New Recruits!

Here are five little monkeys who need homes! They aren't on Etsy yet, but if you see one you would like, let me know (I can also provide a close up of the one you are interested in). They will be $9.95 plus shipping.

Our bag project is coming together wonderfully!

15 bags and counting

We have 15 bags that are complete, and I ordered 15 more blank ones to decorate and fill. So many generous people have been helping with this project, donating supplies to go into the bags. This project can make a huge difference in the lives of children in the hospital. Not only does it give them something to do, but it provides a distraction from things that are too much for even grown-ups to handle. These kids are warriors, and they deserve a beam of sunshine in their day. If you can donate any supplies (new craft projects, kids books, coloring books, crayons, small games, small kids' puzzles, etc), send me an email (address is below).

I am working on some more monkeys for the Monkey Shop! Remember that a big portion of the proceeds go toward funding these monkey missions. I will custom make sock monkeys as well. If you have socks you think would make a perfect monkey, email me and let me know. If you need a baby-safe monkey, I can do that easily for you. Just let me know (mrmeadors@gmail.com).

Hats to bags... Monkey Mission #4

Our hat project is all but officially over! (We'll be delivering them on Friday, to Veteran's Inc in Worcester). Which means it's time for....

MONKEY MISSION #4

I've been busy gathering supplies for young troops to decorate bags to give to UMass Memorial's Children's Hospital. They will take canvas bags, decorate them with fabric markers, and then fill them with some goodies for sick kiddos at the hospital. Each bag will have a coloring book, crayons, stickers, and bubbles, as well as a special little something from whoever decorated the bag.

If anyone is interested in helping out with this, making a bag or donating some supplies, I highly suggest ordering bags from cheaptotes.com. We are using the 14x16 size bag, which costs just $1.19. Then, you can paint or use fabric markers on the outside. If you are interested in donating supplies, here is a list of things they could use:

• Infant and Toddler board books
• No spill tumbler cups
• Disposable sippy cups
• Wrist rattles
• I Spy and pop-up books
• Coloring books
• Plastic infant toys and rattles
• Squeezable stress balls
• Bubbles
• Playing cards
• Phase 10 and Skip Bo cards
• Pinwheels
• Matchbox cars
• Crayola markers and colored pencils
• Unpainted wooden crafts (birdhouses, boats, cars, etc.)
• Colorful bandaids
• Crayons (individual boxes

They cannot accept any stuffed animals for sanitary reasons.

If you have any questions, feel free to email me mrmeadors@gmail.com (for best results, put "monkey mission" in the subject line). I'll be accepting things until mid-March. Thank you!

Hats, hats!

The hats are starting to come in from my helpers! You all are doing a great job. Thank you so much!

Remember, this month we are making hats for homeless veterans in the Worcester, MA area. Any new homemade hats will be accepted, be they sewn, knitted, etc. As long as they will fit an adult male head :).

And if anyone is interested in making hats for little people who are fighting cancer (bags too), check out Craft Hope's newest project! We might piggy back and help them with their project a bit, too!