It was time for our monthly lunch with our Super Leisure Group (SLG) friends, and Calvin had arranged for us to meet down at Porirua. That suited us fine, as on the way I could do a donation drop off at Paraparaumu Beach, on the way to Porirua. So I packed up some goodies for Foster Hope, and we set off bright and early. These had been finished some time ago, and were waiting patiently to be delivered.
Three draw string bags for toiletries or pencils
Three toddlers aprons, a woolly beanie and two pencil cases with pencils
Two quilts, one for a boy with Happy blocks, and one for a girl with floral nine patches
These were handed over to the local Lotto and book shop which accepts donations for Foster Hope.
We had plenty of time to spare before our lunch date so parked up on Paraparaumu Beach for a while. The tide was out, and empty several boat trailers attested that a few fishermen were out to sea. Sea gulls were busy calling and it's always nice to see Kapiti Island offshore. Robin remarked that when he was truck driving for Toops he often used to park up on this beach during his lunch break.
Kapiti Island off shore
Then it was time to continue with our journey down to Porirua to meet our friends. This was at a "new to us" cafe in Mitre 10 hardware store, and it certainly was busy. Just as well that Calvin had booked a table for us. There was a further donation at the cafe. You may remember that I had gifted Trish's GGD Charlotte a quilt featuring pretty unicorns a while ago. With some of the unicorn panels left over, I stitched up three unicorn cushions recently, and gave this one to Trish to pass on to Charlotte as a little extra.
Trish with a cushion for Charlotte
As usual, we had plenty to chat about as we checked out the menu and the cabinet food. The cafe was humming with customers. Then it was time for the draw. Our group originally started with 12 members, so the draw was done annually. Sadly, with only five remaining SLG members the drawing of the months comes around much more regularly. The name of the months we each organise our outing were pulled out of a cup, and notated, always very necessary in case we forget. Robin's month is September, so he will have to put his thinking cap on and decide where we will meet. In the group's early years we were all so much more actine, and went for tramps up and down hills, along beaches, and walked through fancy gardens which were open to the public. These days with our various sore knees, backs, feet etc we just meet somewhere for lunch.
Helen, Calvin, Robin, Jenny and Trish
It's always so nice to get together and Trish had brought along some photos of our escapades from earlier years. Goodness me, not a grey hair in sight back then! Many thanks to Calvin for planning our day.
The following day I received an unexpected phone call from a lady thanking me for the donations, and the quilts in particular. She is the founder of a group "Grandparents raising Grandchildren" and obviously works alongside the Foster Hope charity. She told me she was very impressed with my thoughtful donations and told me she was going to take the two quilts to use in her own group. I commented that I had no problem with that, and also that she was the only person ever to acknowledge my donations that I had made over the years. She was astounded by this, and thanked me profusely, explaining what her group did, and how many grandparents end up taking care of the grandies for various reasons, usually drinking and drugs. I'm sure like all who donate to good causes, I don't do it for thanks, but as I always leave a note inside the bags with my phone and email details, would just like to be acknowledged.
6 comments:
You have such adventures!
How wonderful to receive a phone call after all these years.
You have a lovely group to meet for lunches and you get to visit which is awesome.
God bless.
It looks like you all had another lovely lunch together. It must have been fun looking back at the photos. How nice that someone finally acknowledged your donations.
So fun to meet up with friends for lunch and a catch up. Generous donations from you…sure to be appreciated by whoever receives them Gail at the Cozy quilter
Great to have been able to drop of your fabulous donations on your way to join friends for lunch.
I certainly understand your desire to be acknowledged for quilts and other creations you've made and donated over the years! Goodness. All of us who make and donate wish for that. I've often thought how lovely it would be be know - see! - who receives the items we've made. No need for thanks... just a quick visual, to be assured that what we've taken time and resources to create, has been put into the hands of someone who will use (maybe even "love") them. That's not selfishness or a desire for recognition. It's just assurance that efforts haven't been wasted. I'm SO glad that woman called you to thank you. No doubt, in a small way, that makes up for years of un-acknowledgement.
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