Healesville Drop and Update!

Just popping in to let you know that we drove a car-load of Handmade Help things up to Healesville yesterday. We dropped them with our Salvation Army contact, Rosemary, who distributes them directly to those that need them.

It's really making a very big difference to people. They are very touched by the fact that people have taken the time to make things for them. A lot of people are very relieved to be able to knit or stitch or crochet again. So thank you, from Rosemary and from us too. And of course huge thanks to Suzie for the bright idea that Re-Stash is!

Thank you also to Bev and Elizabeth - driving around the countryside and distributing via the Salvos in Whittlesea.

You can read about the Rainbow Comfort Pack drop here - thanks to Nikki for the heads up on Monica's hard work, and all your generous donations.

We also received a card from our lovely lady in Whittlesea - remember we bought her lots of new art supplies a month or so ago? She sent us a photo of the softie frog sitting on her new pink and green crocheted bed-spread, and a lovely letter. Thanks to those that were able to donate!

We've nearly gathered enough supplies for the Home-Schooling family - still time to donate if you can!

We also passed on a HUGE basket of yarn, patterns, sewing supplies and knitting needles, plus a quilt to a lovely lady who's currently living in Greensborough. Her case worker contacted us and arranged for the pick up. We had some really high quality things we were able to give her, so thanks so much for that!

We have another lady about to receive a huge box of long-stitch and canvas work supplies too - again through a relief effort case worker.

And of course, Homemade, the Handmade Help recipe book is full steam ahead and now has a print sponsor - more about that here - a HUGE team of people are working on that. Be sure to thank them!

Lots of people have helped in lots of ways - (esp Christie who has helped to transport and store the things that wouldn't fit at Mike's!) If you have helped, you are awesome. Thank you. It's not over yet, however!

A couple of other ways to help this week ::
Restash an Artist - Donate Money or Art Supplies
Fresh Sheets - Donate New Warm Bed Sheets

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help needed to restash an artist

Adele is an artist and art teacher who lost everything in the Callignee fires. She escaped from her burning home on foot and took refuge at a neighbour's where she helped save that home from destruction too.

Adele has replaced some of her craft materials because she needs them for teaching and entertaining her grandkids, but she feels she can't really spare the money for her own art. She is an oil painter and had an extensive collection of Art Spectrum oils, acrylics, easels, canvas boards etc. Some of her brushes were more than 30 years old.

I'd really like to help her get painting again - wouldn't you?

We don't have anything in the re-stash store to help Adele so we're asking for your help. You can either donate specialist supplies directly to Adele (PO Box 1619 Traralgon, 3844), or even better give us a cash donation so we can put the hard word on the art supply shop and get her a great deal. If you are able to donate even a few dollars she would really appreciate it. Just click on the button below to donate any amount you can to Adele's Art supplies.

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Re-stashing in Whittlesea and St Andrews with the Salvation Army

A big load of re-stash materials have been sent out with the help of the Salvation Army. Elizabeth and Bev have carted, sorted and distributed an amazing amount of stuff and will be going through another round in early June.

They were very pleased to have the donations on hand to give out when they were out and about helping fire affected families with the bottomless chores of paperwork and claims. It's great to see things making their way from our stores to the people who can really use them.

Thanks so much to donors and the many people who have worked hard to get goods flowing in the right directions - we're looking forward to more distributions in the near future!

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Comfort for littlies

Monica has done a lovely post about a Rainbow Comfort Pack drop in Eltham. Pop over to her blog to read it.

You can also read updates on Comfort Pack drops here, here and here .

If you know of a bushfire-affected community group with children in need of a little cheer and comfort, let us know.

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