And Now, A Note of Good News for the Weekend!
Good news is hard to come by in the press, but there is a world of good happenings as well as all the bad stuff we read or hear about daily. The Houston Chronicle had just such a good report on its front page Wednesday January 31,2007.
Most third graders are about 9 years old. 80 third graders at Friendswood's Westwood Elementary have a knitting club, started by guidance counselor Barbara Gruener and parent volunteers. Now these youngsters are developing a social conscience, involved in saving babies' lives, being contributing members of society as well as participating in a club.
Westwood Elementary third-grader Lizzie Clements is knitting a baby cap that will be provided to a needy infant in an effort to reduce worldwide infant mortality.
Kirk Sides: For the Chronicle
Most of us are aware that we lose a lot of body heat through our heads and are encouraged to wear warm headgear during cold weather. Maintaining body heat is especially important for babies, and warm caps are essential to help them retain body heat, especially in homes that are not climate controlled or that are air conditioned. Volunteers donate knitted caps to the newborn nurseries in local hospitals, and primarily to the preemie neonatal units. [ My preemie grandson born near Christmas, sported a tiny knitted Santa Claus cap].
"[L]ast spring...Save the Children released its annual report on the "State of the World's Mothers", pointing out that 2 million babies die every year within 24 hours of birth; 4 million in the first month. Up to 70 percent could be saved ... by simple, inexpensive measures, like encouraging breast feeding, swaddling newborns close to their mothers and putting knit caps on babies' heads to keep them warm."
"The Warm Up America Foundation, a grassroots movement that provides knitted and crocheted blankets and clothing to hospitals, shelters and nursing homes, sprang into action, organizing knitters in every state in the country. Save the Children agreed to get the baby caps to places where they could do the most good."
Barbara Gruener had helped the Westwood knitters donate blankets to hospitals, a prenatal unit and nursing homes and she jumped at the chance to get involved. "The baby cap project was perfect, from a knitting perspective and from a character building perspective, she said. It allowed students to do a small knitting project from start to finishs, to help other kids and to also write to their elected representatives about a cause that means something to them. 'My kids were like, "you mean, I could help save a baby?'" she said. 'That was huge'."
"The knitting Club ... has been much more effective in teaching the children about compassion and public service ." The baby caps made a stop in Washington en route to expectant mothers in Bangdalesh and Malawi.
Eight year old Elizabeth Warwick from the Friendswood Westwood Elementary traveled with others to Washington to meet with a member of first lady Laura Bush's staff at the White House and with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and attended a reception at the Textile Museum which will display some of the baby caps before they leave Washington. "In letters to the White House, some young knitters asked President Bush to make every school in the country to start a knitting club. Others asked him to send more money to poor countries to save children's lives. ... Some asked that he visit their school" and offered to teach him how to knit.[ Besides reading "My Pet Goat? WA]
This project, feeling that they have helped save babies' lives, writing to their representatives, and one of their number going to Washington has made a tremendous impact on the children's lives. The work carries on with previous students now in Junior High School, who act as mentors to the younger students and continue the work. [ News like this about our children makes my day! Children are our hope for the future; I am 1,000% pro-children!. WA]
To read copies of the letters these children sent to President Bush and lawmakers, click on:
http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/01/30/letters.pdf [Remember, these are 8 and 9 year old children! about the age of one of JuBlu's Jedi]
To read the entire news report, click on :
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chroncile/4513180.html
Most third graders are about 9 years old. 80 third graders at Friendswood's Westwood Elementary have a knitting club, started by guidance counselor Barbara Gruener and parent volunteers. Now these youngsters are developing a social conscience, involved in saving babies' lives, being contributing members of society as well as participating in a club.
Westwood Elementary third-grader Lizzie Clements is knitting a baby cap that will be provided to a needy infant in an effort to reduce worldwide infant mortality.
Kirk Sides: For the Chronicle
Most of us are aware that we lose a lot of body heat through our heads and are encouraged to wear warm headgear during cold weather. Maintaining body heat is especially important for babies, and warm caps are essential to help them retain body heat, especially in homes that are not climate controlled or that are air conditioned. Volunteers donate knitted caps to the newborn nurseries in local hospitals, and primarily to the preemie neonatal units. [ My preemie grandson born near Christmas, sported a tiny knitted Santa Claus cap].
"[L]ast spring...Save the Children released its annual report on the "State of the World's Mothers", pointing out that 2 million babies die every year within 24 hours of birth; 4 million in the first month. Up to 70 percent could be saved ... by simple, inexpensive measures, like encouraging breast feeding, swaddling newborns close to their mothers and putting knit caps on babies' heads to keep them warm."
"The Warm Up America Foundation, a grassroots movement that provides knitted and crocheted blankets and clothing to hospitals, shelters and nursing homes, sprang into action, organizing knitters in every state in the country. Save the Children agreed to get the baby caps to places where they could do the most good."
Barbara Gruener had helped the Westwood knitters donate blankets to hospitals, a prenatal unit and nursing homes and she jumped at the chance to get involved. "The baby cap project was perfect, from a knitting perspective and from a character building perspective, she said. It allowed students to do a small knitting project from start to finishs, to help other kids and to also write to their elected representatives about a cause that means something to them. 'My kids were like, "you mean, I could help save a baby?'" she said. 'That was huge'."
"The knitting Club ... has been much more effective in teaching the children about compassion and public service ." The baby caps made a stop in Washington en route to expectant mothers in Bangdalesh and Malawi.
Eight year old Elizabeth Warwick from the Friendswood Westwood Elementary traveled with others to Washington to meet with a member of first lady Laura Bush's staff at the White House and with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and attended a reception at the Textile Museum which will display some of the baby caps before they leave Washington. "In letters to the White House, some young knitters asked President Bush to make every school in the country to start a knitting club. Others asked him to send more money to poor countries to save children's lives. ... Some asked that he visit their school" and offered to teach him how to knit.[ Besides reading "My Pet Goat? WA]
This project, feeling that they have helped save babies' lives, writing to their representatives, and one of their number going to Washington has made a tremendous impact on the children's lives. The work carries on with previous students now in Junior High School, who act as mentors to the younger students and continue the work. [ News like this about our children makes my day! Children are our hope for the future; I am 1,000% pro-children!. WA]
To read copies of the letters these children sent to President Bush and lawmakers, click on:
http://images.chron.com/content/news/photos/07/01/30/letters.pdf [Remember, these are 8 and 9 year old children! about the age of one of JuBlu's Jedi]
To read the entire news report, click on :
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chroncile/4513180.html
posted by Anonymous @ 2/02/2007 05:28:00 PM
7 Comments:
At Friday, February 02, 2007 11:42:00 PM ,
The Future Was Yesterday said...
Those kids are on the right track! Why didn't I think of that? Give Bush a whole handful of needles - he might stab himself with one.:)
This is a stark example of what CAN be accomplished, when you teach kids something besides "God hates anybody but us." Thanks for the story. I needed it!
At Saturday, February 03, 2007 12:07:00 AM ,
Granny said...
Thanks WA!! I'm stealing this one for granny and another blog I often contribute items too.
At Saturday, February 03, 2007 4:28:00 AM ,
Daniel said...
Hey, Worried, I have a post on my blog about DEPOSING BUSH which you might want to use. Feel free. It has also been on the Smirking Chimp and The People Voice.
I'm doing my best but sadly I sense that Americans generally just can't cope with this huge failure in their political system.
People Power is the only way the situation will be solved.
At Saturday, February 03, 2007 5:30:00 AM ,
Spadoman said...
Great news when the children are involved in something positive.
At Saturday, February 03, 2007 10:13:00 AM ,
Anonymous said...
Here's the link to the Warm Up America Foundation mentioned in the article. It has a lot of good information there for anyone wanting to get involved- even basic information like how to knit!
At Saturday, February 03, 2007 7:48:00 PM ,
Gadfly said...
The Future Was Yesterday: Children learn what they are taught, whether it is kindness or cruelty, love thy neighbor or racist hatre, me-ism or a social conscience, let-George-do-it or do-it-yourself, apathy or get involved. Children are our tomorrows and how they are shaped and molded as little ones determines to a great extent what kind of adults they will be. I'm glad you liked the story.
Granny: you are welcome. I'm glad you will be spreading this story around. Perhaps you will be instrumental in giving ideas to other parents and schools of getting children involved in helpful activities and also teaching them the rudiments of political involvement.
Daniel: Thank you for the links. I think People Power is about the only hope for our country. The People spoke at the polls and they are speaking about the war.
Spadoman: Thank you for your comment. As a grandfather, you know how children can be led by the adults and role models in their life, and how naturally good hearted our little ones can be. I hope that you folks are staying warm and snug during this foul weather, and that your winter's crud is cleared up before you can no longer face another bowl of chicken soup. Just don't let it turn into pneumonia.
Thomaslb: Thank you for commenting and thank you for the link. I'll add it to the post. This is a worthy organization and should be supported.
At Saturday, February 03, 2007 7:53:00 PM ,
Gadfly said...
PS: Worried is off blog for the weekend so I'm posting for her. I know her so well that I know how she thinks and she and I discuss much of the stuff on the blog. She'll be real pleased by all the response. I read her your comments and she was happy. She is in a fuss and a fidget about this coming inspection.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home