Moved from Chit Chat: Need your heart and hands

[QIAD-Linda]

Here is the message I received from Kathy at the boutique:

Linda,
The weekend was truly AWESOME. I'll write up something and download some
photos tomorrow to send your way. Right now I need some sleep as it was also
a very emotionally draining weekend with lots of stories and tears.
Kathy

[Bonnielass]

Kathy's message made tears well up in my eyes! I'm sending a prayer Kathy's way and all that helped in the boutique. May God rest HIS hand upon their heads and hearts. May HE bring them peaceful rest and restored energy after all they have done..

Debby

[QIAD-Linda]

I received this message to all of you today from Kathy:

A big thank you for all you did to help make it was a wonderful weekend.
I've included pictures that show the transformation of a warehouse space
into a Winter Wonderland. We started setting up the last weekend in November
and during the first week in December. We had received about 20 donated
trees. These trees were decorated with the over 11,000 ornaments that we
received from across the US (about 20 different states). Throughout the week
women decorated. Then covered the floor with white tarp and snow. A boutique
area was set up in the back corner and a temporary wall was draped with the
various quilts we received. One tree was decorated with stockings and
another with the teddy bears. Thursday evening the finishing touches were
added in preparation for the over 200 families that were scheduled to attend
over the weekend. Individual invitation had been sent to about 400 families
with a contact number to set up an appointment time. Because of space and
the desire to make this a calm, quiet, peaceful and loving experience we
scheduled 6 or 7 families to visit each half hour.
It turned out to be a rather gray and rainy weekend but that only served to
make our area even more special. As each family walked through the door they
were greeted and offered a basket into which we had placed a couple goodies
to start. Then they were invited to wander through the wonderland and select
30 ornaments from the various themed trees. As we also had many, many boxes
of colored balls donated that had been placed under the trees and they could
select a box of ornaments from under one of the trees. In addition they
could visit the boutique area and select an item or two and then also
receive a quilt or stockings for the family. We had a tree with items that
could be personalized and women available to do that for the ornaments or
stockings.

As they wandered from tree to tree women were available to help find
ornaments or listen to stories of special ornaments and evacuation from
houses the day of the fire. The fire came so fast that most left in the
middle of the night with only the clothes on their backs and flames all
around. It is truly amazing that more lives weren't lost. One woman found 3
ornaments that were almost like ones that were lost. A gentleman was heard
to say "This is like being a kid again". Another with a teddy bear on top of
his pile added that he did a lot of traveling and each time he came home his
wife had a new bear for him. He was now starting a new collection of bears.

After selecting their items we had a table where they were all wrapped and
placed in a bag. Each family then received a nativity set and a poinsetta as
they were ready to leave. Many continued to stay and visit with a cup of
coffee and cookie, just to continue talking and sharing. Some met neighbors
and took time to share stories and new addresses.
One of the gals went home to decorate her tree with new memories and to hang
the stockings by the new fireplace. She emailed me the following with a
photo:

"Dear Kathy, I was kind of shaking today being around all the holiday cheer,
overwhelmed with caring and generosity for us! I've spent most of the day
decorating with all the wonderful things we were given. I wanted to know if
maybe you corresponded by email with the people who sent hand made things.
Our stockings were from "Jo Ann from Walnutport, PA". If so, maybe you
could forward this with a big "Thanks!". I'm going to keep the little pieces
of paper with her name on them in each stocking. A big hug and Thank You!!!
for all our gifts from the heart."

While we couldn't replace what was lost at least for a while over the
weekend we were able to reach out a provide an opportunity for some happy
memories of a year that many would like to forget.

Big hugs of thanks and blessing to each of you,
Kathy

[spudmom]

Oh my, I am in awe of the sight of these trees and ornaments and bears and quilts, and the beautiful letter Kathy sent you Linda. Obviously there were many groups of people all across our country involved in this endeavour.

I feel privileged to have been a part of making new memories for these families.

Merry Christmas to all.

Lynne

[Bonnielass]

I too am in awe with the pictures and Kathy's letter. This was my first experience and I know it won't be the last. I feel this overwhelming sense of love. For the fire survivors, the people who gave from their hearts, and those people from the church.

Merry Christmas!!!
Debby

May God Bless everyone

[SFOQuilter]

Thanks Linda. The photos are amazing and it was great to be part of this.

[CindyB]

I couldn't get through that email without a tear - and it was a tear (or two) that we can all be part of helping people get back on their feet after something so devestating!

Thank you, Linda, for this!

[SewSew]

It is overwhelming to see all those trees full of ornaments and bears and all the quilts that were donated. I am very happy that I was able to be part of this wonderful gift of love for those that have suffered so much.

Ann

[Bransmom]

Thank you for posting the pictures for us to see. The trees are all beautiful and I'm happy I was able to be a part of this to make Christmas a little brighter for the families this year.

Joann (and yes, I'm from Walnutport, PA)

[zfatcat]

Sounds like the event was a sucess. Thanks for sharing with us Linda.