If 2015 was Tiny Treasures's year to take baby steps into the world, 2016 was the year Tiny Treasures found its identity. While we happily supply whatever is needed by a loss family, birthing center, bereavement professional, or grief organization, this year we really came into our own--creating one-of-a-kind baby loss layettes for every stage of pregnancy and early infancy. Except for our miscarriage kits, every size of baby loss layette we supply contains an appropriately sized outfit, blanket, and hat. |
Highlights of 2016
- In 2016, Team Tiny Treasures more than doubled the number of bereavement clothing items ever donated since we began in 2013, from over 400 at the end of 2015 to just over 1100 items by the end of 2016, counting single items (or pairs counted as one object, if counting identical items sent together--such as diapers or hats)!
- Altogether, our Team of 13 active members created a whopping 921 unique, handmade bereavement clothing items, blankets, memory bags, memory ornaments, comfort bears, and more in 2016! This compares to 250+ bereavement items made by the Team in 2015.
- Like last year, our bereavement clothing and baby loss layettes were primarily distributed within Tiny Treasures’s local area--Eden Prairie, Maplewood, Stillwater, St. Paul, and Woodbury MN; Hudson and River Falls WI. Other receiving locations included Bennington, NE; Bridgeport, WV; Dexter, MI; Louisville, CO; New Orleans, LA; San Antonio, TX; San Francisco, CA; Silver Spring, MD; and Springfield, MO. The Team donated to 16 locations in 2016, compared to 11 locations in 2015.
- In September, Team Tiny Treasures was represented by me (Tiny Treasures's Founder, Christelle Hagen) and my father, John Kallio, and daughter, Emilie-Rose Hagen, in Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep's 5K fundraising walk for baby loss bereavement photography in Stillwater, MN. This is the second year the three of us have walked in memory of babies who passed away too soon. (Last time we walked in the Halos of the St. Croix Valley 5K.)
- In October, Tiny Treasures was featured in The Catholic Spirit newspaper, the official newspaper of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, in a feature article that was part of a series on the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. (Note: The Team includes members from a variety of faith traditions; however, I am a Catholic and was honored to be included in this series on the works of mercy!)
Our Impact in 2016
In 2016, Team Tiny Treasures donated 830 items!
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Types of bereavement clothing donated in 2016:
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Bereavement clothing or memory-making items donated in 2016, by recipient:
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Our Volunteers & Generous Friends
In 2016, 13 active Team Members hand-made 921 bereavement clothing items! Sheila Wald of Gainesville, FL alone made 250 items -- the total of all items made by all of our volunteers in 2015! WOW! Thank you, Sheila, and all of our amazing, dedicated volunteers! |
In 2016, 2 wedding gowns and 1 formal dress were given to Tiny Treasures for our Brides to Babies Project. Many more gowns were offered to Tiny Treasures, but since we have many gowns already waiting to be transformed, I referred those donors to other similar organizations. Ten gowns (including those donated in 2015, and several donated directly to the seamstresses) were transformed into 18 bereavement gowns and 12 rompers or suits; 6 sacks; 24 matching bonnets; 6 matching blankets; and 3 angel pockets. | Some items made from those gowns were given to: loss families from Maplewood, MN; Stillwater, MN; and San Antonio, TX; Halos of the St. Croix Valley (River Falls, WI); Star Legacy Foundation (Eden Prairie, MN); Health Foundations Birth Center (St. Paul, MN); Bradshaw Funeral Services (Stillwater, MN); and H.E.A.L.ing Embrace (Bennington, NE). The remainder of the items are being stored in the Tiny Treasury to be donated in the future. |
2016 Financial Report
- 56% of the expenses were for labels, packaging, and shipping Tiny Treasures to recipients (loss families, hospitals, and grief organizations)
- 21% was spent on fabric, buttons, beads, yarn, etc. to make Tiny Treasures bereavement clothing (most of these items are donated by the volunteers)
- 14% paid for entry fees in the NILMDTS 5K
- 8% paid Go Fund Me fees
Our Future
- Partner with local grief organizations to serve local families experiencing loss
- Host a retreat for grieving parents
- Participate in another 5K to raise awareness of pregnancy and infant loss
How You Can Help
- Skilled seamstresses needed to transform wedding gowns into bereavement clothing
- Crocheters and knitters needed to make booties in 2 1/2 to 4 inch lengths and prayer shawls
- Financial contributions "where needed most" to help pay for our largest expense: labeling, packaging and shipping our bereavement clothing items to recipients
- Ambassadors needed to make contact with your local hospitals' birthing centers and let us know their needs for baby loss layettes (short, easy training available)
- Gifts of extra yarn in baby colors, flannel fabric in solids and baby prints, baby themed buttons, shoe buttons, stretchy knit fabrics in baby prints; colored formal dresses and fabrics gratefully accepted (no wedding gowns needed at this time)
- Gift cards to Michael's, JoAnn Fabrics, and similar stores are a great help!