PHOENIX CHAPTER

January 19, 2011

Happy New Year!  I hope you have lots of exciting things to sew as this new year starts.  Enclosed in this communication is a statement about Community Service here in Phoenix, a report of items received in 2010, and what is coming up in 2011.  Please share this letter with all your members.

Over the course of last year I collected and/or recorded many items our members sewed for the benefit of others.  We received 115 pillowcases, 144 small Christmas stockings, 62 nap quilts, 1 lap quilt,15 walker bags, 44 preemie gowns, 12 ouch pouches, 24 domestic violence bags for CPS, 67 dresses, 50 6 pocket bags, Huggie quilts, notecards, and 8 sets of 20 inch doll clothes.  For the National ASG service project we collected 187 military bags for Operation Care.  I know we all hold the brave men and women who serve our country close in our hearts and want to let them know we care.  We as a chapter will continue to collect and send any bags you wish to make.

With the new year, the National ASG service project changes and this year it is turtle pillows for Newman’s “Hole in the Wall Camp” for cancer kids.  Enclosed are the directions and pattern for the turtle.  You may make as many copies of the pattern as you wish, although this is a proprietary pattern for this organization.  On the National Website ( ASG.org)  there is a tutorial available as well.  We are making the body but NOT stuffing it.

Last year the National service project – the military bags for Operation Care – were very popular.  This year the Phoenix ASG Board would like to encourage each member to participate by making one (1) Turtle Pillow and turning them in by July.   Each turtle pillow uses 1 1/3 yards of fabric. To make participation easier, there will be a limited number of fabric kits available to those that want them.  Contact me and let me know if you need a kit.   Please attach our chapter label to the under side of the turtle.  Completed pillow shells can be delivered to me, Mary Ellen Simmons (our chapters new Neighborhood Group Coordinator), or your Neighborhood Group Leader who can get it to me.  The collected pillow shells will be sent to the collection group by the chapter.

We continue to have many local charity projects we hope our members support.  Pillowcases, preemie gowns and bereavement gowns, small stockings, large stockings, nap quilts, children’s clothes, walker bags, and many more that are special to our members.  As new needs are brought to my attention I will inform you via email, newsletter, and the local web site. Members can work on their favorites independently or as part of a group activity. ASG would like for you to sew labels in your donated items.  I have the Phoenix ASG labels for you to sew into your projects.  These labels can be obtained from your Neighborhood Group Leader or contact the Community Service Chair and that person will mail them to you.

As Community Service Chair I collect, record and distribute the donations.  National ASG would like me to report on all the types of service our sewing community participates in.   Reporting what we participate in helps the National organization to solicit support for these projects.   In order for me to record the items that have been donated please submit the Community Service form which identifies the maker, the item description and quantity.   This form is printed in each issue of our chapter newsletter.  This information can also be emailed to me.  I then use this info to assign the giving individuals tickets for a drawing that is held at the end of each calendar year.  (see attached Phoenix ASG Community Service Statement)

Thank you for you continued generosity using your talents to help others.

Happy Sewing,

Kay Newberg Community Service Chair

"Advancing Sewing as an Art and Life Skill"