A UNIQUE BAG FOR EACH GIRL

Our Eugene/Springfield Chapter has been unusually fortunate to receive very generous donations of gorgeous fabric, mostly from the stashes of area quilters.  When we make kits for a distribution, my goal is always to have each bag be unique.  Because the contents of the bags are of such a personal nature, I hope there will be no chance of girls inadvertently getting their bags mixed up.  We have a couple of distributions of 50 and 150 kits coming up soon, so I spent a few pleasant hours enjoying all those lovely fabrics as I sorted our supply of bags by color, then pulled one of each unique fabric.  We have well over 200 different fabrics sewn into bags, shown in the photos below,  roughly grouped in color families.

Aren't those prints lovely?  Looking at the bags in the photos, I've found one pair of duplicates in this last photo (now removed in real life).  Can you find any other repeats in any of the pictures?

GIVING TUESDAY

I do think November is flying by faster than most months do.  I'm already seeing lots about Black Friday, etc.  Today was the first notice/reminder I've gotten about Giving Tuesday.  It's the week after Thanksgiving.

 If you're inspired to make a monetary donation to our Days for Girls Chapter, here are three ways you could do it.

1.  Buy raffle tickets for our fundraising quilt (we keep 100%).  You could win that cheerful quilt.

2.  Write a check to Days for Girls and give it to me (we keep 100%). You get a receipt.

3.  Make an online donation via the current CountHERin fundraiser (we receive 90%).  You get a receipt.

Your generosity--time, supplies, and funds--is so appreciated.  We exist because of you!

AARP PURPOSE PRIZE

Days for Girls founder and CEO Celeste Mergens has been recognized by AARP, receiving one of its five 2017 Purpose Prizes.  

The AARP Purpose Prize™ award honors extraordinary individuals who use their life experience to make a better future for all. 

"The AARP Purpose Prize is all about a new story of aging — focusing on experience and innovation and the idea that our aging population is an untapped resource full of possibilities,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.

“AARP Purpose Prize winners and nominees are role models. They are makers and doers who are out there creating new solutions that make the world a better place for people of all ages.”

Watch the video here.

I GOT THAT FLOW

Another video.  I'm not sure how to describe this one!  In your face?

FULL HOUSE IN NOVEMBER

Our workday on November 11 was busy, to say the least.  We had 32 people sign in, and had to break out the folding chairs.  

I am absolutely thrilled at how much was accomplished!  First timers worked alongside seasoned volunteers, and we had 13 Alpha Phi Omega students from the University of Oregon join us, some of whom helped out last year too.  

I'm always delighted at the variety and quantity of tasks being accomplished by people with different skills and interests. 

DECEMBER WORKDAY

Because of conflicts, we won't be meeting on a Saturday in December.  However, if you're able, please join us in the afternoon on Sunday, December 10.  We will be at Our Sewing Room, from 1:00 to 5:00 pm.

THE PLIGHT OF REFUGEES

Of course, this is heartbreaking.  I'm going to check into sending some components to the DFG person in Crete--she says she needs shields and liners the most--they have bags and can buy the rest of the kit contents there to avoid extra shipping costs.

ANY TRAVELERS OUT THERE?

I think I've mentioned this to many of you before, but if you're traveling out of the US (or have a friend who is) and have weight allowance available to check an extra bag or two, please let me know.  There are two reasons:

• The obvious--transporting kits for distribution--we'd try to find a group needing kits where you're going.  They'd meet you to get the kits.
• Sending fabric to non-US DFG teams and chapters, who pay MUCH more for fabric than we do, and often have very limited choices too.  They'd send me (via PayPal) funds to buy fabric for them, and meet you to pick up the fabric.

If you're heading to Crete (see PLIGHT above), that would be extra fantastic!

And of course, we're delighted to have you bring back your little hotel soaps.  One of those goes in each kit.