Monday, January 7, 2019

YCPO - January 2019


January 2019 Young Children Newsletter

Happy New Year everyone!

PROJECT LINUS...a great project idea!

What is Project Linus?

Project Linus National Headquarters is located in Belton, Missouri. National President Patty Gregory and Vice President Mary Balagna direct and orchestrate the activities of Project Linus chapters located across the United States. Patty has been involved with the organization in the Kansas City area since April 2000 and Mary in Central Illinois since late 1998, as chapter coordinators and now as directors and officers. Mary also maintains a very busy chapter, donating an average of 350 blankets every month to local children. With chapters in all 50 states, Project Linus continues to grow. Blankets are collected locally and distributed to children in hospitals, shelters, social service agencies, or anywhere that a child might be in need of a big hug.

MISSION
•                   FIRST
Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
•                   SECOND
Provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Chapter Listings
http://www.projectlinus.org/volunteer/volunteer.php?StateKey=CAhttp://

To find a local chapter in your area where you can donate blankets, volunteer your time, etc. just click on your state. All chapter coordinators and their contact information for that state will then be listed below the map.
DONATING BLANKETS & OTHER ITEMS
The demand for blankets always exists and our chapter coordinators welcome finished blanket donations. Hospitals always appreciate no sew fleece blankets for patients.
In addition to finished blankets, coordinators may also need other items. For example, at chapter blanket making events there may be a need for fabrics, batting, thread, and other items. If you would like to donate something that can help your local chapter besides finished blankets, please contact your local chapter coordinator to see what supplies they need.


WHAT  CAN KIWANIANS DO TO HELP?

Kiwanians can make “no sew” fleece blanket to donate. What’s needed: two pieces of fleece material 48 in by 60 in. (1 1/2 yards) Place pieces back sides together. Cut off selvage  ends. Cut a 4 inch square from each corner.  Then cut strips 1 inch wide, 4 inch deep along all sides. Then tie each strip (top and bottom piece) with a square knot. Voila...you have a fleece blanket for a child in need.
For a baby blanket you will need 1 yard of each fabric (so, 2 total yards).  For a child's blanket, 1 1/2 yards works well (a total of 3 yards). And, an adult-sized blanket will require 2 yards (4 total yards).
If you go to the website you will find more detailed instructions.
(Copy and paste in your browser)
 http://www.projectlinus.org/patterns/pdf/NoSewFB.pdf

TODDLER BLANKET


This fleece blanket took about 1 1/2 hour to make.
Of course the pattern can be pinned and cut ahead, and then the strips can be tied during meeting time.
This project would be a wonderful hands on service project for  members. It’s easy and fun to do. No knowledge of sewing is needed. And if there is a JoAnn’s Fabric in your area, fleece blanket kits are available at the store.
If you have questions, feel free to contact me.

Ava Adams, District Chair
Young Children Committee
New England and Bermuda District
Scarborough ME Kiwanis
email: faithava2008@yahoo.com

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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

YCPO - December 2018


December 2018 “Young Children” Newsletter

Good morning fellow Kiwanians!

What happens when a child is hungry?

Kids who don’t get enough to eat — especially during their first three years — begin life at a serious disadvantage. Hunger hinders brain development. The brain develops rapidly from conception to age 5. Without the right nutrients, the brain cannot develop properly, resulting in long term effects on learning abilities.When they’re hungry, children are more likely to be hospitalized and they face higher risks of health conditions like anemia and asthma. And as they grow up, kids struggling to get enough to eat are more likely to have problems in school and other social situations.

Children facing hunger may struggle in school — and beyond. They are more likely to:

•  Repeat a grade in elementary school

•  Experience developmental impairments in areas like language and motor skills

•  Have more social and behavioral problems.

•  Hunger has been observed to cause depression, anxiety and withdrawal, all of which are obstructions to a child trying to focus on education.
(Feedingamerica.org)

I would like to share with you the most recent information on Food Insecurity in New England.

FOOD INSECURITY in U.S. and New England
(the state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food every day)

Statistics:
1 out of 8 Americans are food insecure
1 out of 6 American children suffer from hunger and food insecurity
provided by feedingamerica.org
Number
% of population
Number
% of children


America
41,200,000
13(1 out of 8)
12,900,000
18 (1 out of  6)









New England
1,574,000
11
420,000
14 (1 out of 7)


Connecticut
415,000
12
117,000
16 (1 out of 6.25)


Fairfield
91,000
10
29,000
13


Hartford
106,000
12
30,000
16


Litchfield
18,000
10
5,000
14


Middlesex
16,000
10
4,000
13


New Haven
107,000
12
30,000
17


New London
31,000
12
9,000
17


Tolland
15,000
10
4,000
13


Windham
13,000
11
4,000
17









Maine
183,000
14
51,000
20 (1 out of 5)


Androscoggin
16,000
15
5,000
21


Aroostook
11,000
16
3,000
23


Cumberland
37,000
13
10,000
17


Franklin
4,000
14
1,000
20


Hancock
7,000
14
2,000
20


Kennebec
17,000
14
5,000
21


Knox
5,000
13
1,000
19


Lincoln
4,000
13
1,000
21


Oxford
8,000
14
3,000
22


Penobscot
23,000
15
6,000
21


Piscataquis
3,000
16
1,000
26


Sagadahoc
4,000
12
1,000
19


Somerset
8,000
16
2,000
24


Waldo
6,000
14
2,000
21


Washington
5,000
16
1,000
23


York
24,000
12
7,000
18









Massachusetts
653,000
10
167,000
12 (1 out of 8.3)


Barnstable
18,000
8
4,000
13


Berkshire
13,000
10
3,000
15


Bristol
57,000
10
16,000
14


Dukes
2,000
10
500
14


Essex
56,000
7
19,000
12


Franklin
6,000
9
2,000
13


Hampden
46,000
10
17,000
16


Hampshire
16,000
10
3,000
12


Middlesex
124,000
8
29,000
9


Nantucket
1,000
8
300
13


Norfolk
54,000
8
13,000
9


Plymouth
43,000
9
13,000
11


Suffolk
109,000
14
19,000
14


Worcester
72,000
9
21,000
12









New Hampshire
120,000
9
30,000
11 1 out of 9)


Belknap
6,000
9
2,000
14


Carroll
4,000
9
1,000
14


Cheshire
8,000
10
2,000
13


Coos
4,000
11
1,000
17


Grafton
9,000
10
2,000
13


Hillsborough
37,000
9
10,000
12


Merrimack
13,000
9
3,000
12


Rockingham
22,000
7
6,000
10


Strafford
13,000
10
3,000
12


Sullivan
4,000
9
1,000
13









Rhode Island
128,000
12
36,000
17 1 out of 5.8)


Bristol
5,000
10
1,000
14


Kent
17,000
10
5,000
15


Newport
10,000
12
2,000
15


Providence
83,000
13
25,000
19


Washington
13,000
11
3,000
15









Vermont
75,000
12
19,000
16 (1 out of 6,25)


Addison
4,000
10
1,000
15


Bennington
4,000
12
1,000
18


Caledonia
4,000
12
1,000
17


Chittenden
19,000
12
4,000
13


Essex
1,000
13
200
19


Franklin
5,000
11
2,000
14


Grand Isle
1,000
10
200
15


Lamoille
3,000
12
1,000
17


Orange
3,000
11
1,000
16


Orleans
4,000
13
1,000
18


Rutland
7,000
12
2,000
16


Washington
7,000
11
2,000
16


Windham
6,000
11
2,000
15


Windsor
6,000
11
2,000
1


Clearly, Massachusetts and New Hampshire are doing above the average in feeding the hungry . But Maine and Rhode Island have approximately 1 out of 5 children dealing with food insecurity every day.
I hope you will consider doing more projects to help fight food inadequacies in your communities. Support your local food pantries, backpack food programs, organize a food collection, and most importantly, support programs which supply food to children during school vacations and during the summer when food pantries are at their lowest supplies. HUNGER NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY!
Finally, have you considered holding a meal packing event? This is a great Division Project.
Outreach, Inc, offers 5 different meal options.
Macaroni and Cheese, Rice and Beans, Minestrone Soup, Pasta with Italian Tomato Sauce, and Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal. Each serving contains a fortified protein supplement making it more nutritious than store bought packaged food.
Each serving costs $.25 or $1.50 for a packet feeding 6. Meals are assembled on a line with 10 people working on each line. 36 meal packets fill a carton which costs $54. Minimally $2500 must be ordered for the activity. Matthew Martin is the Regional Manager and New England Coordinator for the Outreach Program.
Cell: 857-939-3459
email: matthew@outreachprogram.org
for more information: visit The Outreach Program www.theoutreacprogram.org
Recently the Portland Kiwanis Club hosted a meal packing event for Kiwanis One Day on Oct. 27, 2018 held at a local church. I was fortunate to be able to participate.
Over 17,000 servings of apple cinnamon oatmeal
were packaged in about 2 hours with much laughter and enthusiasm. The cartons were delivered to local food pantries in the greater Portland area. All participates left with a smile knowing that hungry families would be receiving nutritious food because of our efforts! I hope you will consider organizing a meal packing project!
If you have concerns or questions, please contact me. And if you do arrange a food assembly project, please invite me. I would love to participate!

Ava Adams, District Chair
Young Children
New England and Bermuda District


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