Lynn H led the meeting, with 25 Mat Makers attending to be God’s hands and feet in the community. Kathryn opened with prayer, reflecting on God’s beautiful world, our busy hands creating, and our feet delivering items to those in need. 

Everyone was happy to see Paula and Norma join us!!

Updates

The group received thank-you notes from Judy McClain and a memorial message from Liz Sample’s family. A $200 memorial check was sent to the church in Liz’s honor from her family.

If you feel led to participate, Tuesday, Oct 6, Mat Makers will have a Love Offering for our own Memorial to COTH in Liz’s honor.  

Super Hero Saturday Outreach

8 Mat Makers attended Super Hero Fire on Saturday,  Sept 26 with the Karen Cook Ministry. The event gave the group strong ministry visibility and many opportunities to connect with community organizations and individuals.

The group shared information about the many ways Mat Makers serves the community and gave away a variety of items, including:

• Little Jesuses and crosses
• Lapghans and blankets
• Walker bags
• Jump ropes
• Hats and scarves
• A few mats
• Snacks

Jump ropes and walker bags were especially popular. The event also created connections with organizations and ministries serving suicide prevention, child-abuse prevention, recovery programs for men and women, grief support, veterans, foster care, shelters, and other community needs.

The group also shared information about “A Herd of Elephants,” with small memorial elephant heads available for grieving families. A herd of elephants is called a “memory.” Information about the “If a Friend Asks” app for suicide awareness was also discussed.

Donations for the “Starting Over Baskets”

Donations for the “Starting Over Baskets” for individuals who need a boost of help to get back on their feet, such as after a fire, breakup, aging out of foster care, or other difficult life transition. Laundry baskets are filled with practical bed, bath, and kitchen supplies, linens, cleaning items, paper towels, and similar necessities.  All of these items are appreciated, please share with family and friends.  Items do not have to be brand new, just useful and gently used household items from home that could help fill these baskets.

Trade Day

Trade Day will be held next Tuesday, October 6, in the dining room.

• Bring items you would like to donate, trade, or pass along to someone else.
• The dining room will be filled with available items for members to look through and possibly swap.
• Fall clothes and other unused household items are especially welcome.
• Donated items that are not claimed may be sorted for community distribution or donation.

Project Updates

Mats

3 Mats were shown!

Gwen’s group made a variegated mat. 

Nancy completed a mat during the Saturday event, and it was quickly given away. Andy made a yellow, white, and beige mat.

Walker Bags

Paula donated a couple of boxes of buttons, which is greatly appreciated, but the group still needs more two-hole buttons to complete the bag attachments.  Quarter sized buttons of any color are appreciated.  Interesting fact I did not know…  Mary Jane, our Walker Bag seamstress, has the ability to sew two-whole buttons on using her machine!  Timesaver!!!

Hats and Scarves & Lapghans

Many handmade hats and scarves and lapghans were shown.  Several had a patriotic theme, football theme and some were cozy soft textures.  Members contributing included Norma, Samantha, Leanne, Gwen’s group, Andy, Chris Carson!, Susan G.

Celebrations

The Mat Makers were blessed to celebrate on a video chat with Max, age 98 and a long time Mat Maker favorite!  We each were able to say Hi and sing happy birthday to both Max and Terri at the same time!

Needed Donation Items

• Two-hole buttons for walker bags
• Household items for “Baskets for Starting Over,” including bed, bath, kitchen, cleaning, and linen supplies
• Fall clothing and useful household items for Trade Day
• Materials for ongoing mat-making, walker bags, hats, scarves, lapghans, blankets, and stuffed animals

Working Fun Day at Carole’s

Carole Kelly invites everyone to a fellowship work day at her home on Thursday, October 8, from 9:30 a.m. until around noon. 

Hello everyone!   Let’s have a work day and make mats or whatever at my house next Thursday. Oct 8.   This is fellowship only!  No meeting, no agenda, although we might do some praying, just gather and work on whatever.  I need to finish up some mats and I’d love the company.  9:30-noonish.  We will plan to eat lunch or something…

And that’s all for now.  We will see you on Tuesday at 9 am in the Sunroom at Lynn H’s.  

Until then,

Lynn P