We are Surrounded by Those in Need

"We are surrounded by those in need of our attention, our encouragement, our support, our comfort, our kindness - be they family members, friends, acquaintances, or strangers. We are the Lord's hands here upon the earth, with the mandate to serve and to lift His children. He is dependent upon each of us ..." President Thomas S Monson

Melissa with Rae Lee and Carol

One of the Colorful Kits

May's We Can meeting was held at Lynn's.  Our project was sewing sanitary kits for Days for Girls.  Melissa Clark from the Utah Valley Chapter of Days for Girls came and talked to our group about this wonderful organization and the important work they are doing. She brought beautiful large photographs of girls from Africa which were set around the room to inspire us as we worked. 

Some of the colorful inserts that go in the kits

Ardis, Carol, Rae Lee, Vila, Barbara, Carolyn, Anne, Lynn, Paulette, Paula and Kathy

 Melissa brought all the supplies we needed to work on the projects.  It was like a beehive of activity with ladies marking, cutting, sewing, serging, turning, ironing, top stitching, etc.  There were 12 ladies there:  Lynn, Barbara, Ardis, Paulette, Carol, Anne, Vila, RaeLee, Kathy, Paula, Carolyn, and our speaker, Melissa.

We collected two things (1) pillows for the homeless shelter at the Food and Care Coalition and (2) donations for supplies for Days for Girls.  We Can gave Melissa $105 for Days for Girls.  We turned in 8 pillows to the Food and Care Coalition.  I turned the pillows in on Wednesday, and before I got home, there was a message on my home phone thanking us for our pillow donation!  This was a wonderful meeting and a great project!

We had a yummy Mexican lunch (since our meeting was held on May 5 - Cinco de Mayo).  

Simple Apron That it Was

The strings were tied, it was freshly washed, and maybe even pressed.
For Grandma, it was everyday to choose one when she dressed.
The simple apron that it was, you would never think about;
the things she used it for, that made it look worn out.
She may have used it to hold some wildflowers that she'd found.
Or to hide a crying child's face when a stranger came around.
Imagine all the little tears that were wiped with just that cloth.
Or it became a potholder to serve some chicken broth.
She probably carried kindling to stoke the kitchen fire.
To hold a load of laundry, or to wipe the clothesline wire.
When canning all her vegetables, it was used to wipe her brow.
You never know, she might have used it to shoo flies from the cow.
She might have carried eggs in from the chicken coop outside.
Whatever chore she used it for, she did them all with pride.
When Grandma went to heaven, God said she now could rest.
I'm sure the apron that she chose, was her Sunday best.

-by Tina Trivett-

Paulette, Lynn, Sandy, Vila, Ardis and Carol

Monday, April 7th found us at Paulette's home for a great sewing project ~ we brought colorful print flannel and made large aprons for people in Assisted Living Centers to wear when eating or doing projects.

We made  21  bright and cheerful aprons, which  were taken to two  Assisted Living Centers in our community and another one in a nearby community.

Ann, Carolyn, Ardis, Carol, Vila, Lynn, Paulette and Paula

"It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing - do what you can." 

~Sydney Smith