The Gorp - for the Chicago Children's Advocacy Center

The Gorp is the primary character in a series of books written by Sherri Chessen. She wrote the books to help young children deal with difficult issues, such as gun safety, sexual abuse, and bullying. See the Gorp’s website at www.thegorp.com

Two FFS have been making things for the Advocacy Center and the staff there asked us if we could knit and crochet this character. We contacted the author and she gladly supported the project.

A KFO knitter designed and created a pattern to send a toy Gorp to the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center because they use the Gorp books to help children in their care who have suffered from sexual abuse with their recovery process. Jane made some crochetted Gorps.

Collaborative Stitchers - the Sanborn School

Blessed with an amazing teacher, Patti V., a class at the Sanborn School in Palatine, Illinois decided to learn to knit and to make things for our patients. They spent last year learning to knit on the easy looms and the project became a huge and inspirational community project. A local yarn store donated yarn and friends donated things they had knit and crochetted. We received two huge boxes of things and another went to the Mattaponi Tribe, in impoverished Native American Tribe in Virginia that members of the FFS have sent things to. We are so proud of these students and so lucky that they chose to work with us

Collaborative Projects - with Knitters for Obama

Members of the Forefront Stitchers sponsored a service project to the Knitters for Obama - we have been making stuffed toys and dolls for the Children's Advocacy Center in Chicago, a center that provides medical, mental health, police, law enforcement, social work and all services to children who have been abused, primarily victims of sexual molestation. This Center was suggested by Dr. Jill Glick and Jane McAtee has lead it. During the first six months, 65 toys were taken to the Center, arriving from all over the USA and more will be made. Kathy Valek and Jane have made many of the items.