The first luncheon for 2021 will be in March, giving most of us enough time to get the COVID vaccine shots before attending.
I’ll try to send a notice when we’re able to restart our projects (since we will be looking for volunteers) and reminders about a week before all of our events.
Elaine A Housley, New Outlook Director, Pioneers
submitted by Director Elaine Housley
Earlier this week after Carolyn previously had told the ladies that knit with her of the need at Lydia House of the Open Door Mission, her friends told her they had more items for her to pickup and deliver to Lydia House. Carolyn and Bob picked the new items up and then loaded the SUV and headed to deliver the new items. When they arrived at Lydia House, Gwynne, the Development Associate, came out to meet them and accept the baby items. Gwynne told Carolyn how much they were needed and thanked her and Heartland Pioneers for the donated items.
Submitted by Carolyn and Bob Wolkins
During the early part of December Sandy shopped for personal hygiene products of need for the Josie Harper Hospice House. After purchasing the needed items of Creamy Body Lotion, Ocean Breeze Shampoo, Cherry Blossom Shampoo, Ocean Breeze Body Wash, Smoothing Body Lotion, Hypoallergenic Baby Powder, St. Ives Rose and Argon Oil Smoothing Body Lotion, Shaving Cream and Creamy Body Lotion with Cocoa Butter & Shea. It was time to arrange a time to deliver the items.
Sandy called the Josie Harper office and made an appointment to deliver the of personal hygiene products she had purchased. She was told that December 22, 2020 after lunch would be a good time to stop over. Meeting us outside of the Hospice House to unload the SUV were Heidi LPN, Elizabeth volunteer assistant, Lisa Development Director and Sandy. We were told that they were going to distribute the donation all over Hospice House, filling up the personal care rooms and fully stocking the closets.
Submitted By Sandy Viner
Helen Loyd and her daughter Sherry Lynn Riddle were pioneers in the Western Horizon Council of New Frontier Chapter in California. Almost two years ago they relocated to Lincoln, NE and connected with the Heartland Council in Omaha, Ne. They found that there was a need to help children in Lincoln that wasn’t being met. There were many retired pioneers in Lincoln that worked at the Omaha Works and they soon had made a connection with many of them to help them with the new project
They decided the new project in Lincoln would be called Care Bears of Lincoln and work with the Heartland Council Pioneers of Omaha. The project would connect with Police Trauma Unit, the Cedar Home for Children, Homeless Children, Local Hospital and Fire and Rescue Units. The first thing they did was make some bears for the children, then got retirees, friends and neighbors to donate stuffed animal for children. The Cedar Home for Children told them that the children in their care didn’t have anything to put there belonging in when the came to the home so Helen and Sherry Lynn made tote bags for the children.
Helen Loyd and Sherry Lynn Riddle made 100 CARE Bears, over 300 hundred stuff animals, and 200 cotton hand bags which were picked up by a Lincoln, NE Police representative on October 15, 2020. They are donated to be used by the Santa Cops for the Children Christmas party.
Submitted by Helen Loyd and Sherry Lynn Riddle
After Carolyn delivered what she and her friends had purchased and knitted the last couple of months and delivered to Risen Son in Council Bluffs and Lydia House at the Open Door Mission. Carolyn and her friends got busy and knitted up some more items this time just for the Lydia House at the Open Door Mission. Pat, Dixie, Sharon and Carolyn enjoy knitting and making items for others. This time the four ladies crocheted some cocoons, baby blankets and baby hat. Jessica at receiving accepted the items made by Heartland Pioneer volunteers for the Open Door Mission and thanked them for the donations. She said the items were in need at the Lydia House of the ODM right now just before New Years Day.
On Sunday afternoon, January 3, Bob and Carolyn picked up some more crocheted baby cocoons from Pat. They then went over to Dixie’s to pick up more baby blankets that Dixie and her mother Sharon had made after Christmas. With the need at Lydia House of the Open Door Mission all of recent items they collected were deliver to them on Monday.
Submitted By Carolyn Wolkins
This year has been very difficult for the Hooks and Needles group coping with the covid-19 virus and not being able to meet once a month. The ladies in the group continue to make many different items to be donated to different organizations in the metro to help the needy. The chair of the group stated they still has over 20 members in the knitting group and plan to continue on making items for those in need.
The leader of the group said that being able to not hold their monthly meetings and turn in their items they have been working on for delivery. They held a vote and decided each of the ladies would delivering their completed items to the charties when they have a number of items ready to deliver. Nancy Domina’s husband took a picture of her when she delivered 126 scarves to the Salvation Army on December 8th. After the deliver she stopped by Betty Golmanavich’s and picked up a new supply of yarn to continue making more items.
Submitted By Nancy Domina
Carolyn Wolkins has been kntting for many years and delivering her work to the Risen Son Christian Village in Council Bluffs, IA. and Lydia House at the Open Door Mission. Carolyn also has four ladies from church that knit with her and contribute to the items during the year for donation. The Risen Son Offers Assisted Living, Independent Living, Nursing Homes, Continuing Care Communities, and Memory Care. Lydia House at ODM provides emergency and transitional services for single women & families in need of assistance. Food, shelter, clothing, and other basic needs are provided.
This December Carolyn delivered a combination of handmade fleece blankets, purchased fleece blankets and hand knitted and crocheted items purchased and knitted the last coupole of months. Eleven fleece blankets were delivered to Risen Son in Council Bluffs a few days ago. She was told the blankets will used for Christmas gifts. Bob and she then delivered the pastels and prints to Lydia House along with knitted and crocheted items. Risen Son and Lydia House were both happy and appreciative. The contact at Lydia House (Open Door Mission) told her they have 75 newborns each year and 150 older kids in residence so the fleece blankets will be perfect for the older ones.
Submitted by Carolyn Wolkins
The following projects can be done in a break room or lunch room to involve members and prospective members for a brief time frame. This could peak their interest to volunteer for another project in the future. It lets our members see Pioneers in action. You will need someone present to track participants for reporting time.
Pioneer Group purchases Scholastic books to be donated to local schools. Dictionaries may be used as well. Make labels to go inside stating “Donated By (your group) Pioneers”. Give the group website and provide a place for a comment and signature if desired. Ask Volunteers to place the labels in the books, sign the decal and pack the books for delivery. Volunteers may be allowed to take the books to a school of their choice if the Group chooses. Be sure all volunteer time and volunteer names are recorded including delivery time.
Pioneer Group purchases small American Flags to be given to deploying American Soldiers. Volunteers fold the flags then place them in a small plastic bag with a “thank you” note. After folding, flag will be small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. It can be carried in the Soldier’s chest pocket. For more information, see www.pocketflagproject.com.
Pioneer Group purchase or collect food items to be distributed to Food Banks, Homeless shelters, Schools, etc. Pioneers organize similar items together on a large table. Have volunteers take an empty box or basket and go around the table placing one of each item in the container. Have Volunteers fill all the containers and load them for delivery. Ask Volunteers if they would like to participate in the delivery. Be sure all volunteer time and names are recorded including delivery time.
Pioneer Groups print up 4×6 cards with the following: Pioneer Thank You Kit
Rubber Band You banded us together
Mints Volunteers are worth a mint
Gum Thanks for sticking with it
Toothpick To remind you to pick out the good in others
Pipe Cleaner To remind you to be flexible
Safety Pin To help you hold it all together
Penny For good luck and prosperity
Rose Petal To remind you to stop and smell the roses
Foam Piece Thanks for being a “foam‐ible” force
Bead Thanks for “beading” there
Pioneers gather all items and put them in separate bowls. As volunteers gather for a luncheon, they are given a baggie and told to place one of each item along with a card in each baggie.
Once all are seated, thank them for their participation, membership and Answering the Call of Those in Need in their communities.
Pioneer groups purchase or collect school supplies and backpacks. Place all like items together in groups on a large table or tables. Have volunteers take a backpack and place one item of each group in the backpack. Place completed backpack in a container for delivery. Then start with another backpack until all are filled. Ask volunteers to assist in loading the backpacks for delivery. Ask volunteers if any of them would like to assist with the delivery. Track all time and volunteer names including delivery time.
Pioneer Group purchase or collect toiletry items for distribution to shelters. Arrange like items on a large table or tables. Separate tables should be set up for men and women. Have volunteers take a container (bag, box, or etc.) and go around the table and place one of each item in the container. Place completed container in a delivery box. Then start with another container until completed. Ask volunteers to assist with loading the completed boxes for delivery. Ask volunteers if they would like to assist with delivery to the shelters. Track all time and volunteer names, including delivery time.
Pioneer Group collects used plastic shopping bags. Volunteers work with the bags to first cut them into plastic strips and then knit them into sleeping mats. Numerous instruction videos can be located by searching the internet for “sleeping mats for the homeless”.
Pioneer Group purchase or collect items to be placed in Christmas stockings as well as the stockings. Arrange like items on a large table or tables. Ask volunteers to take a stocking and
place one of each item in it. Place completed stocking in a delivery container. Start another stocking until all are completed. Ask volunteers to assist with loading the container for delivery. Ask volunteers if they would like to assist with the delivery. Track all time and volunteer names including delivery time.
Volunteers prepare bags with items to be given to Veterans. A Valentine card is signed by the volunteer and placed in each bag. The bags are taken to the veterans hospital or other location and given to the individuals.
This project is designed to help feed school age children who rely on school‐sponsored food programs for nourishing meals to get through the summer months. Volunteers are given a bag to fill along with a flyer. See attached example. Volunteers return the filled bag with requested items to the group coordinator. The coordinator arranges for delivery of the bags to the Local food bank or shelter.
These are projects that might draw out participants that have special interests. A few examples are:
We can’t afford to lose money holding a social but we don’t necessarily have to make money. Keep cost to a minimum.
These are items to consider as you plan projects and activities around getting more members involved.
These are just a few thoughts and we’re sure you have many more ideas. The key factor is to have fun. It brings out new participants and keeps them coming back.
Thanks for all you do in Pioneering.
Steve Dawkins and his wife Marcy took over the Hug A Bear project in late 1999 as co-chairs. When Marcy passed away Steve took over as chair of the Hug A Bears and continued on. Steve has carried on for a total of twenty-one year’s producing thousands of Bears. During this pandemic the group hasn’t been able to meet to make Bears. At this time Steve has concluded that it is time for him to give up being the chair of the group. He will continue to help as much as he can as the group moves forward. The total number of Bears that the group has produced under Steve leadership has been 50,406. At this time all of us in pioneering wish to say Thank You Steve for your dedication.
HUG A BEARS DELIVERED IN THE OMAHA METRO TO:
PROJECT HARMONY, THEY ALSO WORK ALONG SIDE OF THE BOYSTOWN BEHAVORIAL UNIT.
BERGAN MERCY HOSPITAL AND CHILDRENS GROUP
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL
RAINBOW HOUSE WHICH WORKS ALONG SIDE WITH METHODIST HOSPITAL
CHILDRENS HOSPITAL.
DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPT.
OMAHA POLICE DEPT
FIRE DEPT # 43 AND # 44
BENNINTON FIRE AND RESCUE DEPT
MADONNA BURN CENTER
VILLAGE POINT CHILDRENS CARE
DR. BILL RUCKER FAMILY ENRICHMENT
OPEN DOOR MISSION
SALVATION ARMY
EPS BATTERED WOMEN CENTER
AS OF NOVEMBER 3, 2020, THE GROUP HAS MADE AND DELIVERED 50,406 BEARS SINCE DECEMBER OF 1999.
From all of the officers past and present of the Heartland Pioneers and everyone that has worked with the group making Hug A Bears we say Thank You Steve Dawkins
Posted by the Webmaster from President Bob Wolkins
