​Well, as Karen Carpenter says in the song “greeting cards have all been sent, the Christmas rush is through.”  We can take a breath and spend a little time in this final week of December reflecting and prepare ourselves for the new year.  And what will the new year bring?  Probably as many challenges as this past year.  It will also provide many opportunities to continue the Christmas spirit of giving.   In January alone, there are many events at CGS for us to join in celebrating our lives together.  On January 8th, we will begin a new adult educational opportunity with our knowledgeable pastor on how the Bible was formed and some of the gospels that were not included in the final version! On January 9th, we can learn about the many ways to participate in our Safe Car Park Program.  After worship on January 14th, we will have our first Children and Family event full of games, food and fun.  We will celebrate the baptism of Ciaran on January 14th and Emma will be confirmed on January 21st.  In addition, we can volunteer as assistants with the Godly Play program for our children on the first and third Sundays of the month and learn along with them about the stories of our faith.  We can volunteer for Shelter Cooking to support those in our midst who experience food insecurities.  Once a month, one of our four teams prepares a meal for the Julian Street Shelter to show our love and support.  To think that all of this is available just in the month of January!  We can all experience any of these chances to give of ourselves or we can pray for those who provide these vital services.  Ask Christina in the office for more information on any of these events.  Our community will continue to give in this coming year.  Of that I have no doubt.
​-Jean Hope 

"Here is some information, thank you notes and photos from SCVQA for this year. Many of them are thank you notes to our guild, but please remind the congregation that the church’s generosity to our organization is a big part of what makes the donations possible. As you have seen first hand, we put the entire great room to use during our workdays  spreading out our numerous different activities across every inch of the room. This wonderful space allows us to prepare, process, organize and manage all the quilts that come through our group before being delivered out to our local community."

This year we were able to distribute an amazing 857 donated quilts. That’s more than last year. WOW! In addition to the individual recipient, the quilts also extend love and comfort to their families and care teams. We were able to donate around the bay area to the following recipients this year:

• Patients receiving Chemo treatment at PAMF Mnt View and Sunnyvale
• Those in end-of-life care with Sequoia Hospice in Milpitas
• Veterans at the VA Palo Alto HealthCare System
• Babies in NICU & children in Palliative care at Oakland Children’s hospital
• Foster Youths supported by Unity Care of San Jose
• Women and children at the Parisi House on the Hill women’s shelter
• Residents struggling with Dementia and Alzheimer’s at Loma Clara, Morgan Hill
• Underprivileged new mothers receiving support from the Assistance League Los Gatos-Saratoga
• Underprivileged children and teens receiving support from CARE SF Bayview & Hunters Point Districts
• Victims of assault supported by Grateful Garment Project
• The front-line care givers of the CA Nurse Practitioners, San Francisco chapter
• Even our scraps are used to stuff cubies (sit-upons) for under privileged children via Sew for love

 
I’ve attached several photos, naming them such that I hope it is easy to know which photo goes with which organization. If any of your congregation would like more information, they can reach out to me directly via email or they can visit our website.
 
The Grateful Garment Project provides victims of sexual violence the clothing and other resources they need to reclaim their dignity and begin the healing process.  When sexual assault victims seek medical attention and rape kits are performed, they are asked to surrender their clothing for DNA evidence. The traumatized victim then has nothing else to wear home but a hospital gown.  Grateful Garment Project works with hospitals, shelters, law enforcement and other nonprofits to meet victims’ immediate needs after a crisis and support their ongoing needs along their road to recovery. They requested hand-made wall hangings for the counseling and interview rooms.
 
Oakland’s Children’s Hospital sent us this lovely thank you note:
“Dear SCVQA,
This card comes with the deepest thanks for years, actually decades!, of your giving of the gorgeous, beautiful hand made quilts you have provided USDF Benioff Childrens NICU with. The entire staff surrounds our dear Gina Bowerman – our most lovely, loving and skilled nurse each time she arrives with the colorful quilts showing through the many bags she carries in from you <Heart>
 
…Our thanks are heartfelt and deep as we have both the honor and joy of offering these quilts from you. Many are given to the families who keep them for a lifetime – softening the memories of neonatal intensive care as a beginning. And many are used to brighten a hospital tiny bed or incubator for those sweet babies and families.
 
Our thank you for your creative skills, your choices in beautiful fabrics and your grand hearts is more than can ever be fully expressed.
From all the Oakland NICU and Hospital,
Bette Flushman, NICU BCHO”
 
Unity Care supports Foster Teens as they age out of the program. They sent this wonderful thank you note:
“Dear <SCVQA, >
Thank you for your donation of handmade quilts.  Your gift ensures that young people are shown genuine love and appreciation. It also assists them in learning that a bigger community cares for them, despite what their tough beginnings taught them. Please share with others the powerful impact of your donation.
 
When we updated our Mission: “We transform the lives of young people in and emerging from foster care by providing stable housing, caring connections, and life skills that build a foundation to achieve their potential.”, part of our goal became to educate and share that mission. 
 
Did you know that we serve over 200 transitional-age foster youth ages 18–25? While traditionally, youth can count on family support into adulthood, our young people must figure life out on their own. As you can imagine, this is not an easy feat.  Unity Care is helping prepare them for success - so they can live independently when it is time for them to transition out of our program.
 
How else does your donation impact youth?
Unity Care also provides move-in kits, bright holidays, birthday parties and scholarships for our young people to pursue their academic/vocational dreams, and graduation ceremonies to celebrate important milestones and youth's accomplishments. Your donation of handmade quilts completes a customized bedding package for move in kits.  This is a beautiful and thoughtful gesture that our youth are so deserving of.  We invite you to become a part of our mission! Let people know who we are, what we do and how you are helping. Just sharing with your network that you donated will inspire others to do the same.  www.unitycare.org/donate-now/
 
Sincerely,
Tai Batov, Partnerships Coordinator”
Unity Care, San Jose
 
Markham Plaza is an affordable low income housing facility that houses seniors, veterans, formerly homeless, students and families. They requested a set of quilts for a holiday event for all the mothers and children in their San Jose housing.
 
The CA Association of Nurse Practitioners SF Area Chapter’s appreciation event, NP Week, was held in November.
“Hi <SCVQA>,
My name is Lauren Thayer. I am one of the co-chairs for the communications/marketing team at CANP San Francisco. I have also included Shideh in this E-mail who is co-chair with me. We want to thank you so much for the quilts your guild has donated to NP Week the past two years! The quilts are a huge hit every year!
 NP Week is a week we celebrate our NP’s and the impact we have on our health care system, communities and patients. Last year was our first in person NP Week event since the pandemic and the quilts were so popular, we were thrilled to hear you wanted to donate more!
 
For this NP Week, the gifts we gave to our members focused on self care. Each member of our NP Week event received a gift box of small self care items (teas, honey, candle, lavender cachet and pillow spray) as well as a chance to win one of the beautiful quilts through ticket drawings. At our event, four of our members were presented certificates of honor for their legislative work by Supervisor Mandelman. We had two inspiring talks by Sister Roma <in drag> and Rafael Mandelman as well as an educational dinner. It was a great success and we are so thankful for your donations!
… We would love to work with you again next year!
Thank you again for the quilts and your guilds heart to donate to our chapter!
Lauren Thayer”
 
One of the nurses that received a quilt at the event sent the following note:
“Hi!
I just wanted to drop a note and say thank you so much for the beautiful quilts and thank you for donating them to CANP.  It made my month receiving one of your incredible quilts and it makes me so happy every time I see it.
Thank you for making a difference in our lives.
Best,
Heather Coyne, MSN, NP
UCSF Cancer Services APP Fellow”
 
Sequoia Hospice provides end-of-life care. Their Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Dee, shared these stories with us. These stories touch our hearts and truly inspire us.
“This is what I’ve heard from staff, patients and/or their families;
• Our nurse went out for a patient who was imminent, she saw your beautiful quilt keeping her warm.  When I talked with the family, they expressed how grateful they were. 
 
• A quilt was delivered for our patient, he was non-verbal as he was transitioning.  His sister was so thankful for the beautiful gift to help during this time.
 
• I received this message from one of our nurses who delivered a quilt to her patient for her 99th  birthday.  She had been in a lot of pain and very depressed to the point she would not talk and only wanted to sleep.  However,  She loved the quilt and said “It’s beautiful.  It’s her favorite colors pink and green!  Thank you so very much!!! YOU helped me brighten up her day!  Her spouse also was very THANKFUL!”
 
• When the nurses come in and ask for something special for a patient who is cold, depressed, it’s their birthday,…..;  They get excited to hand pick a special quilt for their patient.  It is always appreciated and well received.  The quilts not only bring joy to our patients and families but the nurses who over and over see their patients eventually pass away.  It brightens my day to see them enjoy brining a thoughtful amazing  gift. 
 
• We picked “Rock Star” of the month, the staff that won this award by going above and beyond was able to pick a quilt.  They were able to pick an amazing quilt to bring home and cuddle while it represents their amazing work with our hospice patients.  The joy it brought to be recognized and receive something so beautiful was priceless.  …
 
Thank you all so much.  Words cannot express our sincere gratitude for all that you all do. 
Dee Walsh
Hospice Volunteer Coordinator, Sequoia Hospice, 830 Hillview Ct. Suite 180, Milpitas, CA  95035”