Life is Full of Give and Take March 2020

"Life is full of give and take

Give Thanks for everything 

And take nothing for Granted."

Carol hosted We Can Monday, March 2 at her home.  Attending were Vila, RaeLee, Sue, Carol, Kathy, Barbara, Carolyn,Maureen, Dianne, Linda, Ardis, and Sandy  

We  collected all sizes of disposable diapers  and wipes for the Utah Refugee Connection.

We put together Activity Kits for pediatric hospital patients.  The nurses have these packets on hand to give children something to work on while they are in the hospital.  Each packet contains a small stuffed toy, crayons, coloring book and an activity or craft. 

Sue, Linda and Carolyn

Barbara

Some ladies worked on cutting plarn, which is used to make sleeping mats out of plastic shopping bags.  The plarn is crocheted into a soft, pliable mat.  

Sue, Kathy and Carolyn cutting plarn

RaeLee, Barbara and Linda working on plarn

Each segment of plarn is hooked together, rolled into balls and crocheted into sleeping 30" x 6' mats. 

Others worked on coloring alphabet/number sheets for A.F. Humanitarian Center. These are sent to schools around the world to help children with reading skills.

Carol, Vila, Maureen, and Dianne

Carol and Vila busy coloring

Maureen and Dianne

 

 We had lovely healthy and colorful potluck lunch. 

Ardis getting lunch ready

Carol, Carolyn, Barbara, Dianne and Linda

Our next meeting has been postponed due to the CoronaVirus outbreak restrictions.  We will hopefully be able to meet again in May

Seek & Find How To Serve February 2020

 "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." 

~ Albert Schweitzer

Our February 3rd meeting was postponed because of s winter storm that came through the area making travel difficult, so we ended up meeting on February 10th, at Lynn's home for our We CAN (Care & Nurture) meeting.  Ladies attending were Lynn, Barbara, Vila, Sue, Dianne, Victoria, Linda, Maureen, Carol, KD and Sandy.

The *AGAPE Center in Payson needed help filling 200 backpacks.  The backpacks contain  necessary items for children and families.  The Agape Center furnished the backpacks and the items that needed to go into the bags.  

Lynn, Barbara, Dianne, Sue, Victoria, Linda, Maureen and Carol

 Inside the backpacks were hats, gloves, socks, underwear and hygiene items.  These backpacks are made available to families who are homeless or in need of these personal items.  We were able to fill 150 backpacks today. 

Lynn, Barbara, Dianne, Sue, Victoria, Linda and Maureen

   The AGAPE Center in Payson has a Food Pantry and provides food to individuals and  families in the area.  They also do Senior Food Boxes.  

Vila and Sue

The AGAPE center has a Thrift Shop as well and provides clothing and household items at a discounted cost. 

Linda, Victoria, Dianne, Carol and Barbara

We also filled ten drawstring backpacks that go to men on the day they are released from prison. These backpacks contain Gift Cards for food, toothbrush, toothpaste, lotion, hand sanitizer, shampoo, tissues, deodorant, lip balm, shower gel, a towel and shaving kit. 

Carolyn organizing the kits

After we finished those two projects, we worked on Valentines for Seniors who live in our local Assisted Living Centers.  We made 125 Valentines.  This is one of our favorite projects that we have done for many years.  

Linda, Dianne and Carol 

 These Valentines are given to each resident at the Assisted Living Center and we hope they feel the love that is packed inside each one!

Carol, KD and Victoria

Vila, Sue and Linda

 We enjoyed a lovely potluck luncheon afterward

Dianne, Carol, KD, Lynn, Carolyn and Linda

Dianne, Carol, Lynn and Carolyn

Our next meeting will be held on Monday, March 2nd at Carol's home in Loafer Canyon.  

**Agape is universal love, such as the love for strangers, nature, or God. Unlike storge, it does not depend on filiation or familiarity. Also called charity by Christian thinkers, agape can be said to encompass the modern concept of altruism, defined as unselfish concern for the welfare of others.

Ripples spread out and Our Actions have Far-Reaching Effects January 2020

"Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects." ~ Dalai Lama
Monday, January 6th, the We CAN (Care And Nurture) group met at Sandy's home for a few hour so service.  
 We collected many socks for RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program) of Utah County. RSVP works closely with United Way of Utah County to deliver these socks to areas of the most need.

We had lots of projects to work on today, and we had lots of willing hands to contribute to the effort.  We are so grateful for all of you who come to lend a hand to these wonderful projects.

We tied a quilt for a refugee family.  

Carol & Maureen getting the quilt set up and ready to go

Kathy and Maureen tying the quilt while Sue and   crochet hats

Vila and Sandy holding the finished quilt that will be given to a Refugee family in Utah

We sewed 34 baby burp clothes that will be used by the Utah County Health Department's Visiting Nursing Program. 

Diane and Vila cutting out baby burp cloths. 

RaeLee , Barbara and KD sewing flannel for the burp cloths

  The bibs are cut out, sewed, then clipped and turned.  They are then ironed and top-stitched on the outside to finish the product.  

Vila, Diane, Carol, Carolyn, Brittany, KD and Ardis - a beehive of activity!

Brittany, Carol, Vicky, RaeLee and Barbara - completing various steps for the sewing project

  

A few of the 34 finished baby burp cloths that will be donated to the Utah County Home Nursing Program. 

We are also knitting or crocheting hats for the Remember Nhu service organization.  This is a project that those of us who enjoy crocheting or knitting like to work on throughout the year.  Remember Nhu helps children who have been rescued from child or sexual slavery. T

Sue and  crocheting hats on looms for Remember Nhu

Ardis is also crocheting hats

We have made 21 hats so far for Remember Nhu

Vila stuffed teddy bears that will be given to Primary Childrens' Hospital to be given to patients there.

Carolyn got a surprise e-mail from KUTV Channel 2 a couple of days before our meeting  They wanted to do a story on We CAN for their Pay It Forward news segment.  Maren Jensen from KUTV news, their camera man and Tony Rasmussen from Mt America dropped by our meeting at Sandy's home and videoed our different projects.  They also interviewed Carolyn, the founder of our group, asking her how the group got started, and our many projects we have done over the last eleven years.  This will be our 12th year of service.  

Brittany, Carolyn and Sandy with KUTV news videoing in the background

Tony Rasmussen presented Carolyn with a $500.00 check from Mt America Pay It Forward for the We CAN group to use on supplies for future projects.  It was a lovely surprise for all of us!  Thank you, KUTV and Mt America!

Tony Rasmussen from Mt America and Maren Jensen
from KUTV Channel 2 interview our founder, Carolyn Shirley

  We enjoyed a lovely potluck luncheon at the end of our service projects.  We will be meeting on Monday, February 3rd for our next meeting. 

"Little drops of water, little grains of sand,

Make the mighty ocean, and the pleasant land.

So the little minutes, humble though they be,

Make the mighty ages of eternity."

Julia Abigail Fletcher Carney

Our We CAN group was featured on KUTV's Pay it Forward segement on Wednesday evening
https://kutv.com/features/pay-it-forward/pay-it-forward-utah-county-neighborhoods-goals-are-to-care-and-nurture-with-we-can

• I also wanted to post some of the fun comments from others from Facebook.

  
  
• Kristy Tervort Bingham You ladies are such a great example. I love you all!
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  Eliza Penick This is such an awesome project!

  
  
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  Jana Saunders How fun to see so many amazingly generous women being recognized. 👏👏👏💗

  
  
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  Colleen Hammon Poole What a cool story! And a perfect way to grow relationships while serving! I loved seeing you and your friends in this video! Tell Carolyn Shirley that I am proud of her!!

  
  
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  Shandi Ditlevsen What wonderful women! 💛💛💛

  
  
• Active Now

  Berty John Harms Oh my goodness how I love you wonderful ladies!!! You have always been such an awesome example to me!!!

  
  
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  Natalie Ball So many ladies I love in that video!!! ❤️❤️❤️

  
  
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  Jamie Tervort Horrocks Such an awesome group of ladies that do so much good in the world! Love you all!❤️
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  Melissa DeLeeuw Balls Some of the most wonderful women to grace the earth! Thank you for sharing.
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  Lesa Criswell Hazen Awesome! You ladies Rock!
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  Kathryn Maxine Stosich Belnap This is awesome! Such great things happen because women care. Thank you fit your service ladies!
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  Hannah Wallentine I love these people!!!!

 Danielle Lindstrom  "Way Cool!"