Page 15 - Reedley Exponent 1-18-18 E-editon

Photo Contributed
These women from Bakersfield recently brought 23 colorful comforters and 11 relief kits to the West Coast Mennonite Central Committee in downtown Reedley. They are (from left) Charlene Misono, Judy Meyer and Debbie Enns.
RELIEF
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cused for people who have just experienced a natural di- saster or are in a war-stricken area,” Adlard said. Relief kits also are sent as a pre-emptive measure to countries such as Haiti that has a history of suffering damages from hur- ricanes.
And, he said: “There are so many refugees now, the biggest influx of refugees since after World War II.”
Gail and Larry Harder of Reedley volunteer at least once a month to package kits and then load them into large boxes for shipping.
The Harders have a long history with the First Menno- nite Church in Reedley, and this is the third year they have been helping package items for shipment.
Why do they volunteer for this specific task?
“We grew up with MCC as part of our life. It’s part of our church. It’s just part of who we are,” Gail said. “And, it helps so many people. It’s a hands-on kind-of-thing to do.”
And Yoder said that, given what’s happening over the issue of immigrants and refugees, “we can go beyond borders to help the sick, help the hungry, help refugees.
We were all refugees at some point. Everybody needs some help.”
The comforters and kits have specific requirements for new items only. Here are the descriptions:
• Comforters should be at least twin- to full-size. “Winter weight” is preferred (please use new quilt batting), and comforters should be knotted with crochet cotton. Blankets, which have been purchased, also should be at least twin- to full-size.
Also, new flat twin-size sheets are accepted.
• School kits, which are the most-requested kits, con- tain these new items: four spiral or perforated notebooks (8 1/2 x 10 1/2 inches, with 70 sheets); eight unsharpened pencils; one ruler (flat, flex- ible plastic, indicating both 30 centimeters and 12 inches); 12 colored pencils (in packaging); and one large pencil eraser. The items then are placed in a double-drawstring cloth bag.
• Relief kits – which typi- cally goes to a family of four – contains four large bars of bath soap; one plastic bottle of shampoo (13 to 24 ounces; place in a resealable plastic bag); four large bars laundry soap); four adult-size tooth- brushes; four new bath tow- els (medium weight, dark or bright colors); two wide-tooth
combs (6 to 8 inches); one fingernail clipper (good qual- ity); one box adhesive ban- dages (minimum 40 count, assorted); and one package sanitary pads (18 to 24 count, thin maxi).
Please note: all these items should be in their origi- nal packaging.
All these items are placed in a five-gallon that can be used for different purposes.
• Hygiene kits each con- tain one adult-size toothbrush; one large bar bath soap; one fingernail clipper (good qual- ity); and one hand towel (dark color). Please note: these items also should be in their original packaging.
• Infant care kits each include these new items: two gowns/sleepers (flannel or similar warm, soft fabric); two undershirts/onesies (short or long sleeves); four cloth diapers (flat-fold preferred); one receiving blanket (light weight fleece or flannel; mini- mum 36 inches); four safety pins (two inches); one large bar mild soap (in wrapper); one pair of socks; and one cap. For 3 to 9 months size, items can either be purchased or hand-sewn from new mate-
rial.Adlard said that if they receive items that do not fit their kit criteria, those items are donated to other commu- nity organizations.
For Yoder, each comfort- er sent not only can provide warmth and some beauty but also serve other pragmatic purposes. Those uses can in- clude just having something to sleep on or serving as a partition for privacy, “howev- er they can be used,” she said.
Above all, Yoder said, “we send them with love.”
For more information, go online to mcc.org and click on “Get Involved.” Donated items can be brought to the West Coast MCC office at 1010 G St.; the office can be reached at (559) 638-6911.
The Reedley Library's programs of free activities included a "Melting Snowman Cookies" session on Dec. 12 as part of the Fresno County Public Library's annual Winter Craft program.
The library provided the sugar cookies plus all the yummy ingredients, such as the marshmallows for the heads, chocolate chips for the eyes, gumdrops for the hats, pretzel sticks for the arms, and long, thin red candy strands for scarfs.
ABOVE: Cousins Aleesha Medina, 8, and JacobPerez,9,showoftheir melting snowman creations.
RIGHT: Gracie Harder, 10, shows off her de- sign. Her 5-year-old sister, Jayden Harder, is next to her.
Photos by Felicia Cousart Matlosz / The Exponent
Quilt Blitz starts Jan. 26
EXHIBIT
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Americans as friends, neigh- bors and citizens,” the news release stated.
According to a flier for the Kingsburg exhibit, the Kingsburg Historical Soci- ety also will highlight “Kings- burg’s unique role during WWII and share little known stories of integrity, con- science and community that
helped Japanese Americans during and after the war.”
The other California loca- tion for the exhibit will be in Monterey through the Mon- terey Japanese American Citizens League.
Staff Report
The Mennonite Quilt Center will host a fabric frenzy to benefit the annual West Coast Mennonite Relief Sale – its Quilt Blitz begins Friday, Jan. 26, and Saturday, Jan. 27.
No experience is neces- sary for the blitz at the cen- ter, 1012 G St. A second ses- sion will be Friday, Feb. 23, and Saturday, Feb. 24. Times are 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Participants without ex- perience can cut squares for the quilts. Those with experi- ence can bring their sewing machines and supplies. The event also welcomes fabric donations. Judi Ratzlaff and Vivian Dueck will lead the blitz sessions.
“It’s just a blast,” said Marci VanderGriend, co- manager of the Mennonite Quilt Center. “We’ve had little girls who cut and sew. You bring your own lunch and your machine if you want to ... Everyone is wel- come.”
The annual West Coast
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Mennonite Relief Sale will be April 6 and 7 at Fresno Pacific University. It’s a major fundraiser, with all proceeds going to the Men- nonite Central Committee’s relief efforts around the world.
For more information about the Quilt Blitz, call the Mennonite Quilt Center at (559) 638-3560.
“Prime Time”
Friday Nights! Proudly featuring U.S.D.A. Choice
“PRIME RIB” From 4:30 p.m. till it lasts!
Open 6 a.m.to 10 p.m. 910 North Alta, Dinuba • 591-2122
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12 Noon - 1:30 p.m. ˜ Sunday, January 28, 2018
Alumni Welcome!
Celebrating 65 years of Catholic Education
The Reedley Exponent B9 Thursday, January 18, 2018
Festive cookies
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