Providing handmade items of
care and comfort to people in need
established 2000
13 Genesee Street Mount Morris, NY USA 14510
585-300-6289
Our Mission
Rooted in our love of handiwork, and our concern for others, our work provides handmade items that offer care and comfort to people in need of emotional, physical or spiritual care. We distribute our finished items through agencies and to referred individuals.
Our meetings provide a supportive and encouraging place for members to learn and practice their skills and creativity.
Background
The Handiwork Ministry has its roots in an informal group that met at St. Agnes Church, Avon, NY in March 2000. The group began by evaluating skills, assessing community needs, taking stock of supplies and individual commitments of time.
The group is not denominational. Church affiliation is not required for membership. We do ask that members have an appreciation of handiwork and have a desire to be of service to other people. We supply yarn and accessories. We do not not solicit monetary donations and we do not sell our handmade items.
Membership People of all skill levels, including beginners, use donated supplies to make projects. Also needed are people to sort yarn, launder and package finished items, and deliver to locations in our communities, usually twice a year. Anyone with a desire to be of service to the community is invited to visit or join.
Attendance is not mandatory, but we hope members will come as often as possible, as the presence of each person allows us to create a supportive atmosphere. Some of our members work only from home. As outreach has grown to include southern Livingston and northern Steuben counties in WNY, and some national sites, we need more helping hands. As you read more, please consider joining us.
We have also been blessed with many "long distance" members from all over the United States, including Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. We have a few international members as well. We encourage anyone with a desire to stitch and be of service to join us in our work. Just email us for a member packet or fill out the contact form at the end of this page. It will give information about the projects we make and how to reach us.
Long Distance Help For Stitchers
For those of you who are just beginning to knit or those who would like to feel supported in what they already know, we suggest: www.knittinghelp.com, online video. You can also try www.knitpicks.com for their tutorials. They offer lots of help for techniques as well as for their projects. They are a great source for yarns and needles too as is Lion Brand Yarn's website www.lionbrand.com. Cross Stitchers can go to www.yarntree,com for a 5 minute video that teaches this technique. As with any skill, good results requires practice. Be realistic in your expectations, and remember, even if every stitch is not perfect, the love behind your stitching is!
Projects
We are always open to learning about new projects. Whether or not to proceed with a project is determined after considering the skills needed, required materials, and how the project benefits the community. Our commitment to a project is evaluated using member and agency input. The items we make include, but are not limited to, shawls, afghans, quilts, slippers, hats, mittens, totes, mastectomy pillows, walker bags, and hot/cold packs. In addition to these ongoing projects, we choose a "focus project" to work on at our group meetings in WNY. We also encourage members who are not affiliated with a group meeting to participate. For 2011 we are making baptismal shawls to share with the varous churches who host our meetings. More information on this project can be found on the pattern page.
Newsletter
We will gladly send you a reminder when the newsletter is ready. Please supply us with your email address. And, remember, if that address changes, be sure to provide us a new address so you don't miss an issue!
Education
The Handiwork Ministry teaches skills and provides instructions for our projects. Each group of volunteers is encouraged to maintain its own pattern library. This site offers a pattern page, which shows a few of the patterns we use.
We also provide speakers to any group that would like to learn more about our work, or would like to learn basic skills, such as scout and 4-H groups.
Donations
As we do not solicit monetary donations our work depends on gifts of donated materials. The items we create are made from cotton or synthetic yarn (full skeins to small balls) and cotton or cotton/blend fabric (in one yard increments-small pieces are rarely used) and cord for stringing bags. We also use plastic food storage bags, clear recycling bags and wide cellophane tape for packaging. Postage stamps and most office supplies such as copying paper, envelopes (6x9"), permanent makers and labels are helpful. Items may be left at one of our meeting sites, mailed or call or email to make other arrangements.
Meetings For 2010-11
Rochester, NY Region
Avon, NY
St. Agnes Church Office 108 Prospect St.
(Use walk between garage & white office
building, rear entrance, ground level.)
Katy Heneghan, Volunteer Coordinator
Jan.-Oct. Monthly, Last Wed.
Nov. & Dec. 3rd Wed. 7 PM
Dansville, NY
Holy Family Faith Community
St. Mary's Church Annex 41 Elizabeth St.
(Diagonally across from church, on NW corner of instersection.)
Angel Woodworth and Amber Flanagan, Volunteer Coordinators
Jan.-Oct. Monthly, 4th Thurs.
Nov. & Dec. 3rd Thurs. 7 PM
Rochester, NY
Episcopal SeniorLife Communities at Brentland Woods
3831 E. Henrietta Rd., Henrietta, NY
(Use side street by Peter's Episcopal Church, which
leads to parking area and building's main entrance.)
Kim Rivera, Volunteer Coordinator
The group is open to ESLC residents and residents of the
greater communtiy as well.
Jan. - Dec. 3rd Monthly Thursday 10 Am - 12 Noon
Other Meeting Sites
Ringgold Church of Christ
Hagerstown, MD
Cathy Bumbaugh, Volunteer Coordinator
Watch for developments on our upcoming sites in Naples, NY and New South Wales, Australia
The HANDIIWORK MINISTRY BOOK
A written plan for sharing this ministry is now available It includes a binder with practical tips and guidance (from many years of ministry experience) for establishing a group in your area. It arrives with a supply of brochures, contact cards, mini posters, welcome member cards, cards to label your finished projects and more.
The book and materials is over $200 in value and is available for a donation of $49 (shipping included-international destinations please consider donating $10 extra to cover the increased shipping charges). Arrangements can also be made to pick the kit up if you are near our office.
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The People We Help We are always open to learning about the needs of others. In the past we have helped people through skilled nursing and rehabilitation centers, assisted living centers, treatment & support programs for people living with cancer, maternity departments, pregnancy and parenting support groups, children's
/families' support agencies, domestic violence programs, US military troops, and pet adoption programs.
Since 2000, we've helped about 3,000 people locally and nationally. Most items are distributed through agencies, and some are given directly to referred individuals. Below is a listing of
agencies we've helped in the last 10 years:
NEW YORK
Genesee County
Batavia - All Babies Cherished, Salvation Army, NYS Veterans' Home, United Memorial Hospital, YWCA
LeRoy - The Greens Asst. Living, The Heritage Nursing Home, Village
Green Nursing & Rehab
Livingston County
Avon - Avon nursing Home, St. Agnes Church & School, Avon Elementary School, Circle Nursery School
Coneseus - Animal Rescue Ranch
Dansville - Noyes Hospital Maternity, Oncology & First Steps Parenting Program, King's Daughters & Sons Home
Geneseo - Chances & Changes, Teresa House
Mt. Morris - Faith in Action; County Nursing Home, Hospice, & Visiting Nurse
Monroe County
Rochester - Gilda's Club; Birthright; Highland Hospital Maternity, Oncology, & A Woman's Place; Hillside Children's Ctr.; Unity Health System Maternity & Oncology; Rochester General Hospital Lipson Cancer Ctr. & Maternity; University of Rochester Medical Center Maternity & Oncology, Gollisano Children's Hospital; St. Joseph's Villa; Salvation Army; Woodcrest Nursing Home; Humane Society Lollypop Farm.
Ontario County
Canandaigua - F. F. Thompson Hospital Maternity & Interlakes Oncology
Steuben County
Bath-Steuben County Catholic Charities
Perkinsville - Kinship Adult Home
Wayland - Wayland-Cohocton Pre-school
Hornell - Kinship Children's & Adult Homes
Wayland/Cohocton - Wayland-Cohocton Animal Shelter
Wyoming County
Warsaw - Wyoming Co. Hospital & Skilled Nursing Home
Illinois
Chicago-Cancer Treatment Centers of America
South Dakota
Chamberlin-St. Joseph Indian School
Utah
Navajo Reservation-Navajo Elders Project
OUR LOGO
The butterfly, gentle in its touch and flight, has long been a symbol of change and new life. It is hoped that our work brings both to the people we serve.
THM WEAR & SUPPORT MATERIALS
The HANDIWORK MINISTRY now offers tote bags, t-shirts and hats, all with our distinctive logos! We offer the items for a "donation". In this way, there is no tax or shipping charges. Shipping times vary, but most are available in two weeks. Choose the product and the logo you like and be sure to include the size for totes and shirts (hats are adjustable). Just follow these steps:
Choose the product:
1. TOTE BAG: 100% natural cotton bag
a. 19x15x6" black handles & bottom donation of $22
b. 19x15x6" all natural color donation of $16
c. 14x14x3" all natural color donation of $12
2. T-SHIRT
a. Short sleeve, 100% preshrunk cotton, white, w/logo choice
1). small, medium, large, x-large donation of $12
2). xx-large donation of $14
b. Long Sleeve, 100% preshrunk cotton, white w/logo choice
1). small, medium, large, x-large suggested donation of $20
2). xx-large donation of $22
(shirts in gray are available for a donation of $3 more)
3. HAT
Cotton, white w/choice of logo, adjustable band
(this hat is similar to a lady's golf cap) donation of $12
4. THM MANUAL & KIT
A written plan for sharing this ministry includes a binder with practical tips and guidance brochures, contact cards, mini posters, welcome member cards, cards to label finished projects and more. This kit is over $200 in value and is available for a donation of $35 and can be shipped to you for $10.50 (USPS rates-added fee could apply for overseas shipping). Arrangements can also be made to pick the kit up if you are near our office.
Choose the design:
(designs appear above on this page)
1. Ball of yarn
2. Helping someone-2 figures
3. Butterfly (pictures appear above)
Order:
Write your order on plain paper, including your name, postal mailing address, with check or money order made out to
M. Flanagan for THM. Be sure to include your email or phone number in case we have any questions about the order. Mail to:
The Handiwork Ministry
13 Genesee Street
Mount Morris, New York 14510
OUR VOLUNTEER STAFF
Ministry Coordinator - Julie Flanagan
Volunteer Coordinators:
Avon, NY - Katy Heneghan
Henrietta, NY (Rochester, NY/ESLC) - Kim Rivera
Dansville, NY- Angel Woodworth & Amber Flanagan
Packaging Coordinator - Dora Williams
Delivery Coordinator - Arden Flanagan
Please call or write to us:
Phone: (585) 300-6289
Mailing Address: The Handiwork Ministry
13 Genesee Street
Mount Morris, NY 14510
(please do not use other addresses, as we cannot pay
postal forwarding charges to obtain your package)
E-mail: thehandiworkministry@yahoo.com
email or website to write to us.
To learn more about The HANDIWORK MINISTRY or to become a member, please complete the form below. If joining, a coordinator will email you to welcome you to our group. Please be sure you provide a postal mailing address when you write so we can send a member packet.
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If you are calling to make a request on behalf of an agency or individual, please be sure we have adequate information to consider your request, and to contact you with any questions.
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If you are responding to an evaluation, please leave the answers to these questions in the comment box:
1. Are the items we gave you helpful to the people you serve?
2. Is there anything else that would be helpful to the people you serve (that we are able to make)?
3. Are you willing to display a mini poster or our cards so that we can spread news of our ministry)?
Thank you! Your information has been submitted successfully.
There was an error submitting the form.
Your comments are important to us and we appreciate the time you took to write. We attempt to answer our emails daily. If you do not receive a reply in what seems to be a reasonable length of time to you, we invite you to contact us again.
All TEXT Copyright 2011 The Handiwork Ministry/Julie Flanagan except where noted by contributing source. Graphics by VISTAPRINT website support.
