Amazing! Stupendous! Can you imagine?
We have delivered over 500,000 pillowcases, a half a million smiles in 5 short years. I want to shout for joy, hug every volunteer that has made this happen! And, yet, I also want to cry because for every pillowcase I know there is a child in the hospital receiving it.
In each of the past 2 years, volunteers in our 120 chapters have delivered over 100,000 pillowcases to 250 hospitals worldwide. Much of our success is the result of our wonderful regional coordinators. These wonderful women (and men!) work hard to be sure our ConKerr Kids are cared for. Each week they organize dozens of volunteers, drive miles and miles to drop off sites and hospitals, purchase fabric, cut, sew, organize some more. These amazing people dedicate literally hundreds of hours to serve the children and make life easy for our volunteers. And for what? For the joy of bringing smiles to sick children, their families and the hospital staff.
 St. Louis Volunteers |
“Hi Everyone; I received a call last Saturday from a mom of one of the children who received one of our pillowcases. Cheryl the mom said her daughter Gracie had been in the intensive care unit at Mercy Hospital for 4 days and was very ill. (she is all better now.) Gracie was not happy to be there and then one of the nurses brought in a selection of pillowcases for Gracie to choose. Well she loves Curious George and has him all over her room at home. Her mom said it was one of the few times she smiled while in intensive care. She kept it on her pillow all the time and Cheryl could get it off only to wash it. Then she said Gracie wanted to thank me (us). When she got on the phone it was all I could do not to cry. Here was this happy little kid voice telling me how she “wuved” Monkey George and thank you, thank you. Needless to say I have been cutting out more materiel since that call! Thanks to all of you who make this possible. I suspect there are many more Gracie’s out there who have a reason to smile because of a pillowcase filled with love.” |
— Pat and JoAnn
Pat and Joann, along with their St. Louis volunteers recently delivered their 10,000th pillowcase! “We wuv” you too!
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While Ryan was the spark, you are the light that continues to touch the lives of the children we serve every day. How do you thank someone who everyday helps a child and his or her parents smile during the worst moments of their lives? How do you tell them how much their support and friendship has helped you through the loss of your son? How do you repay them for their dedication, love and support of a mission so dear to your heart? I am still at a loss and might never be able to find the right words. So please know that this simple “thank you” holds more meaning than you will ever know. With love and appreciation for all of you, Cindy and Gavin |
 Ryan and Noah at the clinic |