Supporting Joplin

3 women...1 mission. Supporting Joplin. I am blessed with some very caring friends. Ones that don't just say that they wish they could help, but ones that do. Today, we made a trip to the store and put together toiletry packs (male and female) to take to Joplin. We are planning on making a trip soon (after the initial search and rescue is over) to help with the clean up. Today we filled 40 bags with shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, chapstick, toothbrush, toothpaste, tampons, ponytail holders, lotion, Q-tips, Cotton balls, hand wipes, and soap. Our goal is to fill at least 80 more (but we'd love to provide more).

All the contact lens solution and cases seen on the left...donated by the lovely man working in the eyeglasses place at Wal-Mart. There was a sign next to the samples that said take one and one for a friend. We told him we were taking things to Joplin...he said take them all!! AND then he went into the back and got us several more big boxes full! People are good and I believe he will be blessed for his actions.

Female Kits

Male Kits

If you'd like to help, we'd gladly accept any of the items above.  We would also like to take larger (non-travel size) bottles of Bug Spray, Hand Sanitizer, and Sunscreen for the people working and doing clean up.  A few other items that would be useful: blankets, individual bottles or gallons of water and/or gatorade, baby formula, diapers, wipes, and any first aid kit items.  If you want to donate, contact me at shannon@maplememories.com.

Giving Back

We want to give money to YOUR school. Book a weekend in May 2011 and we'll donate $100 to the school of YOUR choice. Staying during the week? We'll give YOUR school $25 for each day you stay! Contact us for more details and to book your stay!! Email shannon@maplememories.com or call 620-480-1357.

MIRACLES HAPPEN!

I have been blessed to be part of an AMAZING adoption story this past week. My friend Jamie, in one weeks time, has found out that they are going to be adoptive parents...ANY DAY! My friend, Beki, has created a special necklace to help the family raise funds for an unexpected adoption! It's beautiful. $10 from every necklace sold in MARCH goes towards the adoption! Read the story, buy a necklace, spread the word. MIRACLES HAPPEN!

Beki is also having a giveaway for a necklace, so head over and enter!!!  Will you help us get the word out!??  I would love to stop by and visit your blog, so leave a comment letting me know you blogged about this story.  Thank you.

Mt. Hope Sanctuary

There is a place in McPherson that I have wanted to share with you for so long...I just wasn't sure that I would find the right words.  It's called Mt. Hope Sanctuary.  Its concept and implementation is amazing.  Mt. Hope Sanctuary serves single women between the ages of 18-65 who are facing hopeless circumstances due to either generational or situational poverty as a result of many of the following reasons:  Abandonment or neglect, divorce, limited education or skills, history of addictions, loss of employment, or death of a spouse. I'm no longer worried about finding the right words, because THEIR words say it all...

:

Again, amazing.  If you feel called to help, please visit the donation page here.  You can become a volunteer, provide specific items needed, donate online, or simply pray for this organization, its leaders and residents.

Below, you will find the list of items currently needed at Mt. Hope Sanctuary.  If you're coming to Maple Memories, we would be happy to accept your generous gifts and deliver them to Mt. Hope on your behalf.

Current Household needs list:  
Fire Extinguishers (2) 5 lb ABC fire extinguishers  
Copy Paper
Package of ink pens (black or blue)
2 baby gates  
Small-medium plastic food storage containers  
Folding chairs (4-8)
Gas cards
Wal-Mart gift cards for various needs
Liquid soap refills 
Dryer sheets
Paper towels

Our mission is to provide a sanctuary (our transitional home)

                        that offers HOPE: (Healing, Opportunity, Peace & Empowerment)

                                        to single women (and their children)

                                                      who are committed to achieving self-sufficiency.

Cleaning for a Reason

If you know any woman currently undergoing chemotherapy, please pass the word to her that there is a cleaning service that provides FREE housecleaning - once per month for 4 months while she is in treatment. All she has to do is sign up and have her doctor fax a note confirming the treatment. Cleaning for a Reason will have a participating maid service in her zip code area arrange for the service. Also, if you own or work for a cleaning service, they are looking for more people with big hearts!

Get Scrappy 2010 - YWCA Women's Crisis Center

Get Scrappy is a fundraiser to benefit the YWCA Women's Crisis Center. This year they are welcoming ALL crafters to join the fun and fundraising. This event will be held at the Beech Activity Center in Wichita, KS on March 26 and 27, 2010. Please click on the logo or links provided for more information on the dates, times, and details of the event. Maple Memories is proud to support this effort by donating to the Silent Auction, so be sure to check that out while you are there!

"Get Scrappy" began in 2005 as a memorial to Crystal White, who was killed in a senseless act of domestic violence. Since it's beginning, Get Scrappy has raised over $50,000 for the YWCA Women's Crisis Center. Domestic violence is a tragedy of our times and, unfortunately, with the changes in our economic stability, the instance of violence is increasing. At “Get Scrappy 2009” they discovered that almost half of the attendees had been touched by domestic violence - either personally or through a family member or friend. The primary purpose of “Get Scrappy” is not just another crop. Born out of a personal tragedy affecting their lives, this event is, first and foremost, an event to raise funds to assist victims of domestic violence and an avenue to heighten awareness of this tragic issue in our community.

I hope some of you can make it, but regardless, I encourage you to take a look at their website. Some of the statistics will chill you...Every year 3.3 million children witness their fathers beat their mothers...Studies suggest that one-fifth to one-third of all women will be physically assaulted by a partner or ex-partner during their lifetime (American Medical Association)...63% of prisoners between the ages of 11 and 20 years doing time for homicide killed their mother's batterer. But, YOU CAN HELP! Attend events, volunteer time, donate items, or simply educate yourself AND your children.

Quilts of Valor

Maple Memories is supporting Quilts of Valor by becoming a collection spot for them. For those of you that may not have heard of QOV, it's a foundation with the mission to cover ALL war wounded and injured service members and veterans from the War on Terror, whether physical or psychological wounds, with Wartime Quilts called Quilts of Valor (QOVs). There is also a Kansas Chapter that has set out to provide a means to get more people involved in making QOVs in Kansas and to cover all wounded Kansans with a QOV. We would like to support this effort by letting you know what you can leave in the donation basket at Maple Memories. Once an item is left in the basket, we will take care of getting it to the Kansas Chapter. For more detailed information, monetary donations (please DO NOT leave monetary donations at Maple Memories), or to find out how else you can get involved, please visit the QOV website.


1. Material Donations - Donation of high quality fabric, batting, quilt blocks, backing material or even an entire quilt top (minimum size 50 x 60, maximum size 72 x 96). They are in great need of YARDAGE and BACKING MATERIAL.


2. Handmade Card Donations - When a Quilt of Valor is delivered to a soldier or his/her family, the group likes to make sure that a card is sent along with it. Below you will find a few examples of what they have given out in the past. Just think of how many cards we could collect if each person staying at Maple Memories took a few minutes to make one or two!

If you are interested in joing the local QOV group (known as Kansas Bee), they meet once a month in Wichita to work together to complete the quilt and get it to it's new owner. For more information on joining this group, contact the Regional Coordinator, Katy Vickers at katy@qov.org or 316-773-2945.

Cora Paige McClenahan

A new button has been added to the right of our blog...it's for Cora's Playground. Cora Paige's life was way too short. To remember her sweet spirit, a playground is being built in her honor at Grace Community Church in Newton, Kansas. Etsy store owners from around the country have teamed up to heal by creating for you!!! The money raised from these sales will benefit Cora's playground. Just click on the beautiful pink button to see what is available. Joel and Jess, you will continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.

To learn more about her story please visit http://themcclenahans.blogspot.com/