As of October 16, 2009 we have collected 1,194 items for the homeless, which is 80% of our goal of 1500.

Kissing Pillows

I took 17 finished pillows to Patrick in October. Sgt. Gonzales was delighted as the office was getting low. So keep stitching.

As an incentive.....For every 5 hearts stitched, an entry goes into the Show and Tell box for a free membership. Marcia Barrere will keep track and turn in the entry. Several members have taken advantage of stitching five hearts to enter the Show & Tell free membership drawing - that's great!

Many thanks to all for donating time for stitching, as well as Aida and patriotic fabric. A thank you note from the Readiness Center has been received, extending their thanks to the chapter. If you need Aida fabric or the chart, please call or email Marcia.

Military Outreach

We received a generous donation of eight boxes of materials, including a floss organization system. A few mornings were spent incorporating the floss the Military Outreach already had into that system. I need help this year getting things kitted and will be sending out a notice for a "kitting" party as soon as possible.

Library Exhibits

Admire the display at the Suntree Library in September. The focus for September's exhibit will be beaded jewelry.

Habitat for Humanity

The Indian River Chapter, EGA supports South Brevard Habitat for Humanity.

There were two Habitat dedications in April making the numbers 230 and 231 samplers stitched and presented to loving families. There was a dedication on May 30 for the Haden family Marita Burnette stitched, framed and did the presentation as her husband's company had sponsored the house. There were two dedications on June 5 for the Crawford and McKenzie families; Pat Gatchell did the presentations. Right now there is a stockpile of nine samplers waiting for names.


Barbara (left) presents sampler to a new Habitat family.

I do hope some of you will volunteer to make the dedications; you cannot imagine what a rewarding and heartwarming celebration this is for the recipients. Find out more about Habitat for Humanity.

Our seventh season teaching the children’s embroidery program at the Satellite Beach library concluded with a visit from a special guest on our last day. Sun Region Director, Jenna McClooney visited our final session, collecting background material for a teaching package she is preparing. Sixteen chapter volunteers assisted about 22 children with their stitching projects. Thirteen of the 22 students participating were returning students, and they were very happy to say they were “experienced.” Students attending the final day of classes were rewarded with “goody bags” of stitching supplies to take away with them so they might stitch creative projects on their own.

Congratulations to all our members who helped make this program such a success by donating materials, monies, and time. It is your willing participation that makes this project such a success. I am especially grateful to those who have taken the time to teach. This year they are: Toni Alper, Marcia Barrere, Ritva Bowman, Annette Clark, Jonalene Gutwein, Terry Heim, Lillian Hicks, Aline Lauzon, Adrienne Meyer, Georgiene Simons, Norma Tetrault, Barbara Towers, Carol Tsoukalas, Harriet White, Ethel Worrell, and Marty Wyatt. Thank you also to Donna McFarland who handled registration on all four class days.


Some of the teachers from the 2009 classes at Satellite Beach Library.

Students from Youth Program show off their finished projects.

School Supplies Programs

We continue to collect postage stamps and pop tops. The Einstein Montessori Charter School benefits from our coupons and box tops and uses them to purchase supplies and computer equipment. It is a school dedicated to children with reading problems, especially with dyslexia, and who are reading below their grade level. These are children that usually fall between the cracks and eventually drop out of school. They use a lot of computer programs and the LIPs program is used extensively. Please bring what you can to a general meeting or pass them along to Lyle at any Satellite Meeting.

The Haven

Christmas in July is our annual collection of gifts to benefit The Haven. Kaye Cantrell,a representative from The Haven, picked up our donations and talked briefly about the children's shelter.

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Jineen presents cash donations to Haven representative Kaye Cantrell.