there, so here is what we would like to supply to them:

4 - 20" x 20" blankets - DONE!

4 - 24" x 24" blankets - DONE!

4 - 24" x 30" or 30" x 30" blankets - DONE!

Please remember: DO NOT INCLUDE the name of the shelter in the address on your package!

MAILING DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 10, 2015

MAIL TO:    KIM TWITCHELL
                  P. O. BOX 2029
                  BETHEL, ALASKA 99559



Please DO NOT include the name of the shelter in the mailing address.   Thank You!

CHALLENGE #33 - 2015

TUNDRA WOMEN'S COALITION
Bethel, Alaska

*******CHALLENGE COMPLETED******

All shelters offer valuable programs for the residents of the shelter and also provide programs for their communities.  One valuable such program at Tundra Women's Coalition is TAAV - Teens Acting Against Violence. 

An important part of the programs at TWC is TAAV.  This program is for teens living in Bethel for ages 12-18.  The group focus is on peer education and outreach.  TAAV members speak out to engage peers about issues such as domestic violence, teen dating violence, sexual assault, types of abuse, suicide, substance abuse, etc. through discussion, activities and the experiences and wisdom of other members.  They share their knowledge, with peers and communities throughout the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.  They travel to village classrooms, perform skits at conferences and events, record PSAs for radio, etc.  Many participants of TAAV feel that the program helps them make sense of their experiences and provides support for living a sober, nonviolent life. 

Many of the members of TAAV now work for the Tundra Women's Coalition and one has become a member of the Board of Directors of the shelter. 

Let's send to Alaska:

Update at 2:15 - I'm adding 5 women sizes in LARGE size.  ----  DONE

40 Women     ---- DONE
3 Teen Boys   ----  DONE
8 Preteen Girls   --DONE
8 Preteen Boys     --  DONE
9 Youth Girls     ---   DONE
9 Youth boys    ---  DONE
9 Toddler Girls     ---- DONE
9 Toddler Boys      ----DONE
4 Girls Booties     --  DONE
4 Boy Booties      DONE

100 Washcloths    ----DONE


Mailing Deadline:  November 2, 2015

Send to:  Kim Twitchell
P.O. Box 2029
Bethel, AK 99559

Please DO NOT include the name of the shelter in the mailing address.  Thank You.

CHALLENGE #32 OF 2015 HAS NOW BEEN FULLY PLEDGED!

We would like to thank all of our hard-working, creative members for pitching in and making handmade slippers and washcloths for the La Casa Shelter in Las Cruces, New Mexico.    There will be many warm hearts and toes there!

But don't fret!!   A new challenge is on the horizon and will probably be posted early next week.   Please keep checking this blog or our Facebook page ("Like" the page and don't forget to click on "Get Notifications" to get our posts!).

Until then, keep those needles, hooks, and sewing machines working and add to your stash.   There is a Sizing Chart in the right column (and in Notes on our Facebook page) to guide you.  We breakdown our pledge requests into age categories for both genders.  The sizes listed are suggested.  If you have a particular size (say, toddler) that you like to make and you have a pattern marked for that size, go for it!   

We do not have a central collection address.  Our members pledge, then make what they pledged, and send them directly to the shelter address we have specifically listed in the challenge information.   By doing our challenges this way, your slippers get there quicker, there is no double shipping costs  (you-to-us and then us-to-shelter), and we do not have to fundraise to cover supplies and shipping costs.  

If you just found us and are interested in helping out, simply join us on our Facebook page or follow us here and put in your pledge the next time a challenge is posted.   

Next challenge will probably be listed early next week!

Rachel, Judy, and Lynne

CHALLENGE #32 - 2015

LA CASA SHELTER
Las Cruces, New Mexico

****CHALLENGE HAS BEEN COMPLETED****

The La Casa Shelter has been in operation since 1981 and provides both emergency shelter on a 24/7, 365-day-a-year basis, with paid staff on duty at all times, and also transitional housing services. This is a repeat shelter for our group. We sent slippers and washcloths last year in November. When contacted again, they said that they would love to receive slippers and washcloths from PSP again this year. That's always good to hear because it means that they were pleased with the items they received previously!

For this challenge, we would like to provide the following:

25 women - DONE
 5 teen boys  -  DONE
 6 preteen girls  -  DONE
 6 preteen boys  -  DONE
 6 youth girls  -  DONE
 6 youth boys  -  DONE
 8 toddler girls  -  DONE
 8 toddler boys  -  DONE
 5 booties (girls)  -  DONE
 5 booties (boys)  -  DONE

80 washcloths - DONE


MAILING DEADLINE: OCTOBER 28, 2015

SEND TO:

     Maria Lopez    (Please note:  "Mail to" name was changed on 9/28.)
     P. O. Box 2463
     Las Cruces, New Mexico 88004

Please DO NOT INCLUDE the name of the shelter on your package! Thank you!


Most pledges are received on our Facebook page; however, you can pledge here on the comment line in this post and we will receive it in our email. Thank you!

Rachel, Judy and Lynne

CHALLENGE #30 of 2015 IS NOW COMPLETED!

Thirty shelters will receive slippers made by the wonderful members of The Pink Slipper Project.  Well, that is, 30 shelters so far this year!  Expect more!  We want to equal or break last year's record-breaking year, don't we?  If you say no, then Judy, Lynne and I can retire for the year and have a reunion on a beach in Florida for the winter!  No way!  I just know we will break the record of 39 shelters from last year.   Soooo, we need to get to 40.  With that in mind, I'm working to have one shelter challenge per week through Thanksgiving. That will give us 40.  If you have some slippers made ahead, it will help down the road when we're getting to the finish line.

Now back to statistics ........

So far this year we've done 30 shelters and sent 2,833 slippers and 2,588 washcloths, not to mention all of the pet blankets and crochet & knitting supplies that we have also sent to shelters with a pet program and a craft/hobby program.   Now, that is just plain fabulous!! The numbers will continue to grow in the next several weeks; then, we can kick back and rest on our laurels through the busy holiday season.  After the holidays, we can dust off our needles and hooks and get busy again. 

I saw three names I'm not familiar with who made a pledge for Bethany House. Thank you to Susie, Arlinda and Luanne for making your first pledge. We look forward to seeing your names again in the future.

I'll let you know more about the challenge for this week when I have all the info. 


Rachel

Update for Current Challenge

Our current Bethany House challenge is a big one, but in one day, out of 225 pairs of slippers and 225 washcloths, there are only 63 pairs of slippers remaining to be pledged.    Amazing!!!

Here is the breakdown of what is still needed: 13 preteen girls, 13 preteen boys, 3 youth girls, 8 youth boys, 11 toddler girls, and 15 toddler boys.

Don't forget - if you wish to pledge any of the above, please put your pledge in a comment below and we will receive it via email.

***NEW*** CHALLENGE #30 - 2015

BETHANY HOUSE - Toledo, OH

   ****CHALLENGE COMPLETED****

Bethany House is a unique shelter that offers long term transitional shelter as well as  16 apartments for former residents with children. They provide emotional, spiritual and financial support. They have 12 apartments as part of their Step Up Program.  These apartments are rented to shelter graduates who benefit from stability and security. 

Bethany House is a large shelter, so our challenge is bigger than usual.  We know that our amazing group can meet their needs.

We need:

50 women  -  DONE
5 men  -  DONE
10 teen boys  -  DONE
15 preteen boys  -  DONE
15 preteen girls  -  DONE
20 youth girls  -  DONE
20 youth boys   -   DONE
25 toddler girls  -  DONE
25 toddler boys  -  DONE
20 booties girls  -  DONE
20 booties boys  -  DONE

225 washcloths  -  DONE

*** October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so we'd love to see lots of purple slippers and washcloths!

MAILING DEADLINE: October 24, 2015

Bethany House is a CONFIDENTIAL shelter so please DO NOT include the name of the shelter when addressing your package.

Mailing address:
Deidra Lashley
P.O. Box 5930
Toledo, OH 43613


Our Challenges are conducted primarily on our Facebook page; however, we try to keep the numbers above updated as the challenge pledges come in.   If you would like to make a pledge of slippers and/or washcloths for this challenge, you can post your pledge in a comment on this post and we will receive it via email.    

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Rachel, Judy and Lynne

WELCOME!

We welcome everyone who would like to join with us on our journey to make handmade slippers (knitted, crocheted, or sewn - all colors) for the women and children who are living in domestic violence shelters across the United States.   We are strictly an on-line crafting group with members all across the US.  We do not have individual chapters.  

How We Work:   Our Coordinator, Rachel, contacts shelters across the country to find out if they would be interested in receiving nice, warm, handmade slippers for the women and children in their shelters.  (We also make handmade washcloths if requested, too.)

If a shelter says "yes", then we hold a "Challenge" for our members to make and send the number of slippers (and washcloths) requested.  We break down the numbers into genders and sizes (such as, women's, teen girls, teen boys, preteen girls, etc., on down to boy and girl booties).  Our members then post a pledge with the amount of slippers they wish to make in a particular category or categories.   We log them in on our record sheet and update the numbers still needed in the Challenge information.  When pledges are received for all of the slippers/washcloths requested, then the Challenge for that shelter is considered "Completed".   Then, the members take over.   They make their pledged number of items and send them directly to the address provided by the shelter!    We list a "mail by" date in the Challenge (usually a month from posting date).

We operate our Challenges mainly from our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ThePinkSlipperProject); however, we also list challenges here on the blog and we accept pledges by way of a "comment" on the challenge post here.

We also have a Pinterest Page where we have links to lots for knitted, crocheted, and sewn slipper and washcloth patterns (both free and paid):  http://www.pinterest.com/PinkSlipProject

We hope that you will join us in our endeavor to warm the hearts and toes of women and children living in DV shelters across the nation!

Rachel, Lynne, and Judy


P.S. - We also hold occasional "Cozies for Pets" and "Happy Hands" challenges for shelters after the slipper/washcloth challenges are completed.  The "Cozies" are handmade blankets for companion pets who come to the shelter with their owners (when a pet program is in place) and "Happy Hands" is passing along our love for our crafts and the satisfaction and calming effects they provide by sending knitting and crocheting supplies to shelters with a program in place.

CHALLENGE #29 - 2015

PENELOPE HOUSE
Mobile, Alabama

****CHALLENGE COMPLETED****

“Peace On Earth Begins At Home”

Tonie Ann Torrans describes Penelope House as “Fort Knox” with the electronic fence lined with barbed wire. A second fence will not open until visitors are cleared through a call box.Penelope House was founded in 1979 by the “Daughters of Penelope” and was Alabama's first shelter for battered women and their children. Women are accepted into the shelter if they are in imminent danger. They are asked to arrive with a police escort and and then assigned a room and provided with food, clothing and hygiene supplies. If women arriving at the shelter require immediate medical attention, they are seen at the on-site medical clinic.

For Penelope House, we will need:

  40 women - DONE
    3 men - DONE
    5 teen boys - DONE
    7 preteen girls - DONE
    7 preteen boys - DONE
    7 youth girls - DONE
    7 youth boys - DONE
    7 toddler girls - DONE
    7 toddler boys - DONE
    7 booties for boys and girls - DONE
100 washcloths - DONE


Mailing Deadline: October 12, 2015


Send to:
Tonie Ann Torrans
P.O. Box 9127
Mobile, Alabama 36691

PLEASE NOTE:    Our Challenges are also posted on our Facebook page and most of our pledges are received at that location.   Pledges can also be made through this blog post via a "Comment" on the post with the number of slippers and category(ies) and your name and location.   Pledge numbers are updated here on the blog as quickly as possible.     If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask us.

Rachel, Judy, and Lynne

......and now.....for those wonderful magic words.....


THE CHALLENGE FOR BRIGHTER TOMORROWS HAS BEEN COMPLETED!!!!!

What an absolutely super duper group we have here! I was just about to put up an update post with the number of slippers remaining to be pledged when two messages came in from Anita S., pledging all of the remaining slippers and washcloths!

Thank you all for your pledges!     Great way to begin a weekend!

Rachel, Judy, and Lynne