Vinnies Visit to Project Butterfly Gardens

Vinnies Visit to Project Butterfly Gardens

   On Wednesday 14 June, the St. Joseph Vinnies visited the Project Butterfly Gardens where we met with Rebekah Joy, the lovely lady behind the set up of the memorial path. Rebekah was able to share with us as to how Project Butterfly came about and how the project has evolved along the way touching lives not only in our local community but in other parts of New Zealand where for example in Wellington and Christchurch people have been inspired to set up their own memorial gardens. Rebekah has also received inquiries from other countries such as Australia as to how people can get projects like this underway. From what has started out from a story of personal grief, many lives have been touched - it has been a project that like the beautiful butterflies that are displayed has really taken flight along the way.

   More information can be found out about the Project Butterfly Gardens by going to  HTTPS://www.Facebook.com/projectbutterflynelson/ or https://www.projectbutterfly.co.nz/

Fabric painted stencils will bless those overseas

Fabric painted stencils will bless those overseas

   On Wednesday the 7 June, the St. Joseph Vinnies had great fun fabric painting the stencils they had created onto calico. Their pictures will then be sewn onto small drawstring toiletry bags that will be filled with supplies and headed for Venuatu later in the year.

Artwork for Hospice Takes Flight

Artwork for Hospice Takes Flight

   This term the St. Joseph Vinnies have been creating artwork for the Nelson Tasman Hospice after Dave the Hospice Chaplain shared with us on his visit at the end of last term a story about a water beetle that turned into a dragonfly. This gorgeous story has now been turned into paper tissue collage pictures in order to bring hope to those who will enjoy its display.

Visit by Hospice Chaplain

   On Wednesday 5 April, the St. Joseph Vinnies had a visit by Dave the Hospice Chaplain who was able to share with us about the wonderful services that the Nelson Tasman Hospice offers the community. We learned that the Hospice has 60 people assisting with their services who either work or volunteer for the Hospice and presently are catering for 160 people in the community. It has ten beds, eight of which are used however plans are in motion for the Hospice to move to larger premises in the future. While it is a common misperception that the Hospice is the place where people go when they reach the end of their journey, this isn't always the case - many have temporary stays in the Hospice to provide respite care for families and also to effectively sort out patient needs and requirements. It was a pleasure having Dave visit us today, we were able to present to him the tissue pockets that the St. Joseph Vinnies have been working on over the past few weeks.

Lavender Bags and Cards for Rest Home Residents

   The St. Joseph Vinnies are well and truly underway with a variety of projects. One of these projects has involved them creating lavender bags and making cards to put with these which will be distributed to residents in a variety of local rest homes. They have also been creating tissue pockets for the patients of Nelson Hospice.

 

Members of the Nelson Blind Foundation visit St. Joseph Vinnies to be Presented with Tactile Book

   On Wednesday 7 December, three members of the Nelson Blind Foundation braved the very wet weather to come to St. Joseph's School to share with the Vinnies their experience of being blind and to be presented with the tactile book. Chrissy was able to share positive feedback in regard to how well the previous tactile books that have been created by Vinnies groups have been received by the community. Amanda brought her guide dog Clover along to visit, Clover a well-behaved and very friendly dog captured all our hearts with his placid nature. Both Kaye and Amanda were able to share with us as to the useful way of handling both money and cards when out shopping. We learned that the five on ATM machines always have a dot that can be felt which can help navigate the key pad - something we'll have to check out for ourselves next time we're out shopping.   

St. Joseph Vinnies Create Tactile Book for the Nelson Blind Foundation

   For our last project of the year the St. Joseph Vinnies have been working on a tactile book for the Nelson Blind Foundation. The Jungle Counting Book contains a number of creatures that people who are blind will be able to explore from a soft fabric monkey and three fabric giraffes to rubbery lizards and plastic animals. This book will be the third addition to the Nelson Blind Foundation. The two books previously donated by Vinnies groups at St. Paul's School in Richmond and St. Peter Chanel School in Motueka have had much use by those who use the services of the Blind Foundation and just recently featured in an exhibition here in Nelson providing insight into what it is like to be blind. We hope our latest book will get just as much use.