The Creative Grange
Activities Department will provide opportunities for members and
non-members of the Grange to express their creativity through a
variety of projects and activities. This Grange department will
provide articles to be used by people for comfort and security, help
to preserve our agricultural heritage, and encourage participants to
express their creativity through crafts and baking.
COMMUNITY
AWARENESS PROJECTS
Some of the Community
Awareness Projects started by the National Grange are continued by
this department. These projects include but are not limited to ABC
Quilts, CAPS for Kids and the Foster Parent Program. I have patterns to share for making pillowcases, preemie blankets and placemats for various agencies in need of these items. Contact me if interested.
Health Project
Our health project is
to support Breast Cancer through research and urge members “Don’t
Duck Your Mammogram!”
As part of the health project I am
suggesting that Grangers make Dignity Shirts from McCall’s Pattern
#3253 or Anti- Ouch Pouches that can be given either to a local
hospital or cancer agency. Instructions for the Anti-Ouch pouches
are available from me.
Campbell Soup
Labels – Labels for Education
Campbell Soup labels
and other product labels from Campbell Soup Company can be collected
and sent to Camp Merry Heart, a facility for crippled children. They
can also be given to the CGA Department and we will deliver them to
the Camp. The address is:: Camp Merry Heart RD #2, O’Brien Road Hackettstown, NJ 07840
Labels for Education can be saved and given to the CGA Department or
be probably used by a local school in your Grange’s area. Check to
see and help out rather than throw out.
Recycled Eye
Glasses
This department is
recycling used eye glasses, cases, safety glasses and sunglasses for
the Medical Ministry International which is the world’s largest
short-term volunteer Christian medical mission. Each Grange is
encourage to construct a box or boxes to be placed in a doctor’s
office, Senior Center, Community Center, Town Hall, etc. for
assistance with this project. All glasses should be brought to State
Grange or mailed to: Medical Ministry International PMB - 591 1001 South 10th Ste G McAllen, TX 78501-5038
Foster Parent
Program
A number of years ago
the National Grange partnered with the National Foster Parent
Association, Inc. to enjoy a working relationship on a subject of
mutual concern: family and children. We have also taken this on as a
project and urge each Grange to contact a local Foster Parent Unit
to find out their needs and concerns.
Making tote bags for the youngsters to use
when they have to move, the giving of Christmas gifts, sponsoring an
event are all projects that have been done in the past.
Monetary donations are always appreciated.
Project Yellow
Ribbon
Let’s continue to do a project to support our troops. There are many
things that can be done; writing letters, sending packages, making
neck coolers, knitting mittens and socks for the wounded, making
throws are all possibilities.
Keep on making neck cooler and gators as they are still needed. Project instructions are available; just contact me.
Instructions have been mailed to each CGA chairman on making helmet liners for the troops in Afghanistan where is gets very cold at night. More copies are available from me.
New this year is a project to support the woman in the military. A list of items that these women need is in the CGA Packet. Please gather some items and send them off to these gals as we sometimes forget that there are woman serving our country as well.
Going Green
All Granges and Grangers are urged to become more eco-friendly. Ideas on how to do this will be forthcoming in my Gleaner articles or in upcoming issues of the Chatter.
CREATIVE GRANGE
ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT PROJECTS
New Jersey Museum of Agriculture
The New Jersey Museum of Agriculture will be sponsoring its 15th
annual Plant and Landscape Auction on Saturday, May 1st, 2010 and
its Chinese Auction on Saturday, June 5th, 2010. We are
asking each Grange to donate either merchandise (new or nearly new)
or money. Each year Granges are very generous in their support which
has made for the success of these endeavors.
A letter will be sent to each Grange in February asking for help in
continuing the success of these fund raisers.
Kelley Farm
The Kelley Farm in Elk
River, Minnesota was the home of our founder, Oliver Hudson Kelley
at the time the Grange was organized. We have been assisting the
Farm by purchasing items that they need to keep the farm as a living
history museum.
I have contacted the site manager, Bob Quist,
and he suggested that they need to replace some bowls and crocks
like the ones pictured on this page. They have to be specially made
so as they continue to be authentic for the historical period. The
cost for these replacements is $1000.00. I informed him that we will
help provide them. Letters will be sent in the future to ask for
donations for this project.
Cavalcade of Crafts
The following
Craft Contests are open to Grange members as well as to non-members.
Participants may use any type pf product they wish to complete a
project indicative of the class. Entries are due by 11:00 pm of
October 22, 2010. Class A: Decorated Shoes
– An entry will consist of a pair of decorated footwear including
clogs, sneakers, flip flops, boots, etc. Class B: A Quilted Article – An entry will consist of any article that has been quilted, such as a full-size quilt, wall hanging, vest, purse, etc. Class C: A Decorated Pumpkin –
An entry will be a pumpkin decorated with any type of craft medium. Class D: A Star Ornament –
An entry will be any type of star ornament made in the craft medium of the owner’s choice. These ornaments will then be saved and used on a tree that will be on display at the 2010 National Grange Convention in Charlotte, NC in November of 2010. Monetary prizes will be awarded to the top three entries:
First place $20.00, Second Place $15.00, and Third Place $10.00. All
entries will receive a thank you gift.
Grange Bake-Off
The Bake-Off is
open to members and non-members of the Grange. Disposable pans must
be used but in the event they are not, the committee will not be
responsible for their return. Entries representing each Pomona
Grange are due by 1:30 pm of October 22, 2010. Recipes must
accompany the entry. Please have a name label attached to the plate
or pan containing the baking entry.
Prizes are: First place $20.00, Second Place $15.00, and Third Place
$10.00 for Classes A, B, and C. There will be a Pomona judging and
winning entries will be brought to State Grange. Class D: (For kids
only who may be members or non-members of a Junior Grange.) There
will be three age categories; 5 -7, 8 – 11, 12 – 14. Prizes will be
awarded to the top five entries; First Place $5.00, Second Place
$4.00, Third Place $3.00, Fourth Place $2.00 and Fifth Place $1.00.
There will be NO Pomona run-off for the Kids-Only Class as
all entries will be brought to State Grange. Class A: Cinnamon Raisin Bread–An entry will consist of a loaf of Cinnamon Raisin Bread Class B: Oatmeal Cookies–An entry will consist of 25 cookies. Any added ingredients are at the discretion of the baker. Class C: Lemon Chiffon Cake –An entry will consist of one Lemon Chiffon Cake. Class D: (Kids-Only) No Bake Cookies–
An entry will consist of 25 cookies with ingredients at the discretion of the baker (or, in this case, the no-baker).
