A COUPLE OF HUGE THANK YOUS!

THE INCREDIBLE SPRINGFIELD LIONS

Many of you have taken sneak peaks at the back rooms as we've been making them usable.  The major expense was replacing the carpeting, and that was made possible by the generous donation of $1000 from the Springfield Lions Club.  And John, one of their talented members, has built us a fantastic 8' long shelving unit!  It's perfect, John, and we really appreciate it!  Their support enables us to provide education and kits to more girls.  Thank you so much Lions!!  

Carpet laying in progress in 122.  Carpeting is used squares I found at BRING Recycling.

This is the new carpeting in 120 that I got a great deal on at Rubenstein's Commercial Carpeting.

THANKS TO GLENDA!

If you've been reading this blog or volunteering with us for a while, you already know that I'm always on the lookout for travelers willing to take suitcases full of supplies with them.  Sometimes our friends take complete kits for distribution by a local who has had the Days for Girls training for the education that goes with the kits.  Other times we send materials to a local DFG Enterprise, supplies that are easier to get in the US.   DFG Enterprises are opportunities for women in the area to earn some income by making and selling kits and/or components, and increase local access to DFG products.   Last spring Noël toted a suitcase of flannel prints to the DFG coordinator in New Zealand, where flannels are only available in pastels and juvenile prints. We're all working toward the same goal:  Every girl. Everywhere. Period.

When Glenda told me she was heading to Ecuador and would be happy to take a couple of suitcases,  I discovered that we have a new Days for Girls enterprise getting started there.  I got in touch and learned that their biggest need is colorful flannel prints--impossible to find/buy there.  I cut lengths of mostly 2-3 yards of a couple dozen busy and colorful designs, and washed and packed them, along with several notions, rotary mats, 24" ruler, cutter and blades, a couple of shirts and hundreds of snaps.  

Miriam, co-leader of the Stanwood-Camano Island WA Days for Girls Team, is also the Global Enterprises Sewing Specialist, and she  contributed a few crucial items too, including an Accuquilt Go and the dies, plus some t-shirts and flannel.  Her group raises money selling appealing items on Etsy.  Those proceeds funded this purchase.  Check out her Etsy store--you'll probably find some things you can't live without, and help DFG in the process.  Their fabric choices are delightful.

The Vilcobamba Enterprises shared photos from their "opening party" of the two suitcases Glenda took--nearly 50 pounds each.

These supplies will really help this new enterprise get started making DFG shields and liners available to women in their community.  And it WAS fun to select the fabric and other things for them.

Where are YOU traveling next?  Please let me know if you can check a suitcase for us!

SUITCASE DONATIONS

The two suitcases that Glenda took to Ecuador are ones I happened to find at St. Vinnie's.  I'm always looking for sturdy wheeled suitcases/bags, and actually the best ones have been donations from our volunteers.  If you're thinking of getting rid of one of yours, what we need is big, but maximum 62", and easy to wheel.  Suitcases do weigh more than duffle bags, which means we can send fewer pounds of supplies.  However, 50 pounds on wheels is so much easier on the traveler!  I guess the best solution would be a wheeled duffle bag!

ANOTHER CHHAUPADI DEATH IN NEPAL

In The New York Times this week.  I just can't imagine.

FABRIC SALE

Last week I went to a fabric sale at a church--all fabric was $1 a yard!!  I got there when the doors opened (along with many others) with my wheeled bag.  There was a great selection on many tables, and as the other women caressed the fabrics and pondered how they'd use a particular piece, I was ready.  I know exactly what kind of prints work best for Days for Girls kit components (no pondering here!), and was able to quickly pluck some great choices, most of them for shields.  It took me just over 5 minutes to accumulate 80.5 yards, as it was all pre-measured and priced.  It took longer to add up the yards/dollars for the cashier!  My washer and dryer have been humming away! (As a side note, it was a bit difficult to pass up the lovely prints that were too light for DFG use, but they ended up with happy shoppers, I'm sure.)  As I was checking out, the woman taking my money told me all leftovers from the sale would go to Bags of Love.

80-1/2 yards of cotton!

FIRST OF THE MONTH WORKDAYS

We meet on the first Saturday of each month, at Our Sewing Room in Springfield.  They have such a nice facility, just right for all the tasks we work at.  Recently, we have had a handful of new volunteers every month.  And, happily,  some of them have recruited a few their friends to volunteer!  Four new volunteers in January, 10 new in February!

I love to take photos of the our crew at work, and have found it's best to set the alarm on my phone to remind myself every hour or two.  These photos are from our January workday, but I'm embarrassed to say that I left my phone at home on February 2, a day when we had a fantastic turnout.   Maybe one or two of the volunteers will send me pics they took.

On February 2nd, most of the group focused on various steps of making pockets--a simple but time-consuming task.    I'm so sorry I don't have pictures!

Our March 2nd workday is the day before my (and Glenda's) birthday.  She was born on my 10th birthday, we discovered last year.   Last year we brazenly requested gifts for Days for Girls--and folks were very generous.  Since we rely on donations for all of our funds, this is SO helpful.  Let's try it again:  supplies, or money for the kits or help with the rent and utilities in the back room would be fantastic.  

This year it's a big birthday for me, so I'm allowed to ask for presents (that's OK when you're very young or very old, right?).  100% of cash or checks made out to Days for Girls with "Eugene Chapter" in the memo line will go to our chapter.  You can give them to me or send them to headquarters.  You'll get an official receipt either way. But, if you send a check to headquarters and don't tell them it's for our chapter, they will have no way of knowing, and it won't benefit our chapter.  And remember, online donations are possible too, BUT we lose about 5% in fees, so they're not our first choice.  But if that's easiest for you, the DFG website has a special place to make donations to teams and chapters.  This link will take you directly to the place to donate to our chapter online.

In case you're wanting to buy some supplies for a gift, here's a list of what we use:

Donations Wish List

Fabric restrictions:  Medium/dark to dark colors, in busy stain-hiding designs, such as florals. Because of cultural considerations, we need to avoid prints depicting weapons, people/animals with faces, insects (butterflies are OK), camouflage, religion, words, or holidays.  Avoid solids.  100% cotton.

Grosgrain ribbon.  5/8" wide in a variety of medium to dark solid colors.  Good prices available at Gifts International and The Ribbon Factory.  It comes in big (50-100+ yard) rolls.

Quality cotton fabric, the prettier the better. (see fabric restrictions above). If you have time to wash, dry and press it, that’s greatly appreciated.

Quality cotton flannel (see fabric restrictions above).  If you have time to wash, dry and press it, that’s greatly appreciated.

Girls’ cotton underpants, sizes 8, 10, 12, 14 & 16, and any women's sizes, as colorful as possible (for hiding stains). The styles we use are briefs and bikinis—please no hipster/thong/boy shorts styles (see fabric restrictions above--but darker solids are fine for undies).  Do not wash.  Multipacks usually have some that are too light, and we will dye those.  We will swap (with another nonprofit) those with taboo prints.

Polyester serger thread—good quality, medium and dark colors.

Polyester thread in medium and dark colors (Gutermann is a good brand).  

Cotton washcloths, in darker colors. Medium weight.  Do not wash. Not microfiber.  And not the 18-packs at Walmart--too flimsy and poorly stitched.

Rotary cutter blades, 45mm or 60mm

Microtex sewing machine needles, size 12.

Ziploc brand gallon size freezer bags  (photo of meat on front of box)