Changing of the Knitting Guard

Last year, the knitting group, subset of the Troy Women's Association, checked off items on their ToDo list, like Santa does on Christmas morning.

Washcloths for soldiers. Check.
Hats and Mittens for those in need of them. Check.
Chemo Caps. Check.
An afghan for a raffle at our craft show. Check. (raffle brought in several hundred dollars.)
Women's hats for charities that support women. (See picture of our new leader with a hat)

This year, the woman at the helm, Kathy F. She brings in lots of ideas and energy.

This year, we will be reaching out to On My Own, a group of developmentally impaired adults, to teach them to knit. Troy Public Library has opened a room for this purpose on Saturday from two to five. And if all goes well, this offer, to teach knitting, will be shared with Troy High students wanting to find something to do with their hands and fingers beside texting. :)  

On My Own (and not alone)

Two Special Needs Committee members visited the office of On My Own of Michigan on December 11, 2012.

In 1997, a group of parents of developmentally impaired children got together and started this non profit organization. The rest is a history of effort, commitment, and success.

After high school, no longer students, developmentally impaired students are not ready to be on their own and need support.  On My Own meets this need. It offers two programs, The Social Program and an Apartment Program.

The Social Program

This program is designed for individuals looking for social interaction. This also gives them a chance to be more independent from their families as they go on trips and outings.


The Apartment Living Program

This program offers what the Social Program offers as well as living on their own with some support.  Members' needs are met on person to person need. This may include assistance in learning life skills, paying bill, budgeting, issues with roommate and more.

The cost of the Apartment Living Program is an initial fee of $450 and $190 a month thereafter.  Members in this program work at nearby businesses and many are able to pay this cost on their own.


On My Own of Michigan office is moving  to Kirts Blvd to a larger place that will include a classroom, a kitchen, and a member lounge. They are  working at raising $25,000 for equipments for this new addition.  The Troy Women's Association was please to donate $1,000 for them to accomplish this goal.

Future fund raising events:

February 12, 2013. Annual Celebration Banquet at Somerset Inn.

March 10, 2013. Family Fun Bowl at Astro Lanes.

June 17, 2013, 16th Annual Charity Golf Outing, Paint Creek Country Club.

Date TBD for the Gala Fundraiser at Erhard BMW in Farmington Hills.

Edith and Karen A.

Chicks with Sticks add to TWA Donation Fund.

Always looking for ways to make the world a little kinder, the knitters among us, under the direction of Carole B., came together and knitted a beautiful afghan. Then at our annual craft show, the Elf Shelf, we hung up for display and sold raffle tickets. A total of $342.05 was collected from the sale of our raffle tickets which will go a long way as we continue to make a difference in our community.

The winner of the raffle was the above lovely lady, Hannah. We congratulate her and look forward to working on another one in the year to come.

 

   

Congratulations to Camp Casey

The Troy Women's Association congratulates Camp Casey for being one of the 96 non-profits to receive a grant from Chase bank. They worked hard getting the votes from their social media contacts and it paid off.  It means more horsey house calls.  Outstanding effort.

Beanie Babies

When Connie, our President, received a call that a woman who collects beanie babies was looking to donate them to an organization that could distribute them, said, "We'd be happy to."  We were. We were also surprised that there were hundreds and hundreds.  So, we got to work.

Fifty to Evergreen Health & Living Center
Twelve to SOS
Twenty-four to Camp Casey
Thirty-six to Baby Basics
Three hundred to Project Linus
Seventy for Winter Warmers
Two hundred to an orphanage in Nashville

We've made a dent. But some of us are beginning to think that they are multiplying in our cars.  Picture shows this writer's trunk and she is convinced that they are coming out of the containers and doing goodness knows what.

Even so, we are thankful and know that our beanie babies will provide comfort to hundreds of little ones.

Edith/TWA

TWA Back To Work

Another year at hand. Much to do. The Troy Women's Association started a new year with dinner, dessert, and celebrating our President's birthday.  Connie informed us that this would be the last birthday she'd celebrate publicly. It's doubtful that we will let her get away with that.

On the giving front, we spent time dividing the work among us for the various committees.  Jo is putting together a table of eight for Haven's yearly breakfast.  Vickie filled us in on Elf Shelf happenings.  This is our largest fund raiser of the year. This year, 2012, we are celebrating our forty-second year for this event that now brings in more than two thousand people.

With our thirty or so projects, it's hard to calculate the woman hours but what matters is that each year, people and groups enjoy the fruits of our labor. 

TWA - Senior Citizen Project - May 2012

          This year the Troy Women's Association hosted a "Dessert Party" for the residents of a local senior housing complex.

     Members of TWA baked, prepared or purchased a wide variety of desserts for the event.  The seniors had their pick from ice cream sundaes, lemon bars, banana/pineapple pudding dessert, assorted cookies, cupcakes, fresh fruit skewers with dip, brownies, cherry cheesecake bars, cinnamon chocolate pretzels, pineapple upside down cake, cream horns, lemon pound cake, cinnamon bundt cake, brown sugar chewies, apple pie, sugar free butterscotch pudding dessert and a chocolate/peanut butter bar dessert.  They also enjoyed cold drinks, hot coffee and great company. 

         

The room was decorated with bright paper pinwheels and 

 fresh hosta leaves.

                We also made sure that all the extra

"goodies"  went home with the residents

in carryout containers.

Several of our members were in attendance to set up, serve and clean up.  A wonderful time was had by all, seniors and members alike.