At the coffeehouse yesterday I decided to open a package I had received from Japan. I settled at a table with my friend, Amy, to tear away the brown paper wrapping. I knew she would want to see the treasure it held, because Amy had followed with delight last year as I collected colorful “granny squares” from around the world to make afghans for children with cancer.
“Oh,” Amy gasped, as I unfolded a delicate purple crocheted bag. “That’s beautiful! What are you going to do with it? Is it for the kids with cancer?”
“Yes,” I replied with a grin. “We are making ‘medicine bags’ for the children at Camp Sanguinity this year and putting three lucky charms in each bag. They can put their own charms inside, too. Many Native American tribes carried bags that held ‘good medicine,’ and I thought kids might like it. It’s our way of wishing those children a little luck.”
“How do these people who make the bags find you?” Amy asked.
“On the internet! Other bloggers who like the project direct people to me. I couldn’t do it without their help,” I said.
Amy shook her head in amazement, and she is not the first person I have seen do that in the last few years. Folks who don’t have a blog never seem to realize that bloggers can harness incredible volunteer power.
Last summer, more than 400 people from around the world sent me more than 10,000 squares for the “Share A Square” program. We were able to provide blankets of love for the 140 children with cancer (and their siblings) who attend summer camp at Camp Sanguinity and make 80 more blankets to deliver at Cooks Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth!
Quite truthfully, that project buried me with work (and afghan squares). This year, I decided I could handle medicine bags (you can see pictures of them on my Flickr page): they are approximately 4 inches x 4 inches in size and designed to hang around the neck. Inside will be tiny “charms” sent from people around the world. The charms (which can be anything from a polished stone or an arrowhead to a miniature angel to a lucky coin) were my way of trying to involve folks who don’t do “crafty” things. We decided to call the endeavor “The Good Medicine Project.”
I’d love to tell you that this project has been the huge success that Share A Square was, but I would be lying. I had hoped to have charms and bags from many different states, and many different countries. To date, I have received 44 bags (many of them with charms) --- but they were just made by nine different people. I’ve received packages containing just charms from two different people.
Now, I could make the rest of the bags, if no one else will help. But, that’s not the point. I want these children to know that hundreds of people support them in their fight against cancer.
So, I’m begging my blogging sisters to help me out. If this project appeals to you, would you consider giving it a little bit of space on your blog? Send your readers to the first post about the project if you would like. It explains what I request, and gives my address. If you have questions, you can e-mail me at:
shelly {dot} tucker {at} gmail{dot} com
I’d love to see a flood of donations. But, you might be asking the same question my friend Amy asked, “What if you get too many?”
Unfortunately, there is a continuous supply of children with cancer. Until the day comes that this disease is just a memory, I hope to do my small part of trying to send those children some love. I’ll find another cancer camp to supply if volunteers overwhelm me with donations.
Visit my blog: This Eclectic Life
http://thiseclecticlife.com
Or, my work website: Spin Me A Yarn
http://spinmeayarn.com
"Cogito ergo cogito sum - I think; therefore, I think I am." Ambrose Bierce
Thank you, Frances, for posting about this. Since I wrote that for you, I have a more informative post on the project at http://thiseclecticlife.com/2009/01/26/behind-the-scenes-of-the-good-medicine-project/
One of my volunteers also created some pretty cool animated gif buttons for sidebars if anyone is interested in helping!
Posted by: This Eclectic Life | January 27, 2009 at 06:59 PM