Volunteer Opportunities

Exiting Announcement:

We have very exciting news to share with you! Within the next several weeks, we will be evolving from being a chapter of a national organization to being an independent non-profit organization all on our own. To make a long story short, throughout the last year, the board of our chapter became very concerned about the financial health and the managerial turmoil at the national level of the Newborns in Need organization. Our chief worry was that events over which we had no control, occurring several hundreds of miles away, would compromise our ability to continue to care for babies in our local area. After much research, discussion, and even legal consultation, we made the decision to start our own independent, truly local organization called Neighbors Helping Newborns.

The new organization will perform the same activities as the old organization. Just as we have done for the last seven years, Neighbors Helping Newborns will provide necessities and comfort to premature and newborn babies at hospitals in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. In fact, we hope that, unless the new logo catches their attention, the hospitals we serve might not even notice our new status. We are committed to making the transition from one organization to another as seamless as possible.

One of the ways that we hope to accomplish that is by relying on our tried-and-true team of volunteers. So we hope that you are as excited as we are to help build a new independent local organization that will focus both funds and volunteer energies right here in the local community!

Urgent needs:

~ All size Angel gowns.

~ Medium and Large T’s.
If you make some “t’s” remember you don’t need to worry about the snaps.
We have a volunteer to put them on for us. (Thanks Sue)

We still need all the other items we make as well, but these are the ones that our “stock” is lowest in.

Angel Day:

On Tuesday May 20th we will be at the Pine Tree Quilt shop in Salem NH. Dina has generously donated the classroom
to us from 1 – 5 pm. There is no cost and we will provide all the supplies. Just bring your machine, sewing supplies
and white thread. If you will be joining us please call the shop and put your name on the list. (603-870-8100)

All are welcome. Those who are familiar with the pattern and those who want to learn.
Come spend a few hours with us and make a difference in someone’s life.

We look forward to seeing many of you!

New Pattern:

This item is being requested by Dartmouth. But our hope is that we have enough to offer to all the NICU’s
we donate to. It is a great way to use up small bits of flannel. It is critical that one side be a solid.
Sometimes too much color and pattern overloads the babies, so they like to option of using the solid.

Instructions/Specs for “Lovies”

Thank you for offering to help make “lovies”, something the Breastfeeding Peer Mentor Program at the
Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth came up with to help moms feel more attached and bonded to their baby or babies
while they are in the ICN. We are hoping that the lovies will not only promote bonding between mom and babe,
but also help support and promote pumping/breastfeeding while in the ICN.

Materials:

Soft flannel in pastel solids and muted prints (best to choose muted fabrics from a developmental standpoint).
JoAnn’s Fabric carries a line of “Snuggle Flannel” that is especially soft.
These “lovies” go underneath the baby, so it’s important to have a soft flannel.

Cut 10” squares, one in a solid and one in a print.
Sew with a 1/2” or 5/8” seam, right sides together and leave about a 2 or 3” opening on one side.
Clip corners and turn inside out. Press well.
No need to slipstitch the opening - just use a decorative stitch or zigzag around the edges.
Done! :)

Our recommendation is that you not use pins as you sew the lovies
the flannel “sticks” together by itself quite well
we don’t want to run the risk of leaving a pin in the lovies by mistake!

The Angel Network

Embroiderer's Needed: The NH Foster Kid Quilt Project - "The Angel Network" - needs more quilt labels!! Jill has been stitching them out at the store but their need is growing faster than she can stitch! These labels have been specifically digitized for their organization. They should be embroidered on 100% white cotton in bright colored threads. If you have an embroidery machine and would like to stitch some out for them, please email Jill at 603-431-9922.  Please put "Angel Network" in the subject line and she will email you the different files used for the labels.

Completed labels can be dropped off or mailed to:
Merri Stitches, 72 Mirona Road, Suite 15, Portsmouth NH 03801

Any questions? Call Jill at 603-431-9922. 

Hands to Work, Hearts to God:
Crafting Care and Comfort at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital 

The chaplain at Wentworth-Douglass, Elsa Worth, has invited all the caring sewers and knitters at Merri Stitches to consider reaching out to hospital patients in a special new way.  The chaplain is putting together a "Care Cart" for patients who are at the end of their lives.  The cart is envisioned to be a resource and help for patients, staff and family in making the transition into death at the hospital a dignified and beautiful experience.

Several times throughout the year, very ill patients that have only a short time to live will decide, with the help of their families, that they are ready to discontinue their heroic treatments and want to allow death to come naturally.  If they are strong enough, they can be referred to hospice so that they can be at home.  However, if a patient is only hours or days away from death, the staff will care for them and their family through the end of their life right in the hospital.  The care cart has been designed for these patients and their families.  The cart will contain helpful items for the family, including such things as good Kleenex, bottles of water, snacks, bereavement resources, disposable cameras, etc.  There might also be writing and journaling materials, and art or scrap booking supplies.  The cart will also contain items to make the room more comforting and homey - like a CD player with a selection of music, lamps to shed warm light, and nightgowns or nightshirts to be put onto the patient instead of hospital johnnies.

One special touch that the chaplain would like to add to the cart would be some handmade shawls, blankets or quilts that can be placed over the patient and then could be taken home by the family after the patient has died.  Elsa has heard about the compassionate sewers at Merri Stitches, and has invited us to donate to this worthy cause.  Quilts and blankets in adult colors appropriate for either men or women from small lap size (36x48) up to a maximum of 40-55 inches would be warmly welcomed.

Please bring your donations to Merri Stitches and let us know that they are for the "WDH Care Cart".  Please also include your name and address so that Elsa can thank you personally for your generous donation of care and comfort.

Dear Merri Stitches Sewers,

I have been both touched and amazed at the remarkable generosity shown to Wentworth Douglass Hospital's Care Cart program. Thank you to everyone who has donated some hand crafted love & care to our patients in need.

In faith,
Elsa Worth, Chaplain"