We CAN: Joyfully Meeting Again

"As you know and apply the teachings of the Lord in your lives and in your work, you can change the world. You will become a precious part of His perennial pattern: the Lord uses the unlikely to accomplish the impossible!" ~Russell M Nelson

We have not met as a group for well over a year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic that has hit the world so hard. The world is slowly getting back to normal, or maybe a "new normal". For a while, no one was accepting items because of the fear of transmitting the virus. But during the last few months of 2020, we started collecting things again for humanitarian causes were unable to meet together in person.

We were finally able to get together again on May 10th at Carolyn's home. We collected items for birthday kits for the Utah Food & Care Coalition and put together Scavenger Hunt Activity booklets for United Way to give families a fun activity.

Each birthday kit contains a cake mix, frosting, candles, a birthday banner, and a small toy.

We were able to make 35 birthday kits for the food bank. We almost had enough of everything, but Carolyn ran to the store to even out the last few of missing items.

Paula, Leslie and Ardis - preparing pages for the Activity booklets.

Ardis, Carolyn, Paula and Leslie cutting out pages.

After the birthday kits were finished we worked together cutting and collating pages for a scavenger hunt activity for United Way. Carolyn reported that with several ladies finishing pages at home, we were able to deliver 200 booklets to United Way. Thank you for your help with these projects.

Ardis, KD, Paula

We didn't have our normal potluck lunch, because originally we were going to meet in a park, but we had to change the meeting place, so we still brought our sack lunches and enjoyed visiting with each other. We talked until 2:00 p.m.!

Paula, KD, Carolyn and Ardis

Attending today's service project were: Carolyn, Ardis, Leslie, Paula, KD and Sandy.

During the past few months we have collected items for the following groups:

April 2021 - Hygiene items for the Agape Pantry and Thrift Store Center in Payson.

"Last Friday we delivered the hygiene items - deodorant, diapers, feminine pads, powdered laundry detergent, shampoo, toilet paper, toothbrushes we'd collected to the Agape Center in Payson. They'd requested 7 different items, and we had many of each item to deliver. We could tell that they were appreciative and thankful for our donations. As usual, you ladies were very generous."

March 2021 - For March we collected hygiene needs for the Food and Care Coalition (which helps homeless in Utah County). Because of the pandemic, they have a major shortage of the following items: full size shampoo and conditioner, full size lotion, shaving cream, razors, hand sanitizer, foot powder, Lysol disinfectant spray, and clorox disinfectant wipes.

February 2021 - In February we collected.food for the "Feed the Need" Drive for Community Action, the local Utah County food bank. Carolyn reported delivering a carload of food to the food bank.

January 2021 - Even though we were unable to meet in person, the lovely We Care & Nurture Ladies (We CAN) made home-made Valentines and took them to Carolyn's home. We were able to deliver 285 Valentines to local assisted living centers. That is the most Valentines we have ever done! And they were so lovely. The workers at the Assisted Living Centers we took them to were so thankful to have them for their residents. residents.

Thanks to your generosity, we delivered a carload of food to the food bank for their "FEED THE NEED." This is in cooperation with the Community Action/Food Bank. The food especially needed at this time is: canned pineapple

canned mandarin oranges

canned meats (tuna, chicken, spam,etc.)

canned stews/chilis

dry pinto beans

ramen

mac and cheese

hamburger helper

pasta - any type

condiments

salt/pepper/spices

toilet paper

"We also delivered 285 valentines to local assisted living centers. 285!!! I did the math three separate times to make sure that was right. (I couldn't believe it). That is more than double what we usually do. We added extra assisted living centers this year because we had so many valentines. Isn't it wonderful! Thank you to Sandy and K.D. who helped with the deliveries."

December 2020 - We collected socks for the RSVP Sock Drive, an initiative headed up by Retired Seniors to reach out to help those in need.

We donated 44 pair of men's socks; 50 pair of women's socks; 26 pair of boys socks; 20 pair of girl's socks; 6 pair men's underwear, 10 pair boys underwear, and 15 pair of women's underwear. When I walked in the

"There's somebody I recognize! You must be here making a donation from We Can." I thought it was special that she remembered We Can. We delivered 44 pair of men's socks; 50 pair of women's socks; 26 pair of boy's socks; 20 pair of girl's socks; 6 pair of men's underwear; 10 pair of boy's underwear; 15 pair of women's underwear. RSVP was very appreciative and asked me to express their thanks to you wonderful ladies.