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  Community Service

                                                     2011 Community Service Project

Newborn Clothing for Hennepin County Medical Center

 Each year the chapter chooses a community service project to focus on and the chapter chose  newborn clothing for the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) as the project for 2011 as the  need is so great.  Many babies are delivered at this hospital that have no clothing to go home in.   With more and more people out of work, many new mothers do not have a basic sleeper or baby  blanket for their newborn.  ASG members can put their skills and talents to use to fill this need.  Any  baby clothing is welcome and we’ve enclosed some suggestions to get you started. 

 Suggested baby patterns are:  McCalls:  3665, 8574, 9407, M6235, M6223, M6108, M6103;  Butterick:  B4533, B5583, B5005; Simplicity:  2273, 2291, 2388, 2428, 3711, 5720; Kwik Sew:   3812, 3811, 3733, 3690, 3546, 3310, 3090*, 2433.  Kwik Sew 3090 comes highly recommended.   Any baby pattern including bib patterns, diaper bag patterns and baby quilt patterns can be used.  Use one from your stash or find a new one at a fabric store,  quilt shop, or website. 

 Use the fabrics suggested by the pattern.  Seasonal clothing is needed – both winter and summer.   If you would rather knit, crochet, or quilt, any baby item can be used. 

 The chapter will be having special days for groups to work on this project, including a  Make a  Difference Day, however, individuals and Neighborhood Groups can do this on their own at any  time.  When complete, the items can be dropped off at HCMC by calling Roberta at 612-873-6090,  or by leaving them in the ASG Library at the Hancock Fabrics in Roseville, or by giving them to a  CAB Member.  Terry, the Community Service Coordinator, will then deliver them to HCMC. 

 If you have any questions, call the Chapter office at 612-339-5568 and leave a message and  someone will return the call.  Or send an email at asgmsp@hotmail.com

                                                  ASG Community Service Projects

 Operation Care Package is a non-profit organization that receives, fills and mails drawstring bags  to deployed service men and women from all branches of the armed forces. The U.S. Troops  Drawstring Bag pattern for this project was designed by Laura Martell of The Creative Thimble. The  14” drawstring bag holds a filled gallon baggie. The troops use the bags for personal use and some  pass them on to the children in Iraq.  When finished send to Operation Care Package, 611 Wilcox  Street, Joliet, IL 60435

 The Anti-Ouch Pouch is a pillow that hangs from the shoulder, fitting snugly under the arm to cushion  the area after breast surgery or during radiation treatment. The wedge shape gently holds the arm  away from the body when the user is standing. The strap holds the pillow in place without having to  use sore arm muscles to “clutch” it. The strap is adjustable and the fiberfill may be adjusted via the  overlapped opening.

 The Minnesota Veterans Administration is not taking donations at this time. They have an  adequate supply of sewn items at this time.

 Nancy’s Notions sponsors the Little Dresses for Africa project with their Creative Kindness  program.  Little Dresses for Africa is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to distribute  dresses to little girls and britches to boys in remote villages of Africa.  When complete, you can  send the garments to:  Nancy's Notions, Attention:  Little Dresses for Africa, PO Box 683, 333  Beichl Ave., Beaver Dam, WI 53916, and they will ship them to Africa. 

                                                       Make a Difference Day 2010

 Once again, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Chapter of ASG came together to sew for the benefit of  others.  On October 23, 2010, ASG members and non-members gathered to sew U.S. Troops  Drawstring Bags for our military.  These are bags that hold a gallon size zip-loc bag with a  drawstring at the top.  The bags are used by the military for personal use and some of them are  passed on to the children in Iraq. 

 The volunteers cut fabric, marked fabric, sewed seams, pressed seams, and then inserted the  drawstring and the plastic bag.  More than 30 bags were made during this session. 

 The Minneapolis St. Paul ASG Chapter now has over 700 drawstring bags that will be sent to help  our military personnel overseas.   

 Hancock Fabrics in Woodbury was the host for this event where we set up three tables in the  middle of the store and in the classroom.  Many customers stopped to ask about our projects and  about ASG.  The Make A Difference Day is a biennial event with ASG, and Hancock Fabrics and  their employees were very gracious hosts.