We've Moved!

We have officially moved!

Come follow us on www.heartpillowgothenburg.com!

Since August 2010...

7o pillows produced
50 pillows handed out
12 new HPPG members
1 fundraiser
3 sewing/stuffing meetings within our network

Rosa Steget 2011

Last year, our participation in Rosa Steget was purely project based. We showed up, handed out information, left early (before the runners came back) and got to work filling pillow orders. Our project got a huge boost of momentum from being at Rosa Steget 2010.

This year, we decided to send representatives to walk it and to have someone from HPPG on hand to help out, ie helping our friends at BRO Johanna man their table and fill in where needed. Basically, we just tried to make ourselves as useful as possible on the day of a major breast cancer awareness event, while also being active participants in the actual event. We did that by having someone there early in the day to jump at the chance to help with...anything. Then, at 4:30pm, Linda and Kara set out on the 7km walk around Göteborg as part of a giant pink wave, while Maria stayed in the tent and kept right on helping with the frenzy of selling and handing out prizes. Once our “walkers” were back, it was time for Kara to rejoin Maria behind the scenes.

Our verdict for the day: The organizers and volunteers of Rosa Steget work incredibly hard for a cause that they (and we) believe passionately in. One can’t help but be inspired by these people! And being part of the sea of pink shirts rolling around town is an awesome way to spend a couple hours of a Saturday! We had a great day. (Although, who would have thought that a 7km walk would be the easy part.)

Pardon the moving boxes...

...we are getting a new address! Over the next few weeks, we will be moving the project's blog over to www.heartpillowgothenburg.com. Well, not so much moving as fixing the place up before we officially "move." But don't worry, we will keep you updated here until the move and we will be keeping this blog up for awhile.

Where have all the PILLOW CASES gone?

As we plan for the Sensus Study Circle to start (we will let you know the snazzy, fabulous name for that soon) and keep building and expanding contacts, we are also turning our eyes toward Fall Production and Delivery. In addition to what we always need (stuffing and fabric), we also need to replenish our supply of completed cases. Perfect project for all the sewing groups who are just coming back from "vacation!"

We hand deliver!

Did you know that we are happy and willing to meet a recipient or a family member at Sahlgrenska to deliver a pillow to someone before they go in for surgery or right after? We do!

Just contact us at heartpillowgothenburg@gmail.com a few days in advance (or as soon as you have a surgery date) so we can organize a meeting.

HPPG has a Meeting Point!

In the past, we have had individuals and groups meet up and sew at their homes or club venues, but we felt that, as we are now an independent NPO, we should have a regular place to meet and make the Heart Pillows. We’ve found it at Sensus studieförbund! We will continue to encourage volunteers to make pillows on their own, but our cooperation with Sensus allows us to create a creative space for production on a regular basis as an organization. Take it from us, group production is awesome!

HPPG Co-director, Maria Linkogle, met with Heidi Simonsen and Frida Ohlsson Sandahl from Sensus to discuss the HPPG starting study circles at their study center near Brunnsparken. In the study circle we will meet once per month and show new volunteers how to sew, stuff and finish pillows and provide previous volunteers the opportunity to meet and share their experience with the new volunteers. We will also try to have guest speakers to let the study circle know how these pillows are beneficial to women who are recovering from breast cancer surgery.

We are looking at doing a daytime study circle, but if there is enough of a demand, we may consider opening an evening circle as well. We will post the day and time when it has been decided.

In addition to the study circles we will also hold our annual meeting this coming September, so keep an eye out for the date!