Sunday, December 16, 2012

What's on My Frame and What's on My Mind

I have been hooking a little bit, in between cleaning and decorating and baking cookies and, like the rest of the world, grieving for those little children and their teachers.  I was hoping the warm feel of the wool and the thrumming sound of my hook through the linen would lift me out of the gray fog that has enveloped me for days now.  It hasn't.  

Last week I hooked another version of a Christmas stocking I designed last year called "Christmas in Connecticut."  It features a little red schoolhouse and a child sledding down a rolling hill.  I can't look at it now without seeing the spire of the Newtown Meetinghouse on that quintessential New England Main Street, so familiar to me from the years Barb and I vended at the Newtown Hooked Rug Show.

I am struggling with this feeling of helplessness, knowing there is nothing I can do ease the pain for those parents and the families of the teachers.  There are groups out there making hooked pieces and hats and afghans to send to Sandy Hook, but that's not, for me, the best idea.  

I have found, on the Newtown Patch, two funds that have been set up to help the families:

United Way of Western Connecticut, in partnership with Newtown Savings Bank, created the Sandy Hook School Support Fund to help provide support services to the families and community that are affected.
Check donations may be mailed to: 
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street, Newtown CT  06470
If you have questions on the fund, you may call 800-461-0672.

A former Sandy Hook Elementary School student named Ryan Kraft, also a longtime neighbor of the Lanza family, posted a Local Voices blog on Newtown Patch saying he set up a fund to help heal his community.
The link to the fund site is here — http://www.crowdrise.com/SHSRelief — and according to Kraft, all monies are directed toward the school's PTSA organization.
The funds are directed to the school's PTSA organization. Please help in any way you can.
Here is the link to the fund site: 
The funds are directed to the school's PTSA organization. Please help in any way you can.

I have also signed the White House Petition for Gun Control: Gun Control Petition
I hope you do, too.

2 comments:

Cathy G. said...

Sarah,
I appreciate this post so much! I want you to know that I have been struggling these past few days also and knowing specific ways to help is very welcome. I pray that in days to come we can all help one another continue to heal from this horrendous evil assault on our beloved.
Sending prayers for strength and healing powers that conquer evil dear friend.
Hugs!
Cathy G

Julia said...

Sarah, I'm so heart sick about the terrible tragedy. I have difficulty with it too.

So much healing needed. Prayers for all of the victims and family.

Our priest has a sister living in Newtown and he was in the church where half of the kids belongs to the congregation.

This senseless act is affecting us even here in New Brunswick Canada.

Hugs,
JB
Hugs,
JB