While we have a vibrant and active group of Dollie ladies who “gather around the table” once a week to create our one-of-a-kind Dollies and Teddy Bears, we are also blessed to have members who contribute greatly … but from afar.  These persons – our Satellite Dollie members – either work full time outside the home, live in other cities or states, or are busy members of other non-profit organizations.  We are the lucky ones, as they have reached out to Dollies Making A Difference (DMAD) to contribute their talents and expertise.
This week we would like to profile three Satellite Dollie members … with more to follow!
Carolyn McGraw is a local lady who grew up on the East coast and worked as a textile designer in NYC and Boston.  Today she lives in Pacific Palisades and enjoys her daily walks with her husband, and babysitting their adorable grandchildren.  Any free moment Carolyn has she spends engrossed in sewing, quilting, crocheting, and other creative ventures.  We have nicknamed Carolyn  “Drive By” as she pops by every two weeks for about 5 minutes, shows us her beautiful creations, gives us a hug and words of encouragement, and is on her way!  Her quilts are so popular that we not only send them along with our Dollies, but sell them at art shows to raise money for our supplies.  She is a Satellite Delight!
Carolyn and co-founder Dorothy
     
Rhonda Green read about DMAD in a 2011 article in our local Palisadian Post newspaper, and rang my doorbell that day!  She and her husband own and operate A Carriage Regal Cleaners in West Los Angeles, but her real passion lies in crafting. She is currently co-chapter head of the West Valley Binky Patrol, Calabasas CA.  Binky Patrol is “an all volunteer national non-profit organization dedicated to making and giving out handmade blankets to children and teens who are ill, in foster care, or experiencing other traumas, to remind them they are loved.  What is a Binky?  A Binky can be sewn, knitted, crocheted, simple, or fancy…if it is created from the heart it is perfect. Among the many recipient organizations are Operation Gratitude and veterans at the VA Center in Brentwood.”Â
It is our good fortune that since 2011, Binky Patrol has donated small Dollie blankets to DMAD, which we wrap around each Dollie before we send them on their way.  Rhonda also is an amazing quilter, and recently designed and stitched a very special quilt for Dollie member Rita Cohen’s granddaughter.  Rhonda was our DMAD 2013 Volunteer of the Year Award Winner.
pictured below: Aunt Mary, Rhonda, and Grandma Rita (and Goldie!)
Zoe Iverson is a longtime friend of Dollie member Darleen Guien.  Zoe lives Carpenteria, which is a beautiful coastal town about 2 hours north of LA.  She is a member of The Carpenteria Community Church Women’s Association, which is composed of ladies who – among many other crafty pursuits – collect colorful pillowcases for the Pillowcase Dress Project. These dresses are sewn and sent to little girls all over the world in need of clothing.  The ladies also collect t-shirts which are cleverly made into shorts for the boys.  The co-ordinator of the Women’s Association, Louise Moore, applied and was awarded a 2014 DMAD financial grant to purchase supplies for the Project.
The ladies have crocheted and sewn for us untold numbers of beautiful little Dollie blankets, and are always on the look-out for lace, trim, and decals for our Dollie dresses.  In turn, we keep an eye out at flea markets and department store sales for colorful pillowcases. We help one another!
More Satelitte Dollie member profiles to follow!
Stay tuned! Â
THANK YOU!
“To Give is to Receive”