The Crafty Angels had a wonderful time on Saturday, June 13 looking at all the very creative yarny goodness created by Julie Scigalski, Margie Chan, Carol Flowers, Debbie Kreusch, Cathy Jones, Doris Ahlstedt, Sandy Rice, Alma Wamsley, and Chris Pokorny. We not only had yarny goodness, we had yarny magnificence! Join us at our next meeting on August 15, 2009 at 10:30am at Chris Pokorny's house at 6357 North Leoti Avenue in Chicago for a time of fiber, food, fellowship, and fun as we plan projects for the rest of the year. Come join the fun! Don’t forget to check out our blog at http://www.crafty-angels.blogspot.com.

The Crafty Angels support a wide variety of projects --
Organizations/projects we have already been involved with and will continue to support include:

• Cornerstone Community Outreach
  Located on the northwest side of Chicago, Cornerstone provides a wide variety of services for homeless families and people. The majority of items Angels make go to all of their programs. They need washable hats, scarves, and mittens, in sizes from infant to seniors; afghans; blankets; shawls; and soft toys for the children. The Angels collect items for Cornerstone all year long, and deliver them to the programs in time for Christmas.
• Swedish Covenant Hospital
  Also located on the northwest side of Chicago, Swedish Covenant Hospital services the most ethnically diverse area in Chicago, and its maternity ward serves a very large number of needy, refugee, and homeless moms and their new babies. They need washable hats, baby blankets, booties, and baby sweaters in sizes preemie to newborn. The Angels collect items for Swedish Covenant all year long, delivering items as needed during the year, but primarily distributing items in time for Christmas.
• Edgebrook Covenant Church
  Also located on the northwest side of Chicago, the Angels provide prayer shawls for women and "comfort afghans" for men going through difficult periods in their lives or their family's lives, are hospitalized, or suffer from serious illness. It would be nice if the yarn for these projects was washable, but the primary requirement is that the yarn be soft and cheery. The Angels collect the shawls and afghans all year long, and distribute them as they are needed.
• The Red Scarf Project
  The Orphan Foundation of America supports students who have "aged out" of the foster care system, and are now trying to build lives of their own and go to trade school or college, or are participating in a training program. Around Valentine's Day, OFA sends a "care package" to these kids, and likes to include handmade knitted or crocheted red scarves -- as a visible symbol that someone cares for the student and is concerned about their welfare. OFA has requirements for the scarves in terms of minimum length and width, and the yarn used must be washable. Red is the preferred color, but any unisex color can be used. The Angels collect scarves for The Red Scarf Project until the end of August, then send them to OFA to be packed up with the care packages.
• Afghans For Afghans
  A4A provides warm items for needy families in Afghanistan, which are delivered by aid workers through relief stations and hospitals. Baby blankets and caps, and hats and scarves for children are needed -- and all items must be made of 100% wool yarn in bright colors that won't show soil. The Angels collect these items all year long, and ship them to A4A in
• The Good News Community Kitchen
  This very vital community kitchen, which serves a hot, nutritious meal to over 120 homeless and needy people every single day of the year. Good News Community Kitchen (GNCK) is the highest capacity community kitchen in the Chicago metropolitan area - and they are actively advocating to address core issues that concern hunger and poverty. Infants through seniors come for meals here, and they are in great need of the yarny goodness the Crafty Angels can provide. We make hats, scarves, mittens, shawls -- all of washable yarn – and they are delivered at Christmas and when needed.
• The Mother Bear Project
  Knitted or crocheted bears are given to children affected by HIV/AIDS to provide comfort in Africa. We use the Project’s pattern, and personalize each one. The bears are sent in during the fall – and delivered to Africa at the end of the year.
• Christmas At Sea
  This program, sponsored by The Seamen's Church Institute, provides warm hats and scarves to seamen (and seawomen) and mariners around the world . We made scarves, caps, vests, helmets or socks and then they will be shipped out to New York so that they can be packed in Christmas gift packages and distributed in time for Christmas.

Whew! 2009 is a busy year for the Angels and I predict that thousands of lives will be touched by all of you!! Come join us, as we help change our community, country, and the world -- one stitch at a time!! It promises to be a very exciting ride!