Saturday Showcase: Kristy Belton Bleau

Welcome to my 2nd Saturday Showcase!  Today I am so excited to get to introduce you to my friend, Kristy Belton Bleau!  We've been friends for about 14 years, although Facebook has made it much easier in the last couple of years to talk more often.  She recently moved back to California (from Texas!) with her daughter, and I am so happy that I get to actually see them now!

That's not the reason why you need to know Kristy, though.  You need to know her because Kristy is doing some really cool things working with two really great organizations.  

The first one is called Saddleback Santa Ana Breakfast Together.  It's an outreach program for the homeless and motel families in the Orange County, CA area.  This is what she had to say about it:

Kristy:  We basically set up in a parking lot in downtown Santa Ana and offer the community a warm meal. We also gather local job postings and community event postings. Once a month, or so, we do a clothing distribution for those in need. 

The people we help are some of the most grateful and amazing people I know. They thank me every week for going to serve, not knowing that they are making a bigger difference in my life than I am in theirs. My goal is to show them that even though they are feeling worthless and low, people DO care. 

The other organization that Kristy works with is called Kristie's Foundation.  In fact, she's going to be doing a 5k walk today to support this amazing program.  

Kristy:  It was founded by a mom that lost her daughter Kristie at age 7 from leukemia. In the process of watching her daughter pass away, Laurie saw there was a huge need for end-of-life care for children. That is why she started Kristie's Foundation. We work with families that have critical and terminal illnesses. We do hospital visits, offer emergency financial assistance, and offer resources for people nationwide in regards to end-of-life care. We help the kids that most people try not to think about until they are directly affected.

Hospice has been a passion of mine since I helped take care of my grandfather for 6 months before his death in 2009. I held his had for 48 hours until he passed.  That was when I really understood the transition to death. It was the most amazing experience I have ever had and I knew that God was there with us. I am such a believer in hospice and what they do for both the patients and the families... Many people don't understand hospice... so I have made it a goal to help bring awareness to hospice. I love volunteering and going to sit with hospice patients and listening to their stories.

I am also huge on cancer awareness... especially childhood cancer. I have networked with people all over the country that have kiddos fighting childhood cancer. The strength these kids have is amazing.

My goal is to someday have my own foundation so I can help all these people... whether it be transitioning from life to death, or transitioning from homelessness to stability. I want to help people by bringing a smile and happiness to their lives. A smile can do wonders and change a stranger's day... Random acts of kindness can change someone's life... 

Kristy and I have been talking for a couple of months about things that I can do to help her with this work.  As some of you know, I went through my own battle with a critical illness about 7 years ago, so these organizations really speak to the place my heart is in.  I have been the recipient of generosity and love from strangers.  I am excited that I'm cancer free and now I can be on the other side of the giving.

Kristie's Foundation uses a butterfly in its logo, and so I made a batch of butterflies (the ones in the pictures, there were about 15) for Kristy to take to the kids that she visits in the hospital, and the kids that she'll be seeing tomorrow at the outreach breakfast.  It didn't take very much time, and it was fun to work on something small while I waited for Mims to get out of school last week, but Kristy was overwhelmed when she saw them.  She told me that even though it seemed like such a small thing, it was going to mean so much to the kids that she works with.

So, here's what I'm doing, Dynamos.  I've decided to do more.  I'm going to pick one pattern a month to make for Kristy and the charities she works with.  I'll donate as many as I can make, and I'm going to act as a hub if any of YOU want to participate.  Kristy and I are partnering up on this, and I love that I can use crochet to help make the world a better place.

This month is butterflies.  We're using my Jaime's Butterflies pattern.   If you'd like to join me, I know that EVERY donation will be given to someone who will really appreciate it.  You can send them to me at:

Jaime Maraia

13210 Harbor Blvd. #371

Garden Grove, CA 92843

And if you'd like to support Kristy on her 5k walk for Kristie's Foundation, here's the donation link:

http://www.crowdrise.com/thebutterflywalk/fundraiser/kristybleau/1/return/success/success

I know that some of my Dynamos crochet just to keep busy, so if you would like to work on something that would be really meaningful to someone in crisis, then please consider joining me as part of this project.

I love you all!
xoxo Jaime

update 10/21/12:  There is no need to add a backing pin or bobby pin to the butterflies before you mail them.  Thanks!
xo J