MissionAction - Rehoboth Evangelical Lutheran Church

Mission : Action

Leslie DuPont & Shirley Radish Coordinators

In the early 1940's, a group of a dozen or so women from Rehoboth Lutheran Church met once a week in each other's homes to support the war effort. The group was then called the Ladies Aid Society and they made bedding from newspapers and cotton fabric for hospital patients.

An early photo shows these participants at home of Ruth Wagner (Eileen Myers' mother), Mabel Stewart, Anna McClirk, Ruth Feduska, Ruth Klinger (Pastor's wife), Dorothy Garrett, Eileen Myers, Rose Livingston, Emily Leibolt, Ruth Wagner and Laura Von Moos.

Later the group name was changed to "Rehoboth's Mission:Action Committee" and the tasks changed from supporting the war effort, to supporting community needs as well as those sponsored through Lutheran World Relief.

Betty Sanders, chairperson from about 1990 to 2007, has recorded many of the countless donations to Mission:Action over the past 17 years. From supporting local needs such as those of the Women's Center of Beaver County, The Veteran's Hospital, The Crisis Pregnancy Center and other local personal needs, making quilts and assembling baby layette sets that are distributed to communities thousands of miles from Economy borough through Lutheran World Relief, thsse nimble fingers and willing hearts have made the world a little better place.

In refugee camps, hospitals and villages around the world, the gifts of Lutheran World Relief layettes convey a warm welcome to newsborns and their mothers. Mission:Action celebrated a banner year in 2006 shipping 130 layettes (each comprised of two washcloths, six cloth diapers, two "onesies" and sleepers, two receiving blankets, one sweater and bars of soap) valued at about $40 a piece -- that's an amazing $5,200 in one year.

Madagascar currently does not receive aid from LWR; so, at the request of visiting missionaries, our M:A committee sent 18 quilts to the small island located off the southesat coast of Africa.

The M:A group regularly accepts donations for layettes of those items listed above. Gently used items can be substituted for new ones -- sizes 0 - 24 months. Gifts of fabric, sheets, and sheet blankets which are used in the making of quilts are welcomed. Monetary donations are very much appreciated as well; these are used to purchase items such as cloth diapers, which are difficult to find and seldom donated.

One member of M:A expressed her feelings about this group: "I feel strongly about the contributions we're making. It's good for us . . . makes us feel better inside ... spiritually!"

On any given Tuesday morning around 9:15 a.m. in the basement of Rehoboth, you'll find a dozen or so of these ladies hard at work cutting and sewing fabric which will be transformed into beautiful warm quilts for those in need. Or maybe you'll see them assembling layettes or packing items for shipment. Some opt to sew at home throughout the week.

Perhaps you've considered supporting this mission work by volunteering your time; sewng ability is not a necessity and we invite you to become a part of this awesome group of God's servants.

In 2009, 99 layettes and 73 quilts were sent to LWR. Tower of Hope in Ambridge received 36 baby quilts and 3 large quilts. 50 baby quilts were delivered to the Beaver Valley Pregnancy Center in Monaca. A special Christmas quilt was made to raffle off at Rehoboth's Annual Cookie Walk to benefit the kitchen fund.

In 2008, 123 layettes and 56 quilts were sent to LWR. Tower of Hope received 26 crib blankets. The Women's Center of Beaver County received 1 bedspread, 2 afghans, 3 blankets, and 36 baby quilts. The Pregnancy Center received 1 pillow, 1 dust ruffle and 12 onesies, shirts, and sleepers. Rehoboth members received 5 baby quilts and 6 adult quilts.

In 2007, 140 layettes and 60 quilts were sent to Lutheran World Relief. Eighteen quilts went to Madagascar. Thirty-one quilts/bedding, forty crib quilts, and clothing were given to local organizations and families.

In October of 2006, 130 layettes and 74 quilts were sent to Lutheran World Relief. Twelve quilts went directly to Africa with a visiting missionary in April. Contributions were also made to Crisis Pregnancy, the Women's Center of Beaver County, and the Veterans Hospital.

Quilting Materials Needed

The quilting ladies from the Mission:Action group are searching for quilting related materials. If you know of any rest homes, hotels/motels, hospitals, or linen supply companies in the area that could save us the sheets (for quilt backings) and light blankets (for quilt fillers) that they can no longer use, we could put them to good use. Stained (but cleaned) items can even be used as fillers, while items with holes can be cut into squares for quilt tops. We could also use bed spreads (for quilt fillers), pillow cases, and drapes. If you know of any drapery or upholstery shops (even craft, fabric, or furniture shops) that have outdated upholstery samples, we could use them to make beautiful quilts. We can also use well-washed old mattress pads for quilt fillers. We are also collecting crochet thread in any color instead of yarn to tie the quilts since it is easier to pull through the quilt layers and also will last longer and is more durable than yarn. We always accept fabric donations and request that they be cotton, cotton blend, flannel, twill, or corduroy. Please keep an eye out for these items as we try to reuse and recycle many of these useful things and in turn make them into a quilt for someone in need that brings warmth on a cold night, shelter from the sun on a hot day, a bed at night, a room divider during the day, a backpack to carry belongings, and at times even a home.

Lutheran World Relief (LWR – the organization where we send our quilts) has put out a plea for more quilts (and health kits) since the recent earthquake in Haiti. They have already sent over 30,000 quilts to Haiti from their warehouse and have depleted their stock. If you have the opportunity to help us out on Tuesday mornings from 9:15 ‘til noon, we could sure use your help. No sewing experience is necessary. We need help cutting fabric and tying the quilts. If you have the ability to sew and want to help, but can’t meet on Tuesday mornings, please see Leslie DuPont and she would be happy to provide you with fabric to cut or squares to sew together to make a quilt top. (During the month of May, the Mission Committee along with the Sunday School will focus on making the health kits which are also desperately needed).

We also accept monetary donations which we use to purchase batting and other sewing needs as well as to send the finished quilts to LWR near Windsor, MD. We typically send out our quilts once a year, but because of the increased need and plea from LWR, we will be sending out an additional shipment of quilts in the near future. Thank you for your support, and together we can make a difference.

Mission Focus - LWR - Mission:Action Group

Lutheran World Relief (LWR) - Mission:Action Group - Layettes

Our Mission:Action Group here at Rehoboth is already busy starting to prepare this year’s shipment of layettes to Lutheran World Relief. They meet Tuesday mornings starting at 9:15am until noon if you’d like to stop by and help out. Rehoboth assists this group in acquiring the necessary items for the layettes in additional to collecting money to help ship them to LWR. Would you like to help out? Here’s how you can.

1) Provide any of the items needed for the layette. They can be either new or used in good condition. Items can be placed in the Mission basket located in the narthex. Each layette needs:

Two shirts or Onesies® (or similar item)
Two gowns or sleepers (with or without feet)
Two receiving blankets
Four cloth diapers, flat fold preferred
One sweater or sweatshirt
Two washcloths
One bath-size bar (4-5 oz.) of gentle soap, in its original wrapping
Two diaper pins

TIPS

Sizes up to 24 months may be used. Consider varying the sizes of the clothing items so the layette will continue to be useful as the baby grows.
Sweaters may be knitted or crocheted from leftover yarn, or made from heavy double knits or fleece. Select a pattern that suits your skill level. Preferred styles have buttons or ties down the front. Patterns can be found on Rehoboth’s website on the Mission:Action page. Go to Ministries, then Fellowship, then Women of the ELCA, then Mission:Action.
A bolt of flannel can furnish a number of receiving blankets, diapers and gowns. A square cut the width of fabric (usually 36" or 45") easily makes a blanket. Diapers can be made by using a pinking shear to cut pieces 25" X 27" (note: this is a change in size from previous guidelines).
Use care when making blankets and diapers with flannel. It may be necessary to zigzag edges or sew a hem to prevent raveling.

2) Donate money to help cover shipment costs from Rehoboth to the LWR Warehouse in New Windsor, MD.

3) Donate money to help LWR ship the layettes to the people who need them. LWR’s approximate cost to handle and ship one LWR layette overseas is $1.10. You can donate a brick on the Good Samaritan Quilt Plaza ( http://www.lwr.org/parish/plaza.asp ) or make a contribution to the Project Comfort Fund ( http://www.lwr.org/parish/comfort.asp ) .

4) Stop by on a Tuesday morning and help to assemble the layettes. Layette items need to be wrapped in a receiving blanket and secured with the diaper pins. Then boxed up and labeled and shipped.

Who is LWR? Lutheran World Relief, an international non profit organization, works to end poverty and injustice by empowering some of the world’s most impoverished communities to help themselves. LWR seeks to promote sustainable development with justice and dignity by helping communities bring about change for healthy, safe and secure lives; promote peace and reconciliation; and respond to emergencies.

Remember us during the upcoming garage sale season. Be on the lookout for clean sleepers, receiving blankets, sweaters and jackets up to size 24 months.

Garage Sales

Attention All Shoppers!

Summertime is here and that means garage sale time again! Please remember the Women of the ELCA and the Mission Action Group when you head out to all those sales. They are in need of baby items for their LWR (Lutheran World Relief) layette mission project. We ask that you make sure the items are in CLEAN new or gently used condition (stain-free please). The sizes needed are from newborn up to 24 months/2T. Needed items:

onesies
gowns
sleepers
receiving blankets
cloth diapers
sweaters
sweatshirts
washcloths
diaper pins.

Also need for quilts:

cotton material (no polyester or jersey please)
flannel material
sheets
blankets

Monetary donations are also helpful in reducing the shipping costs for our layettes and quilts. Many thanks for all those to continue to help out and donate your items, time, and talents.

Lutheran World Relief Parish Projects

Stretch your hearts and hands across the ocean to people in need by participating in LWR Parish Projects.

By sharing tools for better health and education, you bring new hope and dignity to thousands of women, children and men throughout the world. Pencils, soap, needles and thread, quilts…these ordinary things become extraordinary when they are assembled into LWR Parish Projects and shared as gifts of love and comfort. Parish Projects include: (click on each one for more details)

Quilts
Layettes
Health Kits
School Kits
Sewing Kits
Sewing Fabric
Soap

Click here to see a report where all of the LWR Quilts and Kits went in 2008.

Click here to see a report where all of the LWR Quilts and Kits went in 2007.

Click here to see a report where all of the LWR Material Resources went in 2006.

To see Part 1 of a YouTube video of where the quilts and kits went, click here.

To see Part 2, click here.

To see Part 3, click here.

If you are interested in starting up another Parish Project that Rehoboth is currently not pursuing, please contact our Mission: Action coordinators.

Betty Sanders, Chairperson, has requested that all of you "Garage Sale" people be on the lookout for items needed for the baby layettes. each layette is required to have 2 sleepers, 2 onesies, 1 receiving blanket, 1 sweater, and 6 cloth diapers with a set of diaper pins. Also needed is flannel material to make receiving blankets and bars of soap. There is a basket in the narthex where you may place your items.

Crocheted Baby Sweater Pattern

Here is a crochet pattern for making baby sweaters. If you like to crochet, these sweaters can be donated to the Mission:Action group who will send them to needy moms across the world through a Layette Parish Project done by Lutheran World Relief.

Needle: Crochet hook size G, H, or I. (one-year size sweater = size H)

Yarn: 4-ply washable knitting worsted, about 4 oz. (fingering or sport-weight yarn also makes a nice lightweight sweater)

Yoke: Starting at the neck edge, ch 53 loosely.

R1: Dc in 4th ch from hook and in each ch (51 Dc, counting turning ch as 1 dc), ch 3, turn.

R2 thru 7: *Dc in each dc across, ch 3 turn. Inc 10 dc evenly spaced in each row (On R2 only, every 5th st)* Repeat from * through 7th row. Ch 1, turn.

R8: Sc in each dc, inc 10 sc evenly spaced, ch 1, turn. (121 st)

BODY:

R1: Sc in next 20 st, skip 24 for sleeve, sc in next 33 st for back, skip 24 for sleeve, sc in next 20 st, ch 3, turn.

R2: Dc in each st of body. Repeat for 9, 10, 11 more rows depending on the length needed. (Your needle size and yarn size determine this. Small needle, 9 rows: larger needle, 11 rows, etc.)

EDGING: Sc without breaking yarn from front, around neck and down front, break off.

SLEEVES: Starting under sleeve, attach yarn, ch 3, work dc over 24 sts, join, ch 3, turn. Repeat for 7 (8,9) rows. /t end of last row, ch 1, turn.

Next row: Sc around, dec 3 sts evenly

Next row: Sc around, dec 2 sts evenly.

Next row: Sc around. End. Repeat for 2nd sleeve.

FINISHING: Crochet a chain 34" long. Weave through neck edge for tie.

Here are a few links to other baby sweater patterns:

Easy Crochet Baby Sweater Pattern (2nd pattern down on page)

Easy Baby Sweater (Lion Brand Yarn)

Wrap Sweater

Crochet Sweater

Cardigan Sweater