Craft party celebrates the joy of giving
The Women's Empowerment Program that operates on the Loaves & Fishes campus is stocked with piles of fleece fabric for scarf-making, oodles of beads for jewelry and ornament-making and pounds of sculpting clay to make vases.
The craft supplies, donated by Book of Dreams readers, will be used by homeless women and children who are served by the program to make holiday gifts for their friends and loved ones.
Program employees sponsor a holiday party each year where clients make the gifts. The gathering gives clients a chance to experience the joy and dignity of giving gifts.
"This will give the moms and kids a wonderful opportunity to thank people, friends and family whom they care about and want to give something back to," said Erie Shockey, a program case manager.
The program offers women who are homeless classes in résumé writing, parenting, anger management and other life skills.
Book of Dreams readers also donated disposable cameras to the clients so they can photograph themselves and their family members at the gift-making party.