Hearts for Newtown and other ways to give


Are you looking for ways to give back to the Newtown, CT community?  I’m amazed at how quickly giving hands can assemble.
Here are a few ideas floating around online:

• MAKE SNOWFLAKES!  Many of you are already do this.  Hooray!  If you haven’t heard yet, the National PTA is going to create a Winterwonderland for the students of Sandy Hook Elementary when they return in January to their new school (more info HERE).

How fun, easy, and beautiful is that?
Snowflakes need to be sent by 1/12 to the following address:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

• MAKE BLANKETS.  A fellow blogger Michelle lost her brother years ago and neighbors reached out to her family by making each of her siblings a blanket to cuddle with and feel comfort.  She still cherishes that blanket and would like to do something similar for Newtown.  These blankets will not only be given to children at the school, but families throughout Newtown, CT.   Quilts need to be flannel on both sides, 45 x 60 with 11 ounce batting and tied with yarn. They need to be done by January 10th.
Read more about it HERE.

• OPERATION SANDY HOOK.  The Small Fry Blog has teamed up with Brickyard Buffalo and several other artists and graphic designers to do a capsule collection of downloadable prints, all at $5 each. The profits will go to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund through United Way.  Read more about it HERE.

GIVE MONETARY DONATIONS directly to the Sandy Hook School Support Fund.  This is done through United Way and will help pay for support systems, counseling, etc for the whole community. Read more about it HERE.

• MAKE HEARTS OF LOVE.  This is what we’ve chosen at our house and would love you to join us!

The hearts aren’t meant to replace the PTA snowflake project but to work along with it, since I’m sure they’ll have more snowflakes than they can hang.  And when I think of giving, the image of hearts and love keeping coming to mind.  So let’s fill their rooms with love!….sort of like sending Valentines.

The kids and I spent 20 minutes this morning cutting hearts from colorful paper.  As we cut I very simply explained that we were sending hearts to a family who lost their little girl.  Those were all the details I could spare.
Lucy and Owen thought hearts were a good idea.  Owen even said, “maybe they can hang them in her room so she feels loved.”  It’s beautiful to watch their minds work.
If you’re feeling extra crafty, you could sew a few together so they can hang from the ceiling, or just send them as they are.

Hearts need to be sent by 1/12 to the following address:
Connecticut PTSA
60 Connolly Parkway
Building 12, Suite 103
Hamden, CT 06514

If you know of any other projects and ways to give please leave info in the comments and I can add it to the list.

Have a wonderful weekend!

  1. Thanks for sharing! I bought one of the prints from Small Fry. I will putting it in my kids bathroom, I will always remember to be grateful for them when I see it. I hope you have a wonderful holiday! Merry Christmas!

    Jen
    sewfabulous-now.blogspot.com

  2. beautiful. I know there’s a quilt collection being taken up by The Tauntun Press (they’re based in Newtown).

  3. What a lovely idea! We made snowflakes the other day, and I told my kids we were helping to decorate a new school for kids that had something bad happen in their old school. That, for me too, was all I could handle to share. My 8 year old could probably handle more of a discussion, but I don’t want her to hear it if she doesn’t have to.

    You made some rad snowflakes there, Dana. I think we’ll have to do round two to see if we can come up with cool ones like yours.

  4. I was definitely sharing a similar brain wave with you because I made paper snowflakes in the shape of hearts the other day.

  5. this is the best, dana! thanks for including the brickyard buffalo link in the list! that’s my little Let Them Be Little up there and i’m 100% humbled at the response we’ve all received from the effort.

    thank you thank you thank you!

  6. 9) Danielle

    Love this idea Dana! Your hearts are so cheerful and perfect and maybe a little easier for small kids to help with.

  7. 10) Amanda

    Dana,

    I love your blog, but really hate the pop up survey that appears every time I land on your page. It’s so annoying!

    • That’s strange. I never see a popup survey and don’t ever recall seeing one. Maybe you ladies should scan your PC for Malware. That could possibly be causing the popups especially if you are seeing them on other sites as well. Also make sure your popup blocker is turned off.

  8. Wonderful idea! Do you want the hearts already sewn together or separate?

    • 15) Dana

      you can do it either way. I’m sure they’ll love them however they’re sent!

  9. Wow. Thanks for sharing these… So many beautiful ideas.

  10. Beautiful ideas. A co-worker’s son attends Sandy Hook, and she has had the entire company making snowflakes to send to them. There will be so many snowflakes hanging that the kids won’t see the school! 🙂

  11. 20) Ivana

    Hello, thank you for sharing.

    We will make some hearths with my little ones. I hope they will arrive in time.

    Ivana/ Czech republic

  12. 21) Rachel

    Thank you for doing this. I grew up in Newtown and will be visiting family over the holidays. While I’m there, I’ll see what they’re in need of and get back to you.

  13. 22) Karla

    It’s great to see so many getting behind the helping, I’m from Australia, but am also joining in, today I’ve made two ragdolls, pinkfigdesign has asked fellow sewers to make ragdolls or sharks to send, she has emailed the PDF patterns and is asking to have them sent to her by 31st dec, or latest by 5 jan. I can’t tag the blog or link it for some reason but I’m sure some of you will know it, or just google it?!

  14. 23) Lucinda

    Thank you for sharing all these links and being one of the “helpers” that Mr. Rogers talks about (the quote that’s been circulating throughout blogland). Looking forward to making some heart garlands with my girls!

  15. 24) Amy F.

    Dana, thank you for bringing these efforts to our attention. I am asking our Relief Society to join the snowflake drive… such a simple way to send our love to the Newton community. Thank you.

  16. Hi Dana!
    I just commented on your instagram about the prints I’m making to try to help raise money to support the families in CT. The website the prints are on is http://www.etsy.com/shop/ayoungapril.
    100% of the proceeds will be donated to Sandy Hook School Support Fund through United Way also.

    We def. need help to get the word out so I would appreciate your help so so much!
    Thank you
    <3

  17. 26) Whitney C

    What a great resource for all of the ideas that are floating around to help the Newton Community. I also heard about a mitten drive that includes mittens (store bought or homemade) that have a heart on one of the palms. It goes along with the book The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn. Here’s the link for an article about it: http://news.yahoo.com/crafters-send-mittens-message-newtown-175817171.html

    Thanks!

  18. 28) Claudia

    humbled and grateful to help with their healing…filled with love and on their way

  19. 30) Ann

    I just read a press release from newtown. They are asking people to stop sending gifts and artwork. They are overwhelmed with the processing off all of the stuff for now. So maybe buying prints or just donating is the best thing for now.

  20. 31) Patricia

    I’ve got one… a great one… in Holland. I’ll be happy to translate, but I hope Google translate will help you all. We’re trying to collect 150 garlands (made from your scrap fabrics) for charity.

    http://mijnpetitspirates.blogspot.nl/2012/12/150-slingers-voor-happy-hippo-naait-u.html

    The Happy Hippo Foundation gives children from “families in need” in Breda (town in south of Holland) a great birthday. Happy Hippo donates them a ‘birthday box”, filled with all kinds of things to make a great celebration. We want to add a lasting fabric garland for each family, to decorate the room for many birthdays to come.
    We can use some help, we need at least 150 garlands! 😉

  21. 33) Donna

    I did this for a St. Valentine’s Day dance at my church – I used scrapbook papers and it turned out really cute. The pattern on the fabric added another element that people absolutely loved. I’d encourage everyone to try this. It was a fun and quick way to add some whimsy to their homes, businesses, classrooms or even a church basement for an event 😉

  22. Happy new year! I like your site so much.

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