Welcome to our website! Here you will find lots of information on our organization, and the latest information and news on any recent happenings. Don't forget to "like" us on Facebook too for up-to-the-minute information.
NEWS
The 5th Annual Gumbo Cookoff is Saturday, March 9, 2013!!!! Please save the date and let all your friends know to come out to Henderson and support the preemies in our Acadiana NICU's!!!
RAFFLE TICKETS are now on sale! Please contact us if you are interested in buying or selling! We appreciate the support!
AUCTION ITEMS are needed for our Silent Auction - if you would like to solicit for us or donate to the auction, we would greatly appreciate it! Handmade items are gladly accepted!
Printable cookoff flyer can be found here - please print and hand out/email.
Please visit our Cookoff Page.
The Team Application for the 2013 Gumbo Cookoff is now on the cookoff page! Or, find it HERE! We look forward to an awesome turnout!
EVENTS
**Our next workday is Saturday February 2, 2013 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm. Please remember that you do not have to know how to sew to come to workday and help out. We will get you working even if you do not know how to sew. Also, if you would like to come by and drop off items that you have worked at home and say hello, please do! We appreciate all of our volunteers for their hardwork and dedication. Volunteer to help today!
**If you need directions to workday, please email heartstrings_angelwings@yahoo.com
*** We were in the February 2011 issue of FACE Magazine. Thank you to Amanda and everyone at FACE for the wonderful article. It absolutely tugged at our Heartstrings. You can read here.
*** Read our article in The Advertiser here.
** T-shirts are still available for $15! Sizes 2T thru 2XL. Sizes 2T thru youth sizes are $10.
ABOUT US
Our Mission
Heartstrings & Angel Wings is a 501(c)3 non-profit charity organization which provides clothing and other handmade items for babies in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The items aid in comforting the babies and uplift the spirits of the baby's family members.
Our Story
Heartstrings and Angel Wings was formed in honor of Heath Logan, a Breaux Bridge area premature baby related to some of our founding members. Heath was born 16 weeks too soon and spent over 3 months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
Micro preemie clothing (clothing for babies under 5 pounds) is not readily available, and often hard to find and expensive. Our goal is to provide clothing for premature babies in the NICU in order to relieve a little of the financial stress felt by parents in this situation and provide more comfort to the babies.
Our service also provides comfort for the families because they can view their loved one in everyday clothing, making things seem at least a little more "normal." Often, the conditions of the birth and following hospitalization are unpredictable and chaotic, as well as overwhelming, stressful, and unbelievable so we hope to take a little stress off of the family and provide their baby with clothing because they more than likely have none for their baby. It's a very small service, but really makes a huge difference.
The premature babies we provide clothing for range from 1 pound or less to 5 pounds in weight and most stay for weeks or months in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
Who we donate to
Regular donations are made to Acadiana area and other Louisiana hospitals: Lafayette General Medical Center - Lafayette, LA (30 babies), Women's and Children's Hospital - Lafayette, LA (54 babies), Woman's Hospital - Baton Rouge, LA (80 babies), Opelousas General Medical Center - Opelousas, LA (8 babies), Terrebonne General Hospital (8 babies), Rapides General Hospital
Where does the funding go?
The majority of our fundraising efforts goes toward material and supplies - material to make shirts, frogs, unit covers, snakes, and all the other things we handmake. The styles of shirts we make (hospital-friendly) are not fabric-efficient - we have a lot of material that is thrown away after cutting, just because of the pattern of the shirt. We also buy baby material whichis pricier than plain material.
We also make donations to the March of Dimes and their efforts to help all premature babies and prevent prematurity.
Be our fan on Facebook by clicking here. Our Facebook fanpage always has the latest information.
Read our article from/about the 2010 Cookoff in The Daily Advertiser here.
Read our article in the Teche News from the 2nd annual cookoff here.
Angels Coming Out to Play
(Author Unknown)
Angels coming out to play
Angels touch our life each day.
Though we may not know they're there
There are angels...everywhere!
Angels can cause a heart to sing...
Angels give our spirits wings!
An angel's touch can bring God so near
An angel's smile...can dry a tear.
Have you felt a tug on you heartstrings?
Chances are it was caused by angel wings.
They flutter softly in the light...
Shimmering with edges so gold so bright.
We mere mortals to earth are bound,
Angels trod on holy ground.
So next time you are feeling low,
Remember...angels are there...
Wherever you go!