[NFB-Krafters-Korner] Just shareing from my local paper

Wed Nov 23 03:02:17 UTC 2022

That is such a heart-warming story.  Congratulations and keep it up!

-----Original Message-----
From: NFB-Krafters-Korner <nfb-krafters-korner-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf
Of SHELLEY SCHUETT via NFB-Krafters-Korner
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2022 2:31 PM
To: 'List for blind crafters and artists' <nfb-krafters-korner at nfbnet.org>
Cc: SHELLEY SCHUETT <shelleyschuett at telus.net>
Subject: [NFB-Krafters-Korner] Just shareing from my local paper

A giving spirit

By Lori Larsen

Giving  is the one thing in this world that is not restricted by borders,
will always be welcome and has the potential to not only make ripples but
cause tidal waves of compassion.

Whether that be giving of time, support, funds or gifts (purchased or
handmade), giving hearts just never get old.

In recognition of Giving Tuesday on Tuesday, November 29, everyone is
encouraged to give where, when and how they can to help make this a more
cared for world.

Join other extraordinary people like Camrosian Shelley Schuett who has been
giving through her love for knitting and crafting for years.

"My gramma (mom's mom) taught me to knit when I was 10," said Shelley. "And
I knit everything from blankets and sweaters to stuffed toys and slippers.

"I put my knitting aside for a bit after my husband passed away and I
decided I wanted to do some kind of volunteering, but transportation is
always an issue (blind since birth, Shelley only has a very small percentage
of sight). So I researched something I could do from home."

After browsing on the internet for organizations (not-for-profit) where she
could use her incredible skills for knitting to help a good cause, Shelley
discovered Blankets for Canada, a not-for-profit organization devoted to
creating blankets for Canadians who need warmth, dependent entirely upon
donations.

"There is a chapter in Edmonton and I got very involved in that Chapter,"
said Shelley. "I used to go up to their "joining bees". The goal was to knit
eight inch squares that were then knitted into blankets and given to the
homeless shelters and facilities in Edmonton. Because I lived in Camrose the
organization also delivered blankets to the Camrose Women's Shelter once or
twice a year."

Excited to be able to do what she loved but also give back, Shelley
continued her volunteering work with Blankets For Canada and when she moved
to Milton, Ontario with her partner Roger, she started a Chapter out there.

After moving back to Camrose, she admits that living in a larger centre was
just not their cup of tea, they missed the small town atmosphere and
wonderful support they get in Camrose, Shelley kept doing blankets for
Blankets for Canada.

"But I started looking for other things to do for blind people and I found
this group called Krafters Korner, a crafting division of the National
Federation of the Blind ( <http://www.krafterskorner.org/>
www.krafterskorner.org) out of the US. "They are in every state and they
have all kinds of divisions and Krafters Korner is one of the divisions,"
explained Shelley. "It is blind people teaching blind people how to do
crafts through free telephone conference calling."

It seemed Shelley found another outlet for her passion for crafting, but
also her incredible desire to give back to those less fortunate.

"I got involved with that and started doing a bunch of crafts, such as pony
beading, scrap booking, hand sewing-all different kinds of crafts."

Not one to shy away from learning a new craft, she continues to take courses
but is also now teaching knitting and pony beading.
"Two years ago, we started a class called Caring for Sharing," said Shelley.
"Once a month we find a charity, learn what that charity is about (and
ultimately donate to the charity)."

The first Charity the group worked with and continues to work with is
Operation Christmas Child. With a cause for her craft, Shelley was off to
the races crafting a variety of beautiful and thoughtful little gifts for
packing into Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes. Items include: little
knitted washcloths folded into butterflies, small sewn games, beaded
jewelry, bookmarks and tiny knitted stuffies, a tote full of which she
recently donated to this year's Camrose Operation Christmas Child campaign.

Shelley has also taken on the task of tracking all the hours and items
donated by this group in an effort to demonstrate that, despite being blind,
a person can make a huge difference.
Recently, she also took over for the previous person who was seeking out the
charities the group wants to donate to because she didn't want to see the
initiative stop. "I love to do work for charities. It is my thing."

Besides Operation Christmas Child, the group has donated to Operation
Gratitude (crafting patriotic items to be sent overseas to soldiers) and
Mittens for Detroit.

Shelley explained that while deciding on donating to Mittens for Detroit, a
spokesperson for the initiative spoke to the Krafters Korner group relating
the impact their donations would have on the recipients.

"She told us that in Detroit, they get requests for 50,000 pairs of mittens
a year and only handle 30,000. That is how big the need is Detroit."

The spokesperson also related one story in particular that brought Shelley
to tears.

"At one school they had taken enough mitts for all of the kids and were
handing them out. She (the spokesperson for Mittens for Detroit) said she
had a little boy come up and ask if the mittens were just for the children.
When asked why he was asking, the little boy said he would like a pair for
his gramma-blue ones."

Shelley related that when the young boy was told to first pick out a pair of
mitts for himself he insisted on just getting a pair for his gramma.

"The volunteer helped him find a pair of blue mittens that would fit his
gramma, and was later told by the librarian at that school that the young
boy's parents had been killed in a car accident the year before, and his
grandmother was now looking after him and his three brothers.

"We just think it is a pair of mittens, but for someone else it is the
world. Just knowing that somebody out there cares is all they need to go
on-to make a difference in their life."

The list goes on of the many tenderly crafted items that Shelley does to be
donated to so many needy causes. She makes cards that she donates to an
organization that distributes them to hospitals and senior care centres. "We
leave them blank inside so the staff can write encouraging messages in them.
And this is all through Krafters Korner, that I have got involved with these
other charities."

Besides making all these items, Shelly also pays out of pocket, not only for
the supplies but any associated shipping costs. She did point out that while
Krafters Korner does work for charities across the globe they don't specify
that has to be the chosen charity. "If you find a need in your community
then you can give to them. If I found out somewhere here in Camrose (and
area) needed mittens or hats, I would knit them hats or mittens.

"If I see a cause and it is something I can craft I am on it," giggled
Shelley.

For people who may not have the skills or time to do the actual crafting
there are numerous other ways to give back too.

"Marion and Dale Toogood (also amazing givers in our community) do a lot of
charity stuff but she doesn't knit or crochet. So she goes around to all the
thrift markets and garage sales and buys yarn and brings it to me. That is
her way of helping out," remarked Shelley. "I love that because I go through
so much yarn. I will never turn away yarn or craft supplies."

Shelley admits she is a bit of a fanatic when it comes to crafting and will
go on crazes. Such as her most recent project of knitting adorable stuffed
teddy bears. Each with their own character, each bearing a tiny little
heart, which I am convinced is Shelley's way of giving a piece of her heart
to every recipient of her goodwill.

Upon a suggestion, Shelley agreed to have the teddy bears donated during the
Camrose Kodiaks Teddy Bear Toss game scheduled for December 3. Anyone
interested in tossing a delightful handcrafted teddy bear are welcome to
come and toss away and be a link in a chain of kindness initiated by
Shelley, an amazing person whose lack of eyesight has never stopped her from
seeing the need in others. 

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