WELCOME SUMMER TIME We hope you are enjoying the warm weather that has finally arrived. It seemed a long time coming this year. Hopefully your gardens are growing and you are enjoying family and friends on these beautiful days. On those days when it's just too hot to be outdoors, please remember to take time to work on a project for “our babies”! The TLL Board met in April and had a great time planning the TLL-a- Thon. Thanks to Sally for securing her church for the event and we are thankful for all of her organizational skills and pre-planning! At our April meeting we also previewed and approved our new brochure and a power point presentation that Sally developed . The Board also voted to spend money to buy new scissors to be used at the meetings. TLL volunteers created 8,145 handmade items for the babies this quarter and 6,564 items were distributed through hospitals and service agencies that we affiliate with. Thanks to everyone for making this happen!

PROJECT 25

Project 25 has been a huge success!! We are continuously amazed at the generosity of our volunteers. Our final total after 3 months was $575.12!! This far surpassed our expectations and we will put the money to good use to buy supplies needed to continue our mission of serving the babies of Ohio. Thank you to everyone who participated by donating their quarters, nickels, dimes and dollars to this project.

SOS !!! SAVE OUR S........?????

Just a teaser for our Christmas project which will take place during November and December of this year. Here's your chance to give to the babies in a unique but useful way. It's a secret for now, but details are coming in the next newsletter.

IN MEMORIAM

Sadly we have had 4 of our wonderful volunteers pass away in the past months. Betty Angle (January 11) mailed us tons of store bought onesies and cute little rubber duckies over many years. Helen Jones (April 25) loved to crochet and knit for the babies and contributed many beautiful sweaters, hats, afghans and booties. Patricia Maiberger (May 11) was a faithful and long standing volunteer of the Grove City workgroup. Margery Clingo (May 18) did not attend meetings but made countless quilts and afghans for TLL for many years. They will all be missed.

THE OHIO STATE FAIR

Touching Little Lives has been asked to participate at the Ohio State Fair this year. We will be setting up a display on Tuesday, July 30th from 10a.m. until 7:00 p.m. There will be a Board member present throughout the day to talk to visitors and answer questions. We will need several more people to volunteer for the following shifts: 10am-1pm, 1pm -4pm, and 4pm-7pm to tie quilts and /or snap sleepers , onesies and sleep sacks. This is a great opportunity for us to demonstrate what we do, get new volunteers and donations. We will be able to provide our volunteers with a free ticket to the fair and a parking pass close to the building. Before or after your shift, feel free to enjoy some time seeing the fair. Please email us at info@touchinglittlelives.org if you are interested in attending. Spots are filling up fast!!

TLL-A THON

The first annual TLL-A THON was held at Parsons Baptist Church on Saturday June 22nd. Forty-four volunteeres attended and worked from 10am -4pm sewing quilt tops, quilts, sleepers, onesies, sleep sacks and bibs. Other volunteers sandwiched quilts, stuffed animals, handstitched Joshua booties and knitted or

TOUCHING LITTLE LIVES NEWSLETTERThird Quarter 2013 July - September

crocheted. Over 100 items were completed and many more finished items were taken home to wash or snap. Everyone enjoyed meeting other volunteers and trying some projects they hadn't done before. We had volunteers from as far away as Troy and Medina, Ohio. Everyone enjoyed a yummy pot luck lunch and there were door prizes for everyone. Thank you to Parsons Baptist Church for allowing us to use their fellowship hall free of charge. A special thank you goes out to the Ohio District Foundation Kiwanis, the Columbus Northland Kiwanis and the Worthington Linworth Kiwanis for providing the batting for our quilts for this event and for the next 12 months! Thank you also to the Adena Health Foundation for providing give away items to everyone attending. A special thank you also goes out to the TLL board of Trustees for planning and organizing the event. And most of all.... thank you to all that attended... you all are truly wonderful!! Now, time to start planning for next year!!

Thank you Kiwanis

Sandwiching quilts – we even got a husband to help!!

Sewing quilt tops

Little hands made the stuffing easy!

The sleep sack brigade

Sewing and finishing quilts

Bibs and quilts

Memorial and burial items

Hand sewn Joshua booties

Quilt strips ready to match and sew

Sewing onesies and sleepers

CONGRATULATIONS BETTY

A few months ago TLL nominated Betty Gallagher for Nationwide Insurance's Volunteer of the Year Award. Betty was chosen for the award over 100 other candidates that were nominated!! This is quite an honor for Betty as she will now be sent to Washington D.C. as a nominee for the prestigious Jefferson Award. The other piece of the GREAT NEWS is that TLL has been awarded a $5000 grant from Nationwide. Betty has been a volunteer for TLL since 1997 working independently to provide Ohio babies with hand made afghans and hats. She also coordinated lunch time "stitching sessions" recruiting other Nationwiders to volunteer for our organization. Thank you Betty !!!

In 1977, as a Nationwide Blood Drive Coordinator, Betty attened an event highlighted by a guest speaker from the Nationwide Children's Hospital. Betty inquired how she might become involved with the hospital and use her love of crocheting to help make a difference in a child's live. She was matched with Touching Little Lives . Betty turned her hobby into a way to support her community by crocheting baby blankets and hats. Today, Betty makes a minimum of one hat and afghan each week for these little patients. The recipients of her service may be tiny but their well-being holds a special place in the hearts of their families and the volunteers of TLL.

THIS AND THAT

REMINDER: Have you registered your Kroger's Plus card yet? TLL can receive money based on your purchases. If not, it's not too late! Go to

www.krogercommunityrewards.com and follow the prompts.

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It has been just over a year since Marianne stepped down as chairperson and began planning her retirement with her husband Mike. They have had quite a few adventures ( such as the inability to have their furniture delivered for months due to the snow!) They are now settled in and are enjoying the beautiful scenery ,especially many, many hummingbirds, and being closer to their family. Her sewing room has been set up and she is enjoying sewing for her great,great granddaughter. We have been updating Marianne on the changes we've made to TLL and the projects and fundraisers. She is really excited that TLL is continuing to thrive. Although she is enjoying having her free time, she misses TLL a lot, especially all of the volunteers that she has come to know throughout the years. If you would like to contact her, please send a request by email to info@touchinglittlelives.org and we will be happy to forward it to her.

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Touching Little Lives was invited to OSU Hospital's volunteer appreciation dinner in April. Jan K. and Sally B. attended to represent TLL. During the event OSU Hospital recognized a number of individuals and organizations, such as TLL, as being a vital part of the patient care they give. Thank you to Sally and Jan for attending and we give a pat on the back to all of our volunteers for helping making such a difference in the lives of so many babies.

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It's not too soon to be working on those holiday quilts and other items. We would like to have Holloween and Thanksgiving items by August or early September and Christmas items by September or October. It takes at least 2 months to process quilts for delivery so we would appreciate having them as early as possible. ************We still have a great need for boys burial outfits,specially the smallest size angel wing gowns. These should be done in soft blue or white and please no lace trim. Also larger sized burial afghans ( 18” to 20”) would be welcomed. These should be done in soft pastel baby or sports weight yarn. There is always a need for NB onesies and sleepers , either handmade or

store bought.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT Kiwanis

On Monday, June 10th, Board members Sally B. and Judy M. accepted a check for $1500 from the Ohio District Foundation of the Kiwanis as part of a grant written by Bob Carpenter from the Columbus Northland Kiwanis in cooperation with the Worthington Linworth Kiwanis. The Northland Kiwanis pledged $1000 and Worthington Kiwanis pledged $500. The Ohio District Foundation matched their donations for a total of $3000 !!. The grant was written to povide TLL money for the batting that we use to make our quilts. Last year we spent $2700 on batting and provided over 4000 quilts to the babies of Ohio. This grant from the Kiwanis will allow us to purchase batting for the entire year! The mission of the Kiwanis fits nicely with ours as they work to provide services to an often under-served age group: 0-5years, especially those experiencing trauma. TLL wishes to thank the Kiwanis for their on-going support to our mission. In addition to monetary support they have held baby showers for us and made many deliveries for us to outlying facilities , including as far away as Cincinnati, Marysville and Mansfield to name a few.

Nationwide Insurance

TLL was awarded a $5000 grant, when our wonderful volunteer Betty Gallagher, took top prize in the company's Volunteer of the Year Award competititon. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Nationwide for this generous donation. We plan to use this windfall wisely and will start by buying some new scissors for everyone's use. The money will go a long way in helping serve the babies of Ohio.

Northrup Baptist Church

Judy M. and her husband Jack drove to Gallipolis to meet with Rosalie L.of the Gallia County Northrup Babtist Church to pick up quilts. This group of 11 volunteers put together 266 quilts between November and April. Thank you for your ongoing support of TLL!.

Grove City 4-H Club

TLL was asked to be present at the Franklin Co. Fairgrounds in Hilliard OH. for the Central Ohio Walk and Serve-A- Palooza. Volunteer, Judy M. was present to provide information and answer questions and set up a display table. The Grove City Clover Crew 4-H Club volunteers stuffed the toy annimals that TLL distributes and sewed them closed. Their crew completed 176 toys that Saturday including those they took home to sew closed! Thank you girls for all of your help.

Toys ready to stuff

Bunches of toys completed

LETTERS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS

Thanks so much for the small baby comforter you gave my baby through Sarah H., it is very beautiful and nice piecework!.....Sarah

Our family was greatly touched by your kindness in providng this package full of all the necessary baby items ( I expecially love the red/white/blue duck onesie – so cute!) We will forever remember your kindness and service toward our family and new baby girl. It's people like you that keep this country knit together.

Does any body recognize this quilt, from 2010? That's my little boy, shortly before we got to take him home. He spent a few weeks in St Ann's NICU because he was born a month early. His lungs and digestive system weren't ready yet. I hadn't felt up to making anything for him yet. So, it was really nice to receive this quilt, that someone had handmade with love, knowing that it would go to someone struggling, like my little guy.

Here's my "little" guy, now at 15 months old. I wanted to contribute something to say Thank You for making a very stressful time in our lives a little better. Thank you so very much for all that you are doing with this

organization . Your efforts do really touch lives for the better........Andrea S.

Thank you for the lovely layette for Athena. You wonderful ladies are great! ...Janice M.

Thank you once again for your kind delivery of all of the stuffed animals. It is such a nice gesture for us to able to give our “small” patients a little stuffed comforter during their stay with us. Thanks again.....

Your faithful service to the patients at the Grant OB Clinic is much appreciated. Everyone enjoys the cute bibs and seems to think the color will decide if they are having a boy or girl! You are a great group to care so much about people you will probalby never meet. It does make a difference to know someone cared enough to make a hand made item for their new baby. Thank you so much for your efforts, you are appreciated!....... Grant Out Patient Care

Thank you for all of the beautiful blankets that you have donated to our NICU. The families and newborns are greatly appreciative and love to have something sent home with them from the NICU. Thank you for making a difference...... NICU Management Team of UC Health University Hospital, Cincinnati

The afghans, burp cloths/bibs, booties, socks, hats, onesies, sleepers and toys make such a difference for many of our families. We give to as many families as possible and they are so appreciative. You ladies bring sunshine to our unit. Thanks so much........ Karen T., Director Maternal Child, Licking Memorial Hospital

Thank you so much for the donation of quilts and blankets, hats, onesies, and sleep sacks for the babies. Our parents appreciate the work that you put into making the items for their little ones. While they are in here it is nice that they are able to have a choice of a nice blanket or quilt for their babies bed or a pretty sleep sack for them to wear. The staff is also grateful

for the work that you put into your donations – seeing a parent's face when they have a new blanket on their little ones bed or a cute onesie or sleep sack being worn by their baby is wonderful. It really helps them feel special and to know that someone cares while they are here in the NICU with their baby. I also wanted to thank you for the donation of memorial items. For a parent to lose a child that young is difficult and having a token to remember them by can really help them in their time of grief....... NICU staff at The Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University.

Thank you so much for all the precious blankets, quilts and clothing items for the NICU babies. The families are very thankful for all your hard work and dedication to this volunteer mission work. The babies use these items every day and make the NICU seem a little more like home. The afghans and quilts are really beautiful and we know how much time and energy went into making them. We really appreciate all that you do! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you …... NCH @Mt Carmel St. Ann's NICU

Thank you for your recent donation of layettes and quilts to the Nurse Family Partnership at the Center for Family Safety and Healing at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Your commitment to helping the children of low income families in our community is appreciated by those who help them and, most importantly, by those who benefit from our services. Thank you again for your generous donation......Sharla T., NFP Nursing Supv.

Thank you for your donation to the Pediatric Department at Southern Ohio Medical Center. We appreciate the bibs, blankets, booties, onesies, quilts, sleepers and toys that you have donated for our patients. Thank you for your kindness and remembering our Pediatric Dept. and Southern Ohio Medical Center. Please thank your volunteers....... MaryKate, Director of Nurses, Emergency, Pediatrics and Outpatient Services

I would like to express my heartfelt appreciation for the cards, gifts ,memorial donations, hugs and words of comfort at the unexpected death of my mother, Helen Jones. Mom was so happy to do knitting and crocheting for “her babies” and involved others in the project along the way. She had many of her Florida friends scouring the flea markets for yarn and always brought back boxes of completed sweaters, hats, afghans and booties. TLL was a wonderful outlet for her talents! ….....Linda M.

WORK GROUP MEETING SCHEDULES

Chillicothe -4th Saturday of each month ( 10-2) Adena Hospital , Tecumseh Room.

Columbus – 2nd. Thursday of each month ( 10-1) at the Moose Lodge, 2101 Noe Bixby Rd. Entrance is in the back of the building

Columbus – 3rd. Tuesday of each month ( 6-8) at the Church of Our lady, 5225 Refugee Rd.

Grove City – 3rd. Friday of each month (10-2) at the United Methodist Church 2684 Columbus St. Grove City, OH

Delaware- 1st. Friday of each month (9:30-11) at Willow Brook at Delaware Run, 100 Delaware Crossing.

Westerville- 3rd. Saturday of each month ( 12-2) at the Heritage Christian Church, 7413 Maxtown Rd. Room 102 Westerville, OH.

MEETING CANCELLATIONS

The Westerville meeting will be cancelled for August

The Church of Our Lady meetings are cancelled for July and August

************************************* Touching Little Lives, Inc. 4882 Bixby Ridge Dr. E. Groveport, OH 43125

614-653-3352

email: info@touchinglittlelives.org www.touchinglittlelives.org

Co- chairpersons : Sally Bricker and Linda Marshall

TOUCHING LITTLE LIVES, INC. NEWSLETTER

THIRD QUARTER 2013

TOUCHING LITTLE LIVES, INC.4882 BIXBY RIDGE DR. E.GROVEPORT, OH 43125

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