Every child deserves to have their very own special blanket ...
Shirley J. King
P.O. Box 548,
Elk Grove, CA 95759
phone: (916) 685-9660
P.O. Box 548,
Elk Grove, CA 95759
phone: (916) 685-9660
"When you wrap a child in a blanket, it's like you are giving them a HUG!"
"When you wrap a child in a blanket, it's like you are giving them a HUG!"
VOLUME 5 - NO. 2 GRAMMA'S HUGS
Greetings and Hugs to everyone!
Hoping all goes well with you all. We are overdue to put out another informational document setting forth what we at GHI are doing…so, here goes!!!
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Greetings and Hugs to everyone!
Hoping all goes well with you all. We are overdue to put out another informational document setting forth what we at GHI are doing…so, here goes!!!
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First…
This picture was taken at the awards luncheon for the "Citizen of the Year" award given to founder/director, Shirley J. King in June. It was a lovely event held aboard the Delta King in Old Sacramento…Hal Scott, of SERTOMA organization put this picture and a lovely article into the ELK GROVE CITIZEN newspaper for us. Thank you, again!!!~!
In addition to all that was sent these past several months, we have been compiling a list of where we will be sending quantities of items for their Christmas giving to the children. We are mainly interested in seeing to it that the children in orphanages and shelters receive something from us.
Locally: St. John's Women's Shelter; Elk Grove Food Bank; Ronald McD House
United States: Coastal Health Service Centers, Biloxi, MS (our Katrina followup)
Internationally: Crossroads Orphanage, Matatiele, Natal, South Africa
Street Boys Ministry and varied programs, Kampala, Uganda
Door of Faith Orphanage, Baja, Mexico
Locally: St. John's Women's Shelter; Elk Grove Food Bank; Ronald McD House
United States: Coastal Health Service Centers, Biloxi, MS (our Katrina followup)
Internationally: Crossroads Orphanage, Matatiele, Natal, South Africa
Street Boys Ministry and varied programs, Kampala, Uganda
Door of Faith Orphanage, Baja, Mexico
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Note: We have already contributed a substantial quantity of materials and supplies, (that we will not be using), to the Lodi Salvation Army unit for their annual fundraising efforts.
Note: We have already contributed a substantial quantity of materials and supplies, (that we will not be using), to the Lodi Salvation Army unit for their annual fundraising efforts.
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We will always keep a running need for washcloths, soap, shampoo, lotion, small stuffed animals, ribbon, shoestrings and/or cording…(for drawstring bags), and materials such as: cotton prints, fleece, cotton flannel, sheeting. I have even cut up my towels and made hand towels for the bags going to the small families mentioned below.
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Crossroads Orphanage, Matatiele, S. Africa…
The director, Liz Whittle writes:
Dear Gramma,
The director, Liz Whittle writes:
Dear Gramma,
Thank you once again for your generosity. You have no idea how much the goods you send us mean to us. We have had an exceptionally cold winter. The temperatures have been around -6 degrees C. Our houses do not have central heating or double glazing, so they stay fairly freezing all day... It is difficult to believe that it is already August, and time to begin preparing for Christmas at the home, otherwise I find the rush at the last minute clash with our business. I'm not sure whether you know that I run a restaurant and hospitality section of my own for an income, so balancing it all is quite a challenge sometimes. I think I did mention that we have a new project now as well, which covers child headed households and ill adults needing assistance… We are feeding about 437 people at any given time, until their government grant is established, otherwise, there is just nothing for them to eat. There has been a huge increase in poverty and starvation in the last 10 years.
Lots and lots of love to you, and may the Lord continue to bless and strengthen you.
Once again, thank you for your generosity.
Lots and lots of love to you, and may the Lord continue to bless and strengthen you.
Once again, thank you for your generosity.
Liz"
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St. John's Women's Shelter, Sacramento, CA We have recently taken them a large
quantity of new larger women's clothing and bags of toiletries and cosmetics (that wouldn't be feasible to send overseas) … from Twyla at the center regarding Christmas. "We could probably use 65 pillows and 65 blankets; one for each child. " We will also plan to give each child a stuffed animal or color book & crayons… Presently we are stockpiling larger blankets, and Linda Wick is making pillows for all of them.
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Boxes of school supplies and bags went to The Door of Faith Orphanage. They are suffering for lack of foodstuffs and cash - we will be sending them items for their Christmas that include everything from sweets to personal care products. They have a wide range of children aged from newborn to 18-19 and out of high school. Some stay and work at the orphanage while others find work or an extended family member to live with. There about 200 children.
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Kappy Robinette writes from Kampala, Uganda:
"I'm so happy to hear that you like being busy because the Lord is certainly giving you lots to do. If I'm still on the face of the earth when I'm 77, I pray I'm used as fully as you are.
I love your joyful emails. They always lift my eyes from the earth to heaven.
The Lord bless you and your family and your team today!" note: we send quantities of items for their street boys ministry as well as the surrounding village works.
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Boxes of items were sent to the Barnetts in South Africa. They are having to move again, and by a miracle, the house across the street from them will be available the day they have to leave their present residence!!! There will be room for their Orphanage Extension Facility, which is so wonderful.
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Kappy Robinette writes from Kampala, Uganda:
"I'm so happy to hear that you like being busy because the Lord is certainly giving you lots to do. If I'm still on the face of the earth when I'm 77, I pray I'm used as fully as you are.
I love your joyful emails. They always lift my eyes from the earth to heaven.
The Lord bless you and your family and your team today!" note: we send quantities of items for their street boys ministry as well as the surrounding village works.
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Boxes of items were sent to the Barnetts in South Africa. They are having to move again, and by a miracle, the house across the street from them will be available the day they have to leave their present residence!!! There will be room for their Orphanage Extension Facility, which is so wonderful.
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Peter Wick, a GHI board member and our shipper, went on a fact-finding trip to Sierra Leone and made a new contact at the El Shaddai Orphanage there. A recent flash flood has destroyed a huge portion of their facility, but they are grateful, nonetheless, that no one was lost or injured in that natural disaster. We were able to make blankets for each of the children (60) plus we included 60 belongings bags with them, and sent them to an agent in Colorado who is sending an entire container load of items to them!!!
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We are still taking blankets to the Elk Grove Food Bank weekly for both toddlers and wheelchair or elderly persons who come into the facility. Layette items were taken to the Lodi Pregnancy Resource Center as well.
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Monetary contributions to help with all of this would be so greatly appreciated. In the latest economic confusion, there have been very few contributions…this limits us greatly, of course. We so much appreciate our faithful and regular supporters!!!~! We need you.
Gramma's Hugs International, P.O. Box 548, Elk Grove, CA 95759 thank you.
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We are still taking blankets to the Elk Grove Food Bank weekly for both toddlers and wheelchair or elderly persons who come into the facility. Layette items were taken to the Lodi Pregnancy Resource Center as well.
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Monetary contributions to help with all of this would be so greatly appreciated. In the latest economic confusion, there have been very few contributions…this limits us greatly, of course. We so much appreciate our faithful and regular supporters!!!~! We need you.
Gramma's Hugs International, P.O. Box 548, Elk Grove, CA 95759 thank you.
Everyone is welcome to come visit Gramma's Hugs Factory…help pack boxes, sort items and fill bags…schedule a time - we'll put on a fresh pot of coffee and get it done!
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In order to send as much as is being requested, we will need to add to our present supplies by collecting items that we don't make…such as:
Toothbrushes toothpaste packs of gum color books & crayons
Storybooks notepads pencils and markers
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In order to send as much as is being requested, we will need to add to our present supplies by collecting items that we don't make…such as:
Toothbrushes toothpaste packs of gum color books & crayons
Storybooks notepads pencils and markers
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As always, I send loving hugs to everyone and thanks for your continued interest in Gramma's Hugs. This newsletter and other pictures will be on the website in a matter of days (thanks to Lori Hill)…her mother, Lois Anderson; Lorraine White, Kathryn Brewer and Linda Wick all continue to keep their sewing machines busy for us; I keep two sergers "burning up" and Fran Gomes continues to come over and "cut up" with me, doing upwards of 100 yards of blanket materials each time we get together. I am so grateful for all of you and your precious energies spent helping us do this!!!
Big Hugs to all…"Gramma" Shirley J. King.
