December Workday

Heartstrings & Angel Wings

Mark your calendars!

Saturday, December 6, 2008 is a
Heartstrings & Angel Wings workday!!

The NICU babies are in need of clothing, blankets, isolette covers, etc and this is an excellent opportunity to get a large quantity of products ready for the babies and ready to deliver in the shortest amount of time! It's also a time to get caught up on what's happening in the [*non-profit*] organization and enjoy each other's company all while giving to a great cause.

No sewing experience is necessary!! (We can either instruct you on how to perform a simple sewing task, or set you up doing something non-sewing related.)

Please RSVP as soon as possible, and we'll send you more information (and directions if needed)! RSVPs are very important to make sure we have the right amount/type of equipment and material there for you to use! You can RSVP to heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com, rachel_patin@yahoo.com, or cbccrafts@centurytel.net.

Saturday, December 6, 2008
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Rachel Patin's home
Breaux Bridge, LA
*Lunch/snacks will be provided.

Please pass the information to anyone who may be interested!

Check our blog for the latest updates and see our last workday:
http://heartstringsandangelwings.blogspot.com/

Check out the website for more information and please continue to spread the word:
http://heartstringsandangelwings.com/

Contact us:

Email: heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com

www.heartstringsandangelwings.com

In the News

Heartstrings & Angel Wings in the News!

KLFY - Passe Partout - Chef Colt Patin spoke about the Gumbo Cook-Off, Heartstrings, and cooked gumbo

The Teche News - 3/11/2009

KATC - Good Morning Acadiana - Chef Colt Patin spoke about the Gumbo Cook-Off and Heartstrings 3/13/2009

KLFY - Coverage of the Gumbo Cook-Off 3/14/2009

Gumbo Cookoff 2009

**Our 2009 cook-off was a super huge success! Thank you to everyone who took part in this wonderful event. You all have touched more lives than you realize and we look forward to having you all again next year! Thank You Thank You Thank YOU!!!

And CONGRATULATIONS to all the winners!

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo
First Place - Bon Roux Krewe
Second Place - Yogi's Metal
Third Place - Team Boo Roux

Seafood Gumbo
First Place - Mylls Callier Team
Second Place - G&G Cooks
Third Place - Baker Corp. Champions


Please join us for the
First Annual Gumbo Cook-Off,
Raffle, and Silent Auctionat Crawfish Town USA!!!

All proceeds for this event benefit Heartstrings & Angel Wings
and March of Dimes!!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

**26 teams are scheduled to compete!!!! Thank you!!!**

**Event is being held rain or shine!**

Held under the Pavillion at Crawfish Town USA before & during the Fais Do Do featuring Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers.

Mail in your entry form before March 12, 2009 to participate in the Cook-Off. Categories are Seafood Gumbo and Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. (Entry form can be found on the Crawfish Town USA website.)

For all information including times and rules, please visit the Crawfish Town website.

We will also have a silent auction and raffle during the Cook-Off, so if you are interested in donating any items, please contact Colt at chefcoltpatin@yahoo.com.

Recruiting for this event is appreciated and encouraged!!!!

Schedule of events:
3:00 pm Team Registration
4:00 pm DJ for teams
7:00 pm Gates open to public
7:30 pm Judges are served
8:00 pm Public tasting of gumbos
8:00 pm Live music w/ Lil Nathan and the Zydeco Big Timers
8:30 pm Silent Auction Table #1 - auction ends
9:00 pm Silent Auction Table #2 - auction ends
9:00 pm Award Ceremony
10:00 pm Gumbo Cook-off ends

Items up for auction/raffle include:
Cajun Microwave courtesy of Al Simon's Cajun Microwaves
Double Burner courtesy of Frank's Casing Crew
Pearl Necklace courtesy of Marilyn's Fine Jewelry
Montecristo No. 3 cigars courtesy of Cajun Cigars of Breaux Bridge
Cabin Rental courtesy of Bayou Boudin
Speed Zone 2 Float courtesy of Budweiser
Brandon Stokley signed football courtesy of Christy Castille
Free Swamp tour for 2 courtesy of Cajun Swamp Tours
Children's Photo Shoot courtesy of Jennifer Patin Photography
Wooden Paddles courtesy of K Mays Crafts LLC
Gift Basket courtesy of Crawfish Town USA
Speciality Hair Products courtesy of Salon de Ville and Spa
Cajun Classic Pot with Tailgaiting kit courtesy of Targil and Bruce Foods Corp
LSU 5' Swing (with stand)
2 LSU children's rockers
LSU Children's table with 4 stools
Garden ornaments
Glass Table
Outdoor Chiminea
Outdoor Garden Statue courtesy of Chastant Brothers
Outdoor folding single burner
Shadow box frame (Boy) courtesy of Wendy Reaux
Outdoor Sun decoration courtesy of Jockey Lot

.....and more.....

October 2009 Newsletter

October 2009 Newsletter

Thank you for the continuing support and a special thank you and welcome to all of our new volunteers! Our list of volunteers continues to grow!

Workday Announcements

Our October workday was a huge success. We were able to complete several unit covers, many many snakes and shirts, and a bunch of cute little Halloween outfits for the babies (which have already been delivered). Next workday we will be getting started on our Christmas clothing and any other fall items. We will be making as many as we can for both Lafayette hospitals, so any donations of Christmas fabric which is appropriate for babies would be greatly appreciated. Especially cotton knit or cotton flannel.

November 7th is our next workday. Please RSVP if you plan to attend. Reminders will be sent as the date gets closer.

We are in need of more volunteers who sew to come to our monthly meetings. We have recently been accepted to bring donations to Women & Children's Hospital so that's an extra 50+ babies that we can help [in addition to the 25+ that we send to at LGMC]. So if you or someone you know may be interested in sewing, please contact us. heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com We do ask that you bring your own sewing machine to the workday, but thread and material is provided for you.

We have extra patterns and instructions available to bring home at our next workday for any that are interested in sewing or working from home. Items completed or worked on at home will be collected at the next workday (or special arrangements can be made) and delivered to the hospital afterward. Please do not make anything at home and deliver straight to the hospital.


November Workday Information ((please join us))

Heartstrings & Angel Wings

Mark your calendars!

Saturday, November 7, 2009 is a
Heartstrings & Angel Wings workday!!

The NICU babies are in need of clothing, blankets, isolette covers, etc and this is an excellent opportunity to get a large quantity of products ready for the babies and ready to deliver in the shortest amount of time! It's also a time to get caught up on what's happening in the organization and enjoy each other's company all while giving to a great cause.

Sewing experience is great, but not required!! (We can either instruct you on how to perform a simple sewing task, or set you up doing something non-sewing related.) If you do sew, we appreciate you bringing your own machine with you if possible. Material and thread will be provided for you.

Please RSVP as soon as possible. RSVPs are very important to make sure we have the right amount/type of equipment and material there for you to use and get you some directions! You can RSVP to heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com.

Saturday, November 7, 2009
9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Rachel Patin's home
Breaux Bridge, LA
*Lunch/snacks will be provided.

Please pass the information to anyone who may be interested!


Check our blog for the latest updates and see pictures from our last workday:
http://heartstringsandangelwings.blogspot.com/

Contact us:
Email: heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com
www.heartstringsandangelwings.com

Donations

What you can donate to Heartstrings & Angel Wings

Time
You can donate your time to Heartstrings at our once monthly workshop days or you can request items to prepare at home.

Talent
If you have a talent or professional skill which you think would be useful to the organization, and you would like to donate your time/talent please get in touch with us via email or our contact us form.

Fabric
You can donate fabric for clothing and other items made. Go to the "Products" page for more information as to what you can purchase.

Materials
We do need some office materials for mailings, brochures, and flyers distributed by the group as well as other things needed for distribution.

Examples of materials that you can donate are:
pastel colored paper (24# best)
envelopes
plastic zipper bags for packaging
Dreft (for washing)

Monetary Donations
We accept cash or check donations made payable to Heartstrings & Angel Wings. Please contact us for the mailing address.

Products

Our items that are donated to area hospitals:

NICU-friendly Shirts
NICU-friendly Wraps
NICU-friendly Gowns
Receiving Blankets
Isolette Covers
Crochet Items


MATERIAL LISTS (add All purpose thread to all lists)

Diaper shirts & Gowns
-Cotton Flannel, Cotton Knit, or Soft Broadcloth
-Velcro (regular, not adhesive back)

Receiving Blankets
-Fleece
-Cotton Knit

Bibs & Burp Cloths
-Terry Cloth
-Soft Fabric for back
-1/2 or 1 inch wide ribbon for tie

Crochet & Knitted Items
- Soft yarn with no metallic thread, no fuzzy texture, no wool.
- Fingering sport, worsted weight

Isolette Cover (to prevent light and noise from hurting baby)
-1 1/4 yard of plain & very dark fabric for inside
-1 1/4 yard broadcloth for outside of cover, can be any pattern
- Package of medium weight batting

Lovey
- Fleece
- Fiber Fill

Cuddler
- 2/3 yard of cotton or poly-cotton blend
- Batting

Home

Clothing our smallest miracles.

Welcome to the website for Heartstrings & Angel Wings, a non-profit charity organization dedicated to supporting premature babies and their families. We provide clothing and other items used in Neonatal Intensive Care Units during the (often extended) stay for the family's newest members.

Our organization works off of the donations of time, talent, and funds of the people in the communities served by our Acadiana area hospitals who are touched by the stories and heorism of premature babies and their families. Without your help, we will not be able to continue, so please, send us your information today and help. Anything you can do, small or large, is greatly appreciated. (Monetary donations are also accepted.)

Visit our blog for updates and news on what's going on in the group as well as pictures of all our deliveries! http://heartstringsandangelwings.blogspot.com

How we were formed.
Heartstrings and Angel Wings was formed after the birth of Heath Logan - a Breaux Bridge area premature baby related to some of our members - born 16 weeks too soon. Micro preemie baby clothing is not readily available, and often hard to find, so our goal is to provide clothing to fit any of these small babies. This relieves a little of the stresses felt by parents with babies in Neonatal ICU and also provides comfort to the baby. The premature babies we provide clothing for range from 1 pound or less to 6 pounds in weight. Most babies stay for weeks or months in Neonatal ICU. The items we provide families with are shirts, gowns, hats, blankets, incubator covers, loveys, etc.

"Miracle" Babies
Babies born before 37 weeks of gestation are deemed premature.

In the last 20 years, the rate of premature birth increased 31 percent.

Premature birth is the number one killer of newborns.

Prematurity affects 1 in every 8 babies in the United States.

Babies who survive may face serious, lifelong health problems.

Premature babies stay in Neonatal Intensive until approximately until their due date.

Causes of nearly half of all preterm births are unknown.

Preterm birth is the leading challenge in pediatrics.

On an average day in the United States, 1,305 babies are born premature (before 37 weeks); 213 are born severely premature (before 32 weeks).


Hospitals in the area that we aid.

Lafayette General Medical Center NICU
Can accomodate 25 babies.

Women's & Childrens NICU
Can accomodate 54 babies.

What you can do to help.

Any service provided to Heartstrings is very appreciated. You can help in the smallest or largest of capacities. These are some of the service areas in which we need help:

Donate (money or materials)
Sew Clothing (patterns provided)
Cut Patterns (material and patterns provided)
Wash Clothing (Dreft)
Package Clothing (Sealed zipper bags)
Distribute Flyers/Brochures

If you have any questions, or would like to join our organization, please email us today! All you need to do is send your name, address, phone number and provide us with what you would like to do. We'll contact you with the rest!

Heartstrings & Angel Wings

Breaux Bridge, LA
heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com

About Us

Our Mission

Heartstrings and Angel Wings, Inc. is a non-profit, charity organization which provides clothing for premature babies in Acadiana area Neonatal Intensive Care Units for comfort to families and babies during a time clouded with much uncertainty. Heartstrings also provides Acadiana area hospitals with items used to comfort premature babies during their extended stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit



Angels coming out to play

Angels coming out to play
Angels touch our life each day.
Though we may not know they're there
There are angels...everywhere!
Angels can cause a heart to sing...
Angels give our spirits wings!
An angel's touch can bring God so near
An angel's smile...can dry a tear.
Have you felt a tug on your heartstrings?
Chances are it was caused by angel wings.
They flutter softly in the light...
Shimmering with edges so gold so bright
We mere mortals to earth are bound,
Angels trod on holy ground.
So next time you are feeling low,
Remember...angels are there...
Wherever you go!

It's been a long time...

Our first Saturday workday was last weekend, and it was a very very good day! Here are some pictures!! Lots of blankets and shirts!

Another workday is already scheduled!!!! December 6th, 9am-1pm. Be there or be square! Help our babies out!