Board

BOARD

BOARD NEWS

The TLL Board met at the end of August for its general

meeting. The Board voted to make the TLL-a-Thon an

annual event. Sally will secure her church again for next

year. Mark your calendars for the last Saturday in June. It

was voted to print enough additional newsletters to add a

newsletter each quarter to our deliveries. There will be a

small additional printing cost but we feel this will achieve

“good P.R. without a lot of cost”. The Better Business

Bureau charges a yearly fee based on TLL’s income in

order to use their logo on brochures, website, newsletter

etc. This year’s fee would be $200.00. The Board did not

feel that we would acquire that many more donations to

offset this fee so voted not to pursue using their logo. This

does not alter our approval rating with the BBB. The

Board voted to continue our Volunteer Recognition

program for the newsletter. Jan and Linda will work on

identifying categories of volunteers to recognize. Current

finances are good. As of August we have raised about

$13,000 through fundraisers, donations and grants. The

MOOSE work group is still without a permanent home.

The Church of Our Lady is graciously letting us use their

facility on a month to month basis. The Board has

decided to wait until the end of the year to make a decision

regarding moving to the new Moose Lodge facility which

will likely be in downtown Groveport or pursing

permission to permanently stay at the church. TLL

elections will be held in December. We have one unfilled

position for a trustee. If you have interest in serving on

the Board please contact Linda for further information.

HONOR TRUST PROJECT

A year and a half ago we received a letter from the Honor

Project regarding a grant that was available to non-profits

in Ohio. At that time it was only open to non-profits

dealing with unemployment. This past February, round

two of the grants started and any non-profit in Ohio could

apply. The money they award comes from leftover funds

from class action lawsuits and they give a judge the

authority to distribute the money to charities. They will

distribute more than $6 million to 226 charities from

across Ohio. We applied for this grant in April

specifically to request funds for the purchase of knit fabric

to make our onesies and sleepers for one year. Early in

August we were notified that TLL was the recipient of a

$10,000 grant! Jim and Sally B. traveled to Cleveland on

September 4 to accept the $10,000 check. Thanks to this

money we will be able to buy lots of beautiful, good

quality knit baby fabric.

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION

This quarter we are happy to be able to recognize our

volunteers that sew onesies and sleepers for us. These

items specifically must be done with a serger and these

few dedicated sewers deserve much credit for keeping us

supplied month to month. From the Westerville group we

have several sewers who make 30-40 sleepers, onesies,

sleep sacs or jackets EVERY month. A great big thank

you goes out to Carol L., Shirley M., Carol T, and Kathy

T. who work so hard to help us meet our demand. The

MOOSE group recognizes Katherine W., Mary B. and

Carla R. These ladies sew for countless hours each month

to provide the sleepers and onesies to complete our

layettes. Grove City would like to thank Mary B. Mary

has been with TLL since it first started and is the most

faithful volunteer, not only to our group but to many

others in need. As we put together our deliveries, it

amazes us how quickly we go through all of our supply of

99

TOUCHING LITTLE LIVES

Newsletter

Second Quarter 2014 April - June

Fourth Quarter October – December 2014

these items. Thank you ladies. You do marvelous work

and fill a great need.

HARRY

In August, we were contacted by Harry from Maryland.

He advised he had quite a bit of fabric and wanted to

donate it to Touching Little Lives. His wife was an avid

sewer and has suffered a severe stroke and will be

unlikely able to sew again. Harry rented a U-Haul trailer

and filled the back of his pickup truck and drove 11 hours

to bring us the fabric! As you see in the pictures the fabric

covered the floor of a two car garage and we had 10 or

more volunteers there sorting it. Most of the donation was

wonderful cotton for quilts, but there was also flannel,

fleece, yarn, quilted fabric, fiberfill and fabric for animals

and diaper bags. We met Harry’s daughter, Tania. Her

three children all received quilts from TLL when they

were born. With donations from our volunteers, we were

able to send Harry several nice gift cards to thank him for

his time and effort. Our best wishes to his wife as she is

recovering in rehab from her stroke.

HOLIDAY ANGELS

In the last year, TLL has provided over 4,500

memorial/burial items to 19 facilities in Ohio. This

includes early loss ribbons, embroidered hearts, burial

gowns, buntings, hats, booties and toys. Many of the

items are for preemie babies, although we’ve had a

growing need for newborn sizes as well. Although this is

just one small part of what TLL does, it is probably the

most meaningful of all. As we enter the holiday season,

we want to remember the parents we serve that have lost

a child, either an early loss in the pregnancy, a stillborn

death or a baby born who didn’t survive. Many of our

most heart wrenching thank you cards are from these

parents. They tell us they treasure what TLL has been

able to provide for them in that unimaginable moment

when they face the loss of their child.

Many of you are blessed with healthy and happy children

and/or grandchildren. For our end of the year fundraiser,

we are asking our volunteers to donate $1.00 for each

child and/or grandchild that you have been blessed with.

The money we raise will be used specifically to buy

supplies needed for our infant loss items. If you know

someone who has suffered an infant loss or miscarriage,

you can also make a memorial donation for their loss. If

you provide their name and address or email, we will send

them an acknowledgment of your gift and how it will be

used. Tax receipts will be issued only if you request one.

You can put your donation in our baby bottles at your

work group meeting or send your donation to our

corporate office at 4882 Bixby Ridge Drive East,

Groveport, OH 43125. . Please indicate that it is for

Holiday Angels. Please consider taking part in this

special fund raising event from now through the end of

December. As you shop for your children and/or

grandchildren, please remember those parents who will

never get to buy presents for their “angels”.

THIS AND THAT

We had 15 volunteers attend our trip to Connecting

Threads on July 29th. All the ladies had fun searching for

that “perfect” fabric. We found lots of goodies and left

with over 61 bags of fabric. There likely will be many

beautiful quilts turned in after this trip!

Last year’s fundraiser – Save Our Stamps- was, as you

know, a huge success. The money raised will not only

pay for all postage costs for 2014, but we estimate that it

will also cover at least the first half of our 2015 postage

expense.. We want to thank you again for your generous

donations of stamps and money. It just proves that small

acts of generosity add up quickly and make a big

difference!

We have an urgent need for newborn booties, and could

use a small amount of preemie size also. The weather is

starting to change and as we pack layettes we don't want

to leave out something to keep the little tootsies warm!!

Please remember we prefer they be made with baby yarn

with a 3 - 3 1/2 inch sole for newborn. Fleece booties are

also great. If you have time to whip some up it would be

appreciated!!

Don’t forget to turn in your used printer ink cartridges.

We have saved quite a bit of money on ink and paper

supplies from the credit we get for recycling these at

Staples.

A belated thank you goes out to the COOL group for the

200 rosaries that were donated to be used for our infant

loss program.

As of the first of September, Buckeye Babies unofficial

total is about 60 quilts! Likely there are still some quilts

in process waiting to be sandwiched or tied. We still have

one more month to get at least 15 more done so if you can

even make one OSU quilt we'll meet our goal of donating

75 quilts to the OSU NICU by OSU/Michigan week. Go

Bucks!

Volunteers made 7,713 items for our babies in the past 3

months!! 6,895 items were delivered to hospitals and

other organizations for distribution! Great job!!

EASY MONEY

We have become aware of several programs that will

provide a donation to TLL with your purchase of

merchandise on line. With the holidays close at hand

many of you may be shopping on line. Please take the

time to register at these sites so that TLL can also benefit

from your holiday giving. If you don’t shop on line,

please let friends and family know of these opportunities.

AMAZONSMILE: YOU SHOP, AMAZON GIVES - if

you shop on Amazon please consider logging in on

www.smile.amazon.com .This will allow you to select

Touching Little Lives as your charity. Amazon will

donate 0.5% of your qualifying purchase to help needy

newborns and premature infants in Ohio! You must use

the smile.amazon.com log on each time to make this

donation but once you register on that site you just shop

as you would normally on Amazon. Registration is very

easy!

www.iGive.com is a unique online shopping

experience that allows shoppers to automatically

donate a portion of what they spend online to a

preselected cause or charity of their choice. Founded

in 1997, more than 1,500 online merchants have

partnered with iGive.com, including Macy’s, Target,

Barnes & Noble, Gap, Amazon, Best Buy and

Staples and many, many more.

Creating an account on iGive.com is simple and free.

To sign up, provide your name and email address and

select Touching Little Lives as the organization you

would like to support. To create an account, simply

download the iGive button and start shopping! After

your online purchase from a participating vendor is

complete, a donation will automatically be made to

your chosen organization. The online store you shop

from will automatically send iGive the information

needed to complete your donation, including the

order amount and your iGive member ID (this does

not identify you to the merchant; it is only used to

keep track of the donations you make to your

selected cause). Members can also download the

iGive app for iPhones and iPads for mobile use. In

addition to making the world a better place with

charitable donations, iGive.com members are

eligible for coupons and discounts to use while

shopping.

We're great together for an even better return! iGive plus Amazon Smile mean higher donations on

your Amazon purchases (currently, Amazon is

donating .5%, plus your cause earns .8% via iGive,

for a total of 1.3%). When you use iGive to shop at Amazon, it automatically

directs you to smile.Amazon.com. That gives Amazon a

chance to help your cause, in addition to the help that is

made possible via iGive.com.

Because you used iGive, your purchase at Amazon,

just like at any of the 1,500+ iGive stores, means a

donation for your cause.

Matching gifts and volunteer grant programs are also an

excellent source of funds for TLL. We have several

volunteers who have taken advantage of their employer’s

programs. With the matching gift program, the company

will match your donation to TLL with their own donation.

With the volunteer grant program you document your

volunteer hours, turn them into your employer and they

donate money to TLL because you have volunteered. The

following website allows you to search to see if your

employer has either program available.

www.doublethedonation.com. The programs differ from

company to company, but this year alone we’ve received

about $2,500 in donations from our volunteers taking

advantage of these programs.

GALLIPOLIS LADIES

These ladies, representing six area churches meet every

Thursday from 10a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northrup Missionary

Baptist Church to work on quilts for TLL. There are also

two husbands who help by moving machines, making coffee

and tying quilts. This group has made 2,851 quilts for TLL.

Thanks to all that help- you are appreciated!

VOLUNTEER THANK YOU LETTERS

Thank you for doing what you do! You ladies do make a

difference! My daughter is 18 months now and I've kept

each piece that was given to her in her layette gift bag. These

are the pieces along with a few others that I will keep from

her baby years to show her when she grows up. She's

sleeping with her blanket as we speak!

We just had our little boy Kilian on Tuesday at Wright-

Patterson AFB. As we were being discharged home the

staff gave us a care package from your organization. We

are very grateful for your efforts, time and charity in doing

so! We are grateful for organizations such as yours and

what they do to better the lives of others! We will be

leaving a contribution with your organization so you can

further your mission. Myca and Lewis

Thank you so much for all the handmade baby things. We

really appreciate it. Here's a picture of our baby using

some of the gifts we received. Her name is Johannah Kay

.

I am a foster mom, and the baby I am caring for came

home from the hospital with a handmade quilt. Your label

is in it. Thank you for the quilt and the care that it

represents. This little boy was a micro-preemie. He was

only 23 weeks 6 days gestational age when he came into

the world. He is not a true orphan but his biological

mother is not yet able to care for him. His future is

uncertain. My husband and I are in our 60’s and are not

intending to adopt any of the children we foster. We pray

that he will end up in a home where he will come to know

God in personal way. In the meantime, please know that

this quilt is blessing the life of a very special little boy.

Warmly, Bev L.- Milford, Oh.

My grandson Blake Richard was born and passed on

March 26th, 2014. I got to see him at Mt. Carmel East

Hospital. I was so surprised he had on beautiful

handmade clothes and he looked like an angel. He looked

so cute with his small hat, outfit and blanket that you

made with love. On behalf of my son and wife and

myself, enclosed is a gift card to Joann’s to help continue

touching lives. God Bless. Patty C.- Columbus, OH

Thank you for your wonderful gifts while we were in the

NICU. Asher was born at 35 weeks at 6lbs 6oz and it was

such a surprise the first time I saw him he was tucked

under his “twinkle blanket”. This was the blanket we took

him home in which now sits in his room and we lay on it

and snuggle. I didn’t expect to be a NICU parent but from

the moment we walked in we were loved as a family. My

favorite gift was his “Dinosaur blanket”. It goes

EVERYWHERE with us! Please know that knowing

someone was thinking about us when the world stopped

made one world of difference. Always thankful, Doug,

Jessica and Asher

Asher with his favorite blanket

Asher going home under his “twinkle

blanket”

Thank you so much for the lovely quilt. I cannot even

express with words how special it made me feel. This was

a very difficult time in my family’s lives and the gesture

of love from a stranger made a difference. Thank you

again and god bless you. Maggie B. Blacklick, OH

Maleah Victoria

Born 3/23/14

2lb. 3 oz.

Hello friends, We want to thank you for the baby gift even

if we don’t have a thank you card. We were blessed with

a little boy named Perry on June 7th. Weight was

8lb.11oz. Your gift is very useful. Eli, Katie and baby

Perry- Patriot, OH

Thank you-thank you- thank you! As the grandmother of

3 preemie babies in 2 years (One set of twin girls born at

28 wks. and a singleton born at 29 wks.- 13 months later!)

I can tell that the warmth and love felt in your pieced

quilts and crocheted squares has been a real comfort. It’s

been a hard 3 years and now to see the twins recognize

and reach for items made by Touching Little Lives, you

can be assured you have touched lives in a big way. I was

astounded after visiting your website! May you all be

blessed all your days for your love and devotion. You are

making a difference. These little quilts and blankets are

lifetime treasures and a quick reminder of what these little

girls have endured. The girls received quilts over their

incubators from Nationwide Children’s in Columbus and

again at Dayton Children’s. Gina,- Dayton, OH

It’s Andrea, one of the nurses from the Teen and Pregnant

Clinic at Nationwide Children’s. Just wanted to send you

a quick email to say thank you so much again for

delivering layettes for us to give to our patients. We

received another “shipment” today, and it was just on

time!! They really seem to love receiving them, and it

really is a joy for us to be able to give them out. You guys

do a great job with the clothing and blankets, and we

really appreciate it!! Thanks again!! –Andrea

Thank you for your continued support of the UC Medical

Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We are very

grateful for your homemade bonnets, gowns, angels and

hearts donated on June 17, 2014. Your compassionate

and personal gifts have not only made a significant impact

on the families who have experienced loss, but also on our

NICU team. Your dedication to drive the distance year

after year is inspiring and greatly appreciated. Your

generous donation will offer a good option for parents

during an unfortunate time. Thank you for bringing smiles

to so many faces in our NICU. Becky S.-University of

Cincinnati Health Foundation

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. Your caring support will make a great

difference in the lives of our families. Thank you again for

your generous donation. Sharla T.- NFP

On behalf of Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation,

thank you for your generous donation of baby items given

in support of the NICU. Nationwide Children’s Hospital

serves thousands of patients each year and we certainly

appreciate the concern and commitment you have shown

through your generosity. Your thoughtfulness will make

such a significant difference in the lives of children and

families coping with serious health care issues. Thank you

for the effort you have directed toward making their stay

here more comfortable. We greatly appreciate your

support and friendship. Niki S.- Nationwide Children’s

Hospital

Thank you for your donation to the Pediatric Department at

Southern Ohio Medical Center. We appreciate the bibs,

booties, hats, bonnets, onesies, quilts, sleepers and toys that

you have donated for our pediatric patients. Thank you for

your kindness and remembering our Pediatric Department

and Hospital. Please thank your volunteers. Mary S. –

Southern Ohio Medical Center, Portsmouth, OH

Thank you so much for your recent donation of afghans,

bibs, blankets, booties, onesies, sleepers and toys. Your

continued generosity and dedication to our patients, our

community, and to Licking Memorial Hospital is truly

appreciated. Veronica L.- Licking Memorial Hospital,

Newark, OH.

Thank you for your generous donation of bibs, receiving

blankets, booties, onesies, quilts and toys. These beautiful

items for the baby are lovingly received by families in

need. Please pass along our heartfelt thanks to your

volunteers for their unselfish dedication to provide

necessary items for our infants. Linda N. – Ohio Health

Med Central Hospitals, Mansfield OH

EXAMPLES OF YOUR

BEAUTIFUL WORK

WORK GROUP MEETING SCHEDULE

Chillicothe -4th Saturday of each month (10-2) Adena Hospital, Tecumseh Room. Columbus –MOOSE- 2nd. Thursday of each month (10- 1) October, November, December and January meetings will be held at The Church of Our Lady, 5225 Refugee Rd. Please check our website or Facebook for future meeting locations.

Columbus – COOL 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 Chillicothe

work group meeting will be cancelled for December.

_________________________________________

Touching Little Lives, Inc. 4882 Bixby Ridge Dr. E.

Groveport, OH 43125

614-653-3352 email: info@touchinglittlelives.org

www.touchinglittlelives.org