Handmade Especially For You

 

Home

Leslye's Blog

Mission Statement

Shelter Recipients

Making a Difference

Sponsors/Donors

Ways to DONATE

Why Should You Donate

Affiliates

Other Knitting Groups

Volunteer Opportunities

Handmade In The News

News Articles Library

Most Recent Newsletter

Newsletter Archives

Event Calendar

Helpful Knitting Hints

FREE Knit Patterns

Garter Stitch

Wrap and Drop Scarf

Diagonal Comfort Scarf

Lacy Garter Stitch

Two Yarn Scarf w/ Fun Fur

Easy Lacy Scarf

Horizontal Scrap Scarf

Knit Pattern Downloads

FREE Crochet Patterns

Reversible Mesh Scarf

Simple V Stitch Scarf

Medallion Scarf

Granny Flair Scarf

Peephole Scrap Scarf

Joanne's Wavy Scrap Scarf

Crochet Pattern Downloads

FREE Hat Pattern

Gift Tags

Photo Gallery

Contact Us

Thank You Letters from our Recipients


We get so many Thank You letters from our recipients, we would like to share them with you.


Sometimes we receive baby items and mail them to the shelters (on our list) who are in need of them.

Here's an email we received from one of the new Shelters we added to our list in 2016:

Dear Ms. Borden and the Handmade Especially for you Crew;

I was working late – I’m always working late, when your generous gift, eight baby items, arrived. What a wonderful way to end my work day.

On behalf of the clients of Humboldt Domestic Violence Services (HDVS), I wanted to personally thank you for your kindness and generosity to survivors and their children. Just yesterday a woman was looking through some of the beautiful handmade scarfs and hats you sent – she was so excited to be able to pick out a color just right for her and know that it was made with her in mind . . . a “new” crafted item is so important to woman, especially those who come to HDVS with nothing more than the clothes they are wearing. She was thrilled when I told her that her gift was made by other women who care and understand why she was here. She told me it was the best gift she had received in quite some time and she would cherish it always.

Right now we have several babies at our shelter so the baby items will be distributed and well used. Your willingness to create these wonderful items truly makes a differences in the lives of survivors and their children. Your gift helps to give survivors back their voices by making them feel valued. Thank you for being role models in your community and supporting positive awareness about survivors of domestic and intimate partner violence.

Respectfully yours,

Brenda Bishop 

Executive Director

Humboldt Domestic Violence Services


Here are snippets from lots (but not all) of the ones we received in 2015.  We're also including a few in their entirety. 

You'll notice since each one of our scarves are signed, sometimes the recipient writes a personal Thank You note to the Handmade volunteer.  The photo on the right is an example of this.   

  


 

Wouldn’t you like to make a difference too?  You can!  

Check out our volunteer opportunities.


In alphabetical order by shelter ....

Carol Adelkoff, CEO and Executive Director of 1736, writes:  “We are so grateful for your continued support and the impact that you make on the lives of the families, youth, and veterans we serve.”

Robin Sinclair, Executive Director of Casa Youth Shelter, tells us:  “We are grateful that your continuing kindness to Casa Youth Shelter enables us to provide shelter and counseling to runaway, throwaway and abandoned youth. . . . We could not do what we do without generous supporters like you.”

Gina Vargas, Executive Director of Center for Family Solutions, explains:  (We) “would like to thank you and your team for your continued donation of scarves. . . . They make great fits to new clients. . . .and bring comfort  to our clients who reside in our emergency shelters. . . .You and your group seem to really care about making a difference for those we serve.”

Marsha Marcoe, Associate Executive Director of DVS of Santa Barbara County, tells us:  “Your gift of comfort scarves represents the promise of a home life free of violence. . . Your support. . . . enables families . . . to live without the threat of violence from an abusive relationship.”

Linda Davies, Executive Director of DVC of Santa Clarita Valley, writes:  “The 25 scarves are always a wonderful gift for the women at our Center.  They look forward to receiving them and have such a good time choosing the perfect scarf.”

Helen Adams, Executive Director of DOVES, thanks us for our “donation of beautiful scarves hand-made specifically for our shelter clients.  We are always grateful for your support. . . .Our goal is to end family violence with this generation.”

Sylvia Rosenberger, Chief Executive Officer of the Downtown (LA) Women’s Center, writes: “We are grateful for your generosity!  With the support of friends like you, The Center is able to provide necessary services and a safe place for homeless and low-income women on Skid Row.”

Kitty Glass, Community Outreach Coordinator of Family Violence Project, says:  I wish to thank you and your crew for the amazing donation we received. . . . The women will take your gifts with them when the leave the shelter and will think of you each time they wrap the scarves are their necks.”

Family Assistance Program in Victorville sent a hand written note:  “The scarves are so beautiful and have gone to many clients who are victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and sexually trafficked.  They love them.  Please continue to do this wonderful work!”

Rebecca Patrick at Fred Jordan Missions hand wrote a note:  “The women who receive these scarves love them!  You have no idea on this side of eternity the impact you are having.”

Patty Cornejo, Volunteer Coordinator at the YWCA of Glendale, sent an email with comments from the domestic violence victims who receive our scarves:  “Tell them we feel special.”  “We feel loved.”  “Makes me feel beautiful.”  “Feels good around my neck.”  “Bless their heart.”

Sister Anne Kelley, (now-ex) Executive Director of the Good Shepherd Shelter, writes:  “We so appreciate your support.  Know that your kindness and generosity is GREATLY appreciated.”

Emily Jones, one of the counselors at Haven Hills in Canoga Park (see photo of card above), explains:  “Overwhelmingly, the women who receive your scarves are touched.  They appreciate the time and energy that goes into each scarf, and are moved that someone they’ve never even met would take so much time on their behalf. . . . As a counselor, I get to see the impact the scarves have—self-esteem and joy of the women who receive them, but also they provide validation and support to victims of abuse who often feel their experiences are invisible or ignored.”

Teresa Trinidad, Program Manager at Haven House, tells us:  “As a non-profit organization serving women and children abused by an alcoholic family member, we depend on. . . donations such as yours. . . to offer refuge and counseling to assist these women and children on their way towards a life free of violence.”

Catherine Kort, Fund Development Director at Interface Children & Family Services in Camarillo, tells us:  “Thank you for the caring gift . . . We appreciate the time, thoughtfulness and love that have gone into making each scarf.”

Ben Schirmer, (now-ex) Executive Director of Rainbow Services, reports: “Your generous donation. . . will help individuals and families recovering from lives of trauma. . . . Community support brings a sense of belonging and aids their healing.”

Jennifer Adams, Executive Director of RISE (San Luis Obispo), writes: “Donations (like yours) allow us to care for victims of sexual assault and intimate partner violence and their families.”

Patricia Butler, Director of Sojourn Services for Battered Women and their Children, tells us:  “We were delighted to receive this huge boxful of gorgeous knitted scarves.  The ‘HEFY’ members really do the most beautiful work, and we are honored to present these to women and girls in our shelters.”

Angelina Coe, Executive Director at Shelter from the Storm in Palm Desert, tells us:  “Thank you for your generous donation. . . . Your contribution will assist us with providing greatly needed services to the women and children fleeing domestic violence. . . I wanted personally to thank you.  Words cannot articulate how wonderful it was to receive these items.”

Linda Rogers, Executive Director of Valley Restart (Hemet), says:  “I would like to thank all of you who took your time in hand making scarves for our lady residents and homeless ladies who come through here at dinner time. . . . You are helping us provide support for our ‘Hand up and not a hand out program.’”

Finally, Tatiana Dorman, Volunteer and Community Relations Coordinator at WomenShelter of Long Beach, explains:  “We appreciate your very generous donation of beautiful handmade scarves.  Your thoughtfulness brings so much happiness to our clients and their families. . . . Your kindness brings smiles, tears of joy, and most important, hope. . . It reminds them that even though the road ahead might be long, they made the right choice.”



 Handmade Especially For You
is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Corporation
(EIN: 26-3529292)
30065 Grandpoint Lane, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA  90275 ♥ (310) 547-3673 /
handmade.leslye@gmail.com