To: Mom, From: Mitzi

Mom,

As you know, I have always been your baby-hungry child.

When you wrote the post on your blog about the African Maternity hospital, it really hit me.

I thought of a few different ideas of what I could do. I almost did my own little KAM group for the season. But the post about the Maternity ward kept nagging at me. So I wrote a letter to some ladies in my ward:

Hello Ladies,

I am writing because I need some help . Last year our family started a new tradition. With funds being tight for many of my family members, we decided to try something that didn't cost money. We each drew a name and we did service in the name of that person. I started a blog (feel free to click on the link and see what I am talking about) that we all posted our service projects on. So on Christmas morning, we woke up and got to read about all the service that was done on behalf of everyone else. It was such an amazing experience that we decided to make it a tradition. This year I have my mother. She is currently serving a mission in the Republic of Congo in Africa with my father.

As the Sr. Missionary couple in the area, my mom is in charge of finding service projects for the elders to do. One of the service projects that she set up was at the Maternity hospital. She mentioned that they usually take their babies home in a pillow case or towel (only hours after giving birth) b/c they don't have blankets. Most of these babies will sleep in a cardboard box in a one room house. She mentioned the need for receiving blankets. (feel free to read the details of their service in the links provided above.)

So this is where you come into the picture...

I thought it would be great for my service in behalf of my mother to make a few blankets myself to send. But I thought it would be even better if I could get some women together to make more then a few to send. I will be having 2 receiving blanket making parties. The first will be on Tuesday, December 21st from 9:30-3:30. The second will be a date in January for those of you that would love to help and serve but if this time of year is just too darn crazy! Children are welcome to come and play with my 2 girls while we sew and cut. If you don't know how to sew, don't be scared, there will be cutting and other things to do. I will have some munchies so we don't starve. If you have a sewing machine or serger, please bring it with you. If you have any flannel that you would like to donate, I would be more then happy to come and pick it up from you.

So...let me know if you are interested. I would love any and all help . I am not expecting people to come the whole time so feel free to pop in and out as needed.

Thanks so much,
Mitzi McBride

That was the email that I sent out to my ward Google group list. I am happy to say that I had 6 ladies show up to help me out. I had others that donated gently used blankets and some that donated fabric for the blankets. On our first work day, we made 31 blankets and received donations of another 9 that were gently used.

So, I have 40 blankets that are ready to ship.

Now in addition to the 40 blankets that I collected from my ward, Ashley gave me 2 that she sewed about a month or two ago. As you know, Pam put together a Bodell sewing day. Between the ones they made and the ones made by Tiffany, Hock and Katherine Kenny that were given to Pam to ship, she has an additional 50 blankets to ship.


For a grand total of

90 Blankets

for the African Maternity hospital!!

Mom and dad, we love you so much and we are so grateful for the example you are setting for us all. I am grateful for this opportunity we have created for ourselves to feel the true meaning of Christmas. I love you all!

Love, Mitzi