I appreciate the kindness of Chatham Chatlist volunteers

Date: Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:34:55 -0700 (PDT)
From: Maggie Crandall
Subject: Re: Appreciating Chatlist Responders

I want to say Thank You & let other chatlist readers know some good news on these hot summer days.

Frequently I have placed requests for leftover yarn on this list. For more than 2 years – wonderful Chatham-ites have said, “yes” — cleaned out their stash – some have used those store coupons or watched garage sales. Let me tell you the layers of blessings that can come from yarn which I take to the Chatham Youth Development Center for girls ages 12-17 in Siler City:

– staff notices calming of emotions in girls who have experienced trauma
– girls say that crocheting with the yarn helps the focus and think before reacting in negative ways as they seek to learn new behavioral skills
– girls have a chance to discover that they have creative gifts and can re-direct their minds toward a future that might include abilities in color and design
– girls make gifts – and sometimes these gifts are for family members who may have been harmed by the girl. Thus, these yarn gifts become threads of healing
– and give a girl a chance to say, “I’m sorry” in a meaningful way.
– one girl said to me, “I’m putting a prayer in every stitch — not just every shell pattern – every stitch! that I crochet. That’s how much of me I’m putting into this blanket.”

Yes — it is amazing how the smallest kindness can be multiplied.

Second — we have some chatlisters who have pro-actively looked for games and hygiene items for the center. These give trained staff a positive way of interacting with the girls – so that problems can be sorted out. Some of the problems these girls have lived?
– mom died when girl was 4; dad fell apart
– no one knows where mom is; only living relative is g’father who had wreck on way to center due to DUI
– mom left 3 kids under 8 in a park – said she’d be back; girl kept siblings hidden in subway, hoping they would not be separated
– dad thought it was cool to involve a “juvie” in his crime (dad has been on meth since he was 15) – after all, juvie is “no big deal”
– girl watched dad die — then at school saw a friend shoot himself over a breakup with his g’friend; she deals with self-harming behaviors because the pain is so great.

The above stories are about real persons who are no longer at the facility and are not identifiable in any way. As a minister I guard their privacy absolutely & I try not even to know their last names, home town or the behavior which caused them to be in the center. Thus in no way can I identify them.

Third — we also have some wonderful volunteers coming into the center from our county. These are beautiful dedicated loving people who with just a smile make a statement of grace and kindness.

There are other kindnesses I could list — & will do so in another post.

YES – Chatham — this is a county that cares. Be proud. And thank you so very, very much.

Rev. Maggie Crandall