Joyfully Meeting Again - We CAN May 2021

 "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.  

November 2020 - clothing, pajamas, underwear and socks for The Dragon's Lair in Spanish Fork

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.