Our 23rd Challenge of 2014 - Completed!

We just completed our 23rd Challenge of 2014!  AMAZING!!!  Our members are just fantastic!  It shows just how giving the crafting community is worldwide. We even had some members from the UK take part in this challenge. How great is that!  We are going to give you a little break to work on your current pledges and, if you are all caught up, well....just keep on crocheting, knitting, and sewing ...and add to your stash for the next one!

THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD

Saginaw, Michigan

                  (UPDATED:   CHALLENGE COMPLETED  -  4/22/14)

     We are all familiar with the underground railroad from our history books as a path to safety and that is why the Underground Railroad shelter was so named.  It is a path to safety for abused women and children.
     In 1976 it became evident that there was a need for an emergency shelter in Saginaw.  The doors to the first shelter opened in Dec., 1977.  It was the first free-standing emergency shelter in the State of Michigan.  In the first 2 years, they housed 750 women and 1300 children.  Today, the Underground Railroad shelter continues to help abused women and children along a pathway to a new life.
     For the Underground Railroad shelter we will need:

          40 women    -    DONE
            2 teen boys  -   DONE
            6 preteen girls   -   DONE
            6 preteen boys   -   DONE
          10 youth girls   -   DONE
          10 youth boys   -    DONE
          10 toddler girls   -   DONE
          10 toddler boys   -   DONE
            8 booties girls   -   DONE
            8 booties boys   -   DONE

        100 washcloths   -   DONE

Mailing deadline: July 21, 2014

Send to:
     Lisa Hall
     Community Development Manager
     Underground Railroad, Inc.
     5647 State Street, Suite A
     Saginaw, Michigan   48603

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.

It's that time, again! New challenge coming!

Well, it is almost time to move on from Kalispell, Montana, to  ?????   We will be staying in the north but moving to the east!  The new challenge information will be posted later this evening. I hope that many of you who have joined us recently will jump in on this one! See you all later tonight! (Judy)

(Our last challenge for The Abbie Shelter in Kalispell, Montana, was listed on our Facebook page and pledges were received for all of the slippers and washcloths requested before it could be posted here on the blog. The information for the challenge has been posted to the "2014 Challenges - Completed" section.)

JOINT CHALLENGE for SOJOURN SHELTER

Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc.

Springfield, Illinois

               ***CHALLENGE COMPLETED - 6/7/14***

As mentioned on May 22nd, the Pink Slipper Project is joining with another Facebook charity group, Springfield Stitches for a Cause, to make items for the Sojourn Shelter in Springfield, Illinois.   The Sojourn Shelter was established in 1975 and services five counties throughout Illinois.  It is the largest domestic violence service area in the state.   It is also a repeat shelter challenge for our group.

Since our mailing deadline for this challenge is prior to the Fourth of July, you might want to make some of your slippers/washcloths in a red, white, and blue theme!   (Feel free to post a picture of your items on our Facebook page if you wish!)

For this Challenge, we will need the following number of slippers and washcloths:

35  Women's   -   DONE
  3  Teen Boy's  -  DONE
  7  Pre-teen Boys  -  DONE
  7  Pre-teen Girls  -  DONE
  5  Youth Boys  -  DONE
  5  Youth Girls   -   DONE
  3  Toddler Boys  -  DONE
  3  Toddler Girls  -  DONE
  2  Unisex Baby Booties  -  DONE

70  Washcloths   -   DONE

Mailing Deadline:    June 25, 2014

Mail to:     Laura Kresse, Director of Operations
                  Sojourn Shelter and Services, Inc. 
                  1800 Westchester Blvd.
                  Springfield, Illinois   62704

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.

Pledges have been made by:

Jill Miller  -  5 washcloths
Anita Silcox Cook  -  5 youth girls
Abby L. Call  -  10 women's
Annette Van Bogaert  -  5 washcloths
Grammie Joyce  -  3 women's, 2 toddler girls, 1 toddler boy
Danine & Victoria Johnson  -  3 washcloths
Theresa Murphy  -  2 women's, 2 washcloths
Julie Braun  -  3 teen boys
Dawn M. Lee  -  5 youth boys
Debbie Smith  -  5 washcloths
Angela Cadieux Farnung  -  5 women's, 10 washcloths
Christina Harris  -  10 washcloths
Kate Sheen  -  10 women's, 4 preteen girls, 4 preteen boys
Elizabeth Reinhardt  -  3 preteen girls, 3 preteen boys, 2 booties, 10 washcloths
Rita Calhoun  -  5 washcloths
Linda Westby  -  5 women's
Judy Warehime  -  1 toddler girl, 2 toddler boys
Lori Lori  -  5 washcloths
Glenda Moore  -  5 washcloths
Rachel Terrill  -  5 washcloths

Get ready.........

Good afternoon, everyone! Are you ready for a Challenge? I sure hope so. I will be posting the next one very shortly. This challenge will be the one that Rachel told you about on May 22nd that will be in conjunction with another great Facebook charity group, Springfield Stitches for a Cause, which is located in Springfield, Illinois....which just happens to be the location of our next shelter challenge. For this challenge, we will be making 70 pairs of slippers and 70 washcloths. Springfield Stitches for a Cause will be making a variety of items (such as, hats, scarves, headbands, toys, etc.). So, with that said and done, here comes the next Challenge for all of you.......

Judy

Another Challenge Completed!

Good afternoon, Pink Slipper-makers!   Are you getting a head start on the next challenge?    If you missed out on making a pledge on the last one, a new Challenge will be posted fairly soon.   Be on the lookout!   In the meantime, slippers and washcloths are small, portable projects to carry along with you anywhere!  For those of you who are new to our group, we make slippers and washcloths in ALL colors - not just pink!

We completed pledging another challenge in record time!   Kate pledged the youth sizes to finish it up.   With such great members, these challenges are a breeze!

With the Cape Cod shelter, we have sent 2258 pairs of slippers and 1713 washcloths to 20 shelters so far in 2014.   Those figures spell out what a wonderful group we have and your dedication to sending love and caring to abused women and children. 

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

Rachel and Judy

Cape Cod Center for Women - North Falmouth, MA

   (***Challenge Completed***)

We are pleased to once again be sending slippers to the Cape Cod Shelter for Women. They serve all of Cape Cod, including the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Since the founding in 2000, they have given sanctuary to over 500 families and received over 10,000 calls to their hotline.

For this Challenge, we will need the following number of slippers:

15 women's  -  DONE
  8 booties in unisex colors  -  DONE
15 toddlers in unisex colors  -  DONE
15 youth in unisex colors  -  DONE

Washcloths -  not requested

Mailing Deadline:  June 23, 2014

Mail to:

Shelter Manager
P. O. Box 141
North Falmouth, MA. 02556

Pledges have been made by:

Vickie Lea Archibald  -  5 youth
Jonlyn Jeter  -  5 women's
Danine & Victoria Johnson  -  3 women's
Jill Miller  -  3 booties, 2 youth
Christina Harris  -  5 toddler, 2 women's
Carole Morales  -  3 women's
Grammie Joyce  -  3 toddlers, 2 youths
Theresa Murphy  -  2 women's
Kate Sheen  -  6 youths
Thora Donar  -  7 toddlers
Peggy Edmondson Grow  -  2 youths
Julia Bunch  -  5 booties

Another Challenge Complete and New YTD Totals

Well, you definitely have to be quick to get in on Challenges here at the Pink Slipper Project!   The Monadnock Center challenge was posted yesterday and today we had pledges for all of the slippers and washcloths!   How fantastic are our members!!   THE BEST!!!

Just to keep you up to date on just how great our members are, as of 5/24/14, our members have pledged/sent out 2,205 pairs of handmade slippers and 1,708 handmade washcloths to shelters across the country!   Something to be very proud of....and it's only the end of May.   We still have seven more months to go in 2014!

If you haven't had an opportunity to make a challenge pledge yet, there will be many more challenges coming.  Get your knitting needles, crochet hooks, and sewing machines warmed up and start making slippers and/or washcloths right now and put them in your stash and be ready ahead of time for the next challenge.   Another one will be posted soon!

Judy

Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention

We have another new Challenge!   (This is not the one mentioned previously that we will be doing in early June, along with Springfield Stitches for a Cause.)

MONADNOCK CENTER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Keene, New Hampshire     (***CHALLENGE COMPLETED***)

“Breaking the Cycle:  We believe prevention and intervention must be at work simultaneously until we reach our vision.

Empowerment and Self-Determination:  We believe in the right to have control over one's body, mind and spirit.

Health:  We believe that individual, organization, and community health are interrelated and that trauma exposure can impact health and well-being.” 

These are just some of the Core Values of the Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention.  They are situated in the southern New Hampshire town of Keene. 
They would like our 'famed' slippers and washcloths.  So here we go!

45 women -  DONE
 3 teen boys - DONE
 5 teen girls - DONE
 3 preteen girls - DONE
 3 preteen boys   -  DONE
 3 youth girls - DONE
 3 youth boys DONE
 3 toddler girls - DONE
 3 toddler boys - DONE
 2 booties for girls  -  DONE
 2 booties for boys  -  DONE

75 washcloths - DONE

Mailing deadline:  June 20, 2014

Send to: 

Theresa Murphy, Shelter Manager 
Monadnock Center for Violence Prevention
12 Court St.
Keene, NH  03431

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.

What is The Pink Slipper Project?

The Pink Slipper Project is an endeavor to warm the hearts and toes of women and children living in shelters for victims of domestic violence.  Not only will a pair of handmade slippers help keep them warm, but remind them that they are not alone and that someone cared enough to make something special just for them.  A simple kindness goes a long way in the healing process.

Since The Pink Slipper Project was founded in 2009 by Joyce Lucas,  thousands of pair of slippers have been donated to shelters around the country.  The Pink Slipper Project unites women all over the world for the good of other women and children.  The common thread is they all want to help make someone’s life a little better.

Please help us as we make a difference in the lives of a few of these women and children. The slippers can be knit, crocheted or sewn and they don’t need to be pink.  They do need to be handmade and warm.  If you would like more information about The Pink Slipper Project, please visit us on Facebook at http://facebook.com/ThePinkSlipperProject.

Child Safety

When donating items such as slippers, toys, etc.to a shelter, one of our concerns is the safety of children.

In the interest of child safety, please do not attach small items that can possibly be removed and become a potential choking hazard to items made for children under the age of 12. This includes, but is not limited to: buttons, bows, charms of any kind, zipper pulls, or metal jewelry or decorations.  Please make sure that any sort of decoration which is sewn onto an item you donate is securely sewn or otherwise attached.  This includes, but is not limited to, iron-on decorations of any sort.

Due to new and stringent rules from the CPSIA, we must be sure that all supplies used to make slippers for children under 12 fall within their guidelines.

Thank you for helping  keep children safe.