Healing Scraps for Oklahoma

I've seen, from a distance or on TV, many tornadoes. As a kid, I knew a few people that were impact somewhat, but never until the Moore tornadoes have I known so many people who lost so much.  A couple friends lost cars and/or the place where they worked blew away.  Another friend's business was destroyed.  And worst of those we knew was a family we're friends with who lost their home.  The mom was home and sheltering in a closet.  She survived.  For the week after the storm, their family, our friends, and my husband spent many many hours carefully driving in groups in and out of the destroyed and then secured area of Moore salvaging their belongings.  They are heartbroken, but resilient.  

There has been a huge outpouring of support for the tornado victims in Oklahoma from across the state, nation, and even globally.  Many are working on critical needs like housing, health, and reconstruction.  When I saw my friend, what she seemed to also need was something to lift her spirits, something to help her find beauty and joy in the destruction and dirt. What came to mind for me was scrapbooking. My friend Stacey was crafty and liked to make things like cards for her 6 year old son's birthday party using her scrapbooking tools.  For me, scrapbooking is a kind of therapy in tough times and I'm hoping that it might bring a similar happiness to her.  Looking around at the devastation, I knew I wanted to do more for Moore, that we could, maybe, through the generosity of the scrapbooking community help more than just my friend.

So, I checked in with my local scrapbooking store, Paper Crown.  One of their former employees had lost everything as well.  They were already helping her every way they could, but also wanted to do more.  Together, we are collecting scrapbooking supplies for those impacted by the Oklahoma tornadoes (all of them).  We hope that maybe we can send out some joy and beauty to those impacted.  

If you have supplies you would like to donate please mail them either to me --email me at healingscraps4ok (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll tell you my address or send your package to

Paper Crown 
9303 N Pennsylvania Ave.

Oklahoma City, OK 73120

If you know someone impacted by the tornadoes please send their contact information to me at healingscraps4ok (at) gmail (dot) com.  We have some recipients already identified, but the positive response to the idea already from Studio Calico members and Twitter has been so positive that I think our little project may be growing larger than the people we've found so far. 

We have social media ways for you to share or communicate as well.  Visit this project at:

www.facebook.com/HealingScrapsForOklahoma.

OR

https://twitter.com/HealingScraps

This picture is our first big donation from Jennifer McGuire and hope to bring smiles to many faces of our fellow Okies before this project is over.  Thanks so much for your help with this and all the relief efforts in OK!

Hugs,

Abbey

(UPDATE:  The distribution date is coming! Read more here and help us reach all those that were impacted!)