PCMC Service Project Kickoff! - Help Me Out!

So I did a post months ago about my medical condition (you can read that here) and now I'm going to tell you a little more, but in a service project way.

I tell a little bit about the hospital experience in that blog post, but not enough about why it has impacted me, and why it's a surgery I'll never forget. Sure, it was a major surgery, and the recovery was hard, and hit my self-esteem pretty badly. But one day in the hospital, happen to be a Sunday. the Church had brought around the Sacrament to all the children. When they stopped by my room, I was excited to see someone else! They brought me the water and bread, and they also had a gift for me. A one piece fleece blanket, with the friends magazine! I couldn't have been happier! Growing up we didn't really subscribe to the Church magazines because it was expensive, so I was stoked to finally have my own the Friend magazine!

9 years later, I still have that blanket. I'm sure I still have the friend as well. I will never forget the Church bringing that to me, and helping me feeling happier about being at the hospital when I was in so much pain. Since I'm not longer a patient, due to my age :( I've decided it's time to give back.

I'm calling it the PCMC Service Project! :)
PCMC stands for Primary Children's Medical Center

I'm really stoked. I've had this idea since May, and I'm so excited to finally get the word out. I first announced it today in ward council in my YSA Ward, but now we're involving the public! :) Which means YOU! Yes, you.. oh and you, and of course, you can too :) Donate the following items:

• Fleece Material. (preferably just one fabric, with the length of 72" x 58" (2 yards) would be fabulous!)
• Washable Crayola Markers! (I'd love to have brand new, but if they're used please have them in great condition. You can even donate single markers.)
• Coloring Books. (You can donate new, or donate old, just rip out pages that have been colored on, or the dollar store and Walmart might have some for pretty cheep!)

Yes! It's an awesome list, but definitely an easy one! You can find more items to donate here, and I'd be willing to take those as well :) When I spoke with the woman in charge of accepting donations, she asked me not to take cash donations. It's a little bit of a bummer, we won't seriously say no if someone begs for us to take it, but we ask you not to donate money.

My Ward Council is helping me pick a date for this project. It will be in either September or October, and definitely before Christmas (that's my deadline). The reason I'm doing this project is because the First Presidency of the Church has asked each ward, branch, stake, etc. to do a service project that's apart of the 75th Anniversary for the Church Welfare Program! So I'm extremely blessed and grateful that my personal project is being chosen as the ward service project for the Anniversary! :) It's going to be fabulous! We know it will be a Saturday and that it'll be all day. We're looking for people to help tie the blankets as well. I don't have a goal/number of what I'd like to donate, but I'll announce as soon as things are set-in-stone. All I know is I'd REALLY appreciate all the help I can get!! Please, blog about it, tweet it, facebook it, email it, talk about it, etc. It's a great way to be involved, serve, and meet new people too! :)

Thanks so much for reading :) I'm so excited for this to finally happen!!
If you have questions, comments, advice, or would like to help/donate early, you are more than welcome to comment below or email me at: ashlenalley@gmail.com. Thanks again! :)