my mother needed
six units to live, life blood,
passing it forward
life blood by Angie Quantrell
In honor of the Red Cross and the work they do to provide a safe blood supply and help in emergency and disaster situations,
Go. Give today.
p.s. Give, even if, for the second time in a row, one has to go back and lay down on the extra bed and drink oj and be waited on until the lightheadedness gies away.
By Angie Quantrell
Refugees.
I realize this is a hot, politically heavy topic. But I want to skip the controversy and go straight to a response.
Humans. Babies, toddlers, children, teens, adults. Moms, dads, children, grandpas, grammas, aunts, uncles, friends. In other words, people.
An article I wrote about making space for relationships (with refugees and other community members) is in the March issue of Missions Mosaic. You can also read the article online here.
(Search for the article title, “Make It Personal: Build Relationships with Refugees.”)
I’ve been researching the refugee crisis for various writing contracts. And while I am in no way an expert, even I can see that refugees need our help. We can’t all travel to refugee camps and help on site. But we can keep our eyes open and alert to seeing refugees (internationals) in our communities.
What to do then? Gently, kindly extend a hand of friendship. No bulls in a China shop approach. But with a humble heart, coming from a sincere desire to help – reach out. Offer assistance. Open the door. Smile. Let your children play together. Help at the grocery store or post office. Take time to explain something confusing. At the least, make eye contact and say hello. Every little effort is worth the awkwardness and uncertainty we might experience. Think of it as making new friends. There. That helps, doesn’t it?
We can do it. I can do it. Join me?
As I was recently pouring cream into my coffee, adding just enough until the creamy clouds billowed up to the top breaking the surface of enticing black, I remembered my Papa. He liked his coffee the same way, at least when I was serving. I realized that I had adopted the same habit and method of adding cream to my coffee.
“Just pour it in until it swirls back up,” he told me. For the coffee was always hot or brewing at Grandma and Papa’s, usually available with some choice of sweet dessert. And evaporated milk, punctured open and sitting beside the sugar bowl, was ever at the ready.
Now my personal choice is half and half. But back then, that little red and white can was perfectly fine. Because we were sipping our brew together and catching up on the news of the day.
Cone on over and we’ll have coffee. Just like Papa.
Wrapped in Love was a cozy success.
Project stats:
~ 9 adults (including 1 teen) traveled to Landmark Care Facility
~ over 150 items were made or purchased and given to Wrapped in Love
~ 2 utility carts + 1 red wagon hauled goodies up and down the hallways, in and out of rooms
~ between 80-85 residents accepted a warm cozy item; a few were convinced to take matching items, ornaments, or bookmarks
~ 1.5 hours spent visiting residents and distributing gifts
~ at least 1 case of joyful tears from a resident who had no one to visit her, accompanied by the tears of volunteers
~ one 67th anniversary celebrated with family members of a husband and wife sharing a room
~ too-many-to-count hugs and Christmas greetings
~ 3 = number of volunteers who missed the photo op
~ buckets of smiles
~ 1 grouchy guy who didn’t want more stuff (at least he was honest)
~ several residents who already had gifts and visits from family urged us to give the goods to others who had nothing
~ 30 minutes to set-up conference table with donations before loading carts
~ 3 = # of times teen willingly gave up own hat (and replacement) to residents
~ many treat sacks and bags of carmel corn were given to staff members
~ remaining gifts were left for staff members to choose from and to be put in a storage closet for new residents who arrive with nothing
~ numerous volunteers donating supplies and completed projects
~ hours, days, and weeks spent knitting, crocheting, and creating items
~ joy > hours sacrificed on Christmas Day
Thank you, volunteers! All of you who helped in any way were a part of our Christmas Day visit to senior residents at Landmark.
Thank you!
Love, Laughter, and Life 