Sunday, March 12, 2017

Hands2Help - Time To Sign Up! And A Giveaway!!




"What does love look like?
It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.
That is what love looks like."

Hi, all!

Things are all falling into place for this year's Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  I'm so excited to get this started!


2017 represents the seventh year of the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  We've had an amazing six years...

2011:  47 quilters made 60 quilts
2012:  55 quilters made 94 quilts
2013:  65 quilters made 127 quilts
2014:  70 quilters made 145 quilts
2015:  67 quilters made 147 quilts
2016:  104 quilters made 194 quilts

I can’t wait to see what the seventh year of the Challenge has in store - so let’s begin!

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This year we have several great charities to choose from!  No matter what size quilt you like to make, I'm sure you'll find a perfect fit (or more!)  Here's some info about this year's charities...


Charity #1 - International Institute St. Louis

With all that has been in the news recently regarding refugees, there has been a lot of interest in making quilts for a refugee resettlement group.  A tip from a blog reader led me to the International Institute St. Louis.  The following is from their website...

The International Institute is St. Louis’ welcoming center for new Americans. Our mission is to help immigrants and their families become productive Americans and champion ethnic diversity as a cultural and economic strength. 

We provide essential community integration services to more than 7,500 immigrants and refugees from 80 countries each year. Our clients range from low-skilled to high-skilled and from non-literate to university-educated. Many are refugees who have fled war-torn countries around the world. We also work to build connections between foreign-born and long-time residents....

Together, we can improve lives and help strengthen the St. Louis region.

When refugees arrive in America, they often come with little more than the clothes on their backs.  I have spoken with their office and, among other things, they are in need of twin size quilts (approximately 65" x 88") to be given to families being settled in the St. Louis area.  They requested no religious symbolism, but said that anything patriotic or seasonal themed, such as snowflakes or flowers, were particularly appreciated.  They are also a 501(c)(3) organization, so if you are in need of a charitable donation letter, they can provide this upon receipt of your quilt(s).

Charity #2 - Happy Chemo!


Once again, Emily of Em's Scrap Bag will be collecting quilts to be donated to people undergoing chemotherapy.  This has been a favorite charity for the Challenge since the second year, and a whole lot of love and comfort has gone to them in the form of quilts over the past five years.  Emily accepts quilts of all sizes, from 48" square to twin size (approximately 65" x 88").  
   
      


Charity #3 - Camp Hobe via Stash Builder Box

Stash Builder Box is the brainchild of Amanda Kelly, and has a unique purpose (beyond building up your stash!)  Yes, you receive a great box of fabric and goodies each month, but in addition, 20% of the cost of your box goes to provide quilts for specific children's charities.  The charities change each three months, spreading the love around.  Amanda coordinates a team of HeartBuilders who take the supplies she sends and turns them into beautiful tops and finished quilts.  

She also accepts donations of completed quilts, so this year as part of the Hands2Help Challenge, you can choose to make quilts for this quarter's charity, which is Camp Hobe, a special summer camp experience for children currently being treated for cancer and their siblings.  Their mission is to create an atmosphere that enhances self-esteem, fosters independence and friendships, and creates a sense of belonging.

Your quilts for Camp Hobe should be at least 45" x 60" and geared towards children ages six and older.

NOTE:  If your quilt(s) arrive too late to make the Camp Hobe donation, they will be placed in the donation for the next quarter's charity, so if you especially want your quilt to go to Camp Hobe, be sure to send it early!


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With a variety of charities to choose from this year, you can make a wide variety of sizes and styles of quilts - something for everyone!! And if you're torn between the charities, feel free to make more than one quilt!  Just think how many wonderful designs you can try.... 😜

And this year, to allow more international participants, if you live outside North America and want to participate, you can send your quilt top and back to me and I will quilt it for you, to save you from having to pay huge international postage to ship a finished quilt.  Or in the alternative, you can choose a local charitable cause to give your quilt to.  So come on and join in, all you Canadians, Aussies, Brits, and Kiwis!  And anyone else who wants to join in!  


Here's the calendar for this year's Hands2Help Challenge:


Initial signups will be Sunday March 12th through Saturday, March 18th.  You will receive one entry for signing up, and can get additional entries for putting the button on your blog sidebar, and/or posting about the challenge to encourage others to join in!  (You can sign up after March 18th, but this is the period to sign up to be part of the signup giveaway.)  If you signed up early, you're good - and you'll be included in the giveaway!

The following Sunday, March 19th, we'll announce the winners of the signup giveaway.  

On Sunday, March 26th, there will be a linky party where you can post links to your favorite on-line tutorials!  It could be a tutorial for a quilt pattern, or a technique like machine binding, or even a recipe for your favorite "while-I'm-quilting" snack or crock-pot meal!  You don't have to write the tutorial, you can link up to another blogger's tutorial.  If you love it, someone else might too!

Sunday, April 2rd, you'll Meet The Sponsors!  So many generous people have stepped up to provide giveaways for all of you fabulous H2Hers, and I'm sure you'll want to see who they all are - and maybe even do a little shopping for the challenge with them!  And if you know of someone who wants to help a good cause, we're always up for more sponsors...

And then there's the guest bloggers!  You will definitely want to be here on April 9th, April 16th, April 23thApril 30thMay 7th, and May 14th as we get to peek into the creative lives of some of our fellow H2Hers!  

There will also be check-in dates like last year, when you can link up and show your progress....  April 16th and May 7th.

Quilts should be completed by the week beginning Sunday, May 21st.  There will be a linky party (May 21st through May 27th) to link your finished quilt and show it off, and giveaways for people who link up their quilts.  We've got some great sponsors this year!  Winners will be announced on May 28th.

Quilts should be mailed to the appropriate charity by Friday, June 2nd.

NOTE:  The schedule will always be available under the Hands2Help Pages tab located at the top of my blog header if you lose track of your dates!

And did I mention a GIVEAWAY?  Yes, I did!!  The wonderful folks at Free Spirit Fabrics gave us some beautiful fabric for Hands2Help, and I've selected this lovely jelly roll...




... to give to one lucky early-adopter - so if you sign up before Saturday 3/18 at 6 pm CST, your name will be thrown in the hat!  This lovely jelly roll is Splendor by Amy Butler - and the colors are amazing!!!  The winner will be announced next Sunday, March 19th.

Woohoo!!  Let's get started!!  Please fill in the form below to be officially signed up. Place your cursor in the box below, scroll down to see all the fields to enter, then click SUBMIT and you'll be all set! (You'll see a message "Your Response Has Been Recorded" when you are finished.)  I'd love for you to leave a comment, too (just because it makes me happy!)




Hugs!

Sarah



If you'd like to read about the previous Hands2Help Challenges, click here and scroll back through the posts!

PS - if you've commented on any of the H2H posts and you haven't heard back from me, you are probably a "no-reply" blogger!  Check here for instructions on how to correct this problem, or leave your e-mail address in your comment so that I can reach you!  If you don't feel comfortable leaving your e-mail address out in public, you can e-mail me directly at salliesue57(at)gmail(dot)com.

77 comments:

  1. Made out the form to register. I have the button on my sidebar and will have a post up today.

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  2. Filled out the form, button is on my sidebar. Thank you.

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  3. So is it OK to sign up to give to a local charity even if you live in the United States? I hate paying postage(I'd rather buy fabric and make more!).

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  4. I filled out the form, and will blog about it early this week. And I'll put your button on my side bar. Thanks Sarah!

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  5. Hi Sarah, I'd like to sign up but I'm not getting the form. Looks like a header for the form and one sentence and then a line that says *required (in red)

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    1. Hi, I'm sure Sarah will respond but I thought I'd offer some help too. There is a scroll bar inside the section you see with the header and sentence. Position your cursor inside that secion and scroll down to see the rest of the form. :-)

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  6. Yay! All signed up! Look for a couple quilts from me this year. Thank you for hosting this event--I know it takes all kinds of hours behind the scenes.

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  7. I'm registered. Happy to help. Now I have to see which WIPs I can finish. And figure out how to get on Instagram this year. I need a teenager.
    Pat

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  8. I registered a few weeks ago (didn't read all the instructions back then!) and I've posted the button to my sidebar. Will write a post about it next week...can't wait to get started!

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    1. posted to my blog: https://artisticsharon1216.wordpress.com/2017/03/13/hands2help-charity-challenge/

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  9. A fun start :-)
    I have signed up and posted the button on my blog. I will post later this week showing the pictures of the Supernova I'm making. I just about used up all my orange :-)

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  10. Hi Sarah, I can't believe it's that time of year again. It has flown by. I'm in and have filled out the form and have the button on my side bar. Thanks for all you do!!!

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  11. Signed up and have button on my blog. Hope you do well this year again.

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  12. I'm all signed up and ready to go. The button is on my blog and I'll link to this post each time I post this next week. Here's to another great year!

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  13. Formed filled out and ready to go as well. Looking forward to this ...

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  14. I'm registered! And I managed to get the button on my blog. And I've blogged about this and will do more as I proceed with making my quilt. Thanks for organizing this, Sarah. I think the charities you chose are wonderful.

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  15. So excited to get busy on these quilts! I've been working on ideas...now to finalize my selections and get busy. Thanks, Sarah!

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  16. Hi Sarah. I filled out the form. Will work on the rest in a while.

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  17. I registered. As last year, I will donate to a local charity. Thanks for hosting and organizing.

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  18. I'm signed up, will put the button on the blog momentarily, and will mention it in a post sooner or later. Thanks for pulling this together another year and for some new recipient charities.

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  19. I can't get the registration box to work. I have had the button up for months now, and I have blogged about the QAL on my last 3 blogs...

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  20. Can I sign up if I don't have a blog?

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    1. Yes ma'am, you can! I can't respond directly to you because you are a no-reply blogger, but hopefully others with the same question will see this and be informed too!

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  21. Oops - I mean your comment comes to me with no email address attached!

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  22. 95th time is the charm! I registered!
    Hugs

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  23. I've registered, placed the button on my sidebar and going to write a quick post about it now. I'll also share something on IG. Thanks for organizing this once again, Sarah!

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  24. I'm registered and have a quilt started in anticipation of this project. This year I will save postage and donate locally. Thanks for organizing such a worthy event.

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  25. I am signed up. Let the fun begin.

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  26. I'm registered and badge has been up for awhile. picking out fabric for Camp Hobe and one for Emily again. Do you know the cutoff day for it to be mailed to the Camp Hobe in time? Will post to help spread word of the challenge tomorrow.

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  27. I'm registered and I've added the badge to my blog. I'm trying to decide what to do now!

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  28. Ok, I filled out the form and I (think) I put the button on my blog. Haven't done a button before, so not sure if I did it right?

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  29. Done. I've signed up. Now I'm off to put the button on my blog.

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  30. I signed up earlier this morning, I was in a hurry then and didn't see you also wanted an email. I plan to give at least 1 quilt for each charity.

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  31. I'm all signed up! I really enjoyed this challenge last year, looking forward to this year! Thanks so much for hosting and connecting us with these great organizations!

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  32. Question: I have a quilt that I finished last month, that I think would be great for 'Camp Hobo'. Could I send that along too? It wouldn't officially be a 'new finish'...

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  33. All right!!! Let's get this party started! I'm ready to have my hands helping...can you see my jazz hands through your screen? :)

    I'm putting the button on my sidebar tonight and will blog about it later in the week when I get back from my nephew's wedding.

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  34. Oh I forgot to comment here. I already signed up, and added the button to my blog. Working on my quilt :)

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  35. Form filled in, button on sidebar. As last year I will be donating to Ronald MacDonald House locally.

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  36. I signed up but did'nt get the message the it worked.

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  37. Form doesn't work for me. Form extends into sidebar and scroll bar on side of form is covered by a craftsy ad.

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    1. Ok, whatever you did to fix worked. I'm signed up now (I think) plus I added the button to my blog.

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  38. First time joining in. Excited to be a part of this great event!

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  39. I've registered and added the button, looking forward to making some cozy comforts!

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  40. This is my first time joining. I may mail a quilt to your charities, but I mostly donate locally.

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    1. So happy to have you as part of the Challenge, Annie! I don't see your entry on the list yet, and you are a no-reply blogger, so this is the only way I have to reach you. Please be sure to fill out the sign-up form so I have your contact info!

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  41. Sarah, I'm so excited about Helping Hands!

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    1. That's wonderful, DeeDee! You are coming through my email as a no-reply blogger, so please contact me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com so I can be sure you've filled out the sign-up form! I don't see a DeeDee on there right now, and that form gives me your contact info so I can find you for giveaways!

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  42. I'm another DeeDee! I started a blog yesterday after reading about H2H and I've got the button in my sidebar. I'm excited to make a charity quilt!

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  43. I have been so excited to be a part of H2H. Your star quilts brought lots of inspiration for me. Sadly this week was a rough one that left me with a broken knee. I will watch at the sidelines and cheer others on, instead of participating.

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  44. Hi Sarah. Just loaded your graphic into my sidebar! Yay!! http://creativecrazygirl.blogspot.com/

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  46. Thanks for all you do....was referred here by Susan at Desert Sky Quilts and happy to be here.

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  47. I have registered. Time to plan what I will make!

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  48. Filled out the form and posted info about the challenge to my blog. Maximum Creations@blogspot.com

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  49. So happy to be a part of this again this year. I already have some quilts finished for this I just need to see which charity they fit into the best for size and such. I have some super cute Dick & Jane fabric that I will use to make a quilt for Camp Hobe. I love that you do this Sarah!!!! Thank you!!!

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  50. Just signed up and will post on my blog on Saturday. I love making charity quilts and so glad to be a part of this endeavor!

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  51. I signed up and have a post up with the button. I am so happy to be able to join this year.

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  52. I am so excited about this!!! Thanks so very much for spearheading such an awesome way to give back. I just signed up!!

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  53. Thanks for coordinating the quilt drive again this year. I have added the button to my sidebar. https://busyhandsquilts.blogspot.com/

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  54. All signed up and ready to SEW! Hoping for another great year for H2H.

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  55. I blogged about it today:
    http://new2quilting.blogspot.com/2017/03/h2h-2017.html

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  56. I've got the button on my sidebar. http://new2quilting.blogspot.com/2017/03/h2h-2017.html

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  57. I've not heard of this before, what a great idea! I have a question - do you have any longarmers who donate quilting of finished tops for this? I don't "quilt", just piece and I have a couple of finished tops but it gets expensive to have them quilted at my LQS. Thanks!

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    1. I'm afraid you are a no-reply blogger, but if you'll email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com, I'll be glad to answer your question!

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  58. Whew! I almost missed sign-ups! I added the badge to my blog and will create a post this morning. THANKS for continuing to organize this event Sarah! It's one of my favorites!! V:) PS: I'll be creating for Happy Chemo.

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    1. Hi Sarah...I found the PERFEcT quilt for Camp Hobe instead and just need to get it quilted. What is the deadline??

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  59. Count me in! I love donating to Happy Chemo--I missed last year due to my own crappy health, but I am better and will donate a quilt for sure.

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  60. Got my blog post up today. This event is great encouragement! https://heartscreations.com/2017/03/18/too-ambitious-i-hope-not/ heartscreations@outlook.com

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  61. Signed up and have posted about it on my Instagram

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  62. Signed up earlier this week, and also told a friend about it!

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  63. Signed up earlier this week, and also told a friend about it!

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  64. Signed up earlier this week, and also told a friend about it!

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  65. I have a couple of quilts and tops made by a dear friend who passed a few years ago from cancer. I am going to put labels from her on them and forward to one of the charities. She would like that. Thank you for that opportunity. Hugz:)

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Comments make me smile!! If you want a PDF of a pattern, PLEASE leave your email address in your comment, or email me directly at salliesue57 (at) gmail (dot) com!