Threads of Compassion 
Threads of Compassion Updates:
Since Threads of Compassion has started we have had an overwhelming response from people who have wanted to reach out and support other victims of sexual assault. This page is eventually going to be used to add portions of emails and letters we have received, and to let people know about other ways they can help.
One of the most important developments that has happened since we started this website, is that Threads of Compassion groups have begun to be established in other areas. We have received emails from California, Louisiana, and even Ontario Canada where people have started their own Threads of Compassion groups. We have even had rape crisis centers from other states contact us asking if we knew of Threads of Compassion groups in their cities. If you are interested in starting a Threads group, please let us know.
Another exciting sign of growth for our Chicago group is that now we are able to supply scarves to 2 rape crisis centers, thanks to all the support we have received. We also hope to eventually post some pictures of the scarves as they are being bundled and prepared to take to the rape crisis centers.
Overall, we want to thank everyone who has sent scarves, letters, and emails of support. We are so grateful for everything we have received. Our hearts desire has always been to offer support and comfort to those who have been recently sexually assaulted. We never realized what an abundance of encouragement we would be given in the process.
Sarah and Cindy / Threads of Compassion
April 7, 2006
Photos finally
(Scarves bundled and tagged and ready to be dropped off at the rape crisis center)
We get scarves of all colors and designs. Thank you so much to everyone who has sent scarves!!!
May 9, 2006
October 2006 updates
It's been a while since we updated the site so I thought I would throw on a few more photos, and say thank you to all the people who have been sending scarves. I can't explain how grateful we are for all the scarves that have come in. I also want to apologize for how long it takes us to get back to you with letters acknowledging your gifts or answering your emails. Please know that our intentions are to reply quickly...but sometimes it takes a while to move from bagging scarves to writing thank you notes for them. Truthfully if it wasn't for my co-worker Cindy, those letters wouldn't get out at all!!!
New photos:
Three stages of scarves...scarves come in, we bundle them and add the tag, and then bag them.
Bundling up scarves...
Scarves bagged...
Scarves ready to take to the rape crisis center...
Thanks again for all the scarves sent, and the emails and letters of encouragement. This project would never work without the support of all of you.
Sarah and Cindy / Threads of Compassion
October 15, 2006
DECEMBER 2007 UPDATES:
Ok, I admit I have been horrible about keeping this page updated. And now that I have started getting emails from people asking if we still exist or not, I know it's time to finally write something!! Threads of Compassion is still going strong, and not only have we had more scarves donated this year than ever before, and we also have had numerous Threads groups start up all over. We even received an email thanking us from a Rape Crisis Center in Canada, which receives scarves from a Threads group someone started there. All of this encourages us greatly, and helps to motivate us when we need to spend evenings bundling and bagging scarves. Just recently Cindy,Tracy (another friend we have drafted into Threads), and I spent hours preparing scarves for the rape crisis centers we support in Chicago. By the end we had 6 HUGE bags full of scarves ready to be handed out. As I went to deliver the scarves to the crisis centers, it hit me how sad it is that we will never been done making scarves...that there is no end to the growing number of sexual violence victims who will need comfort and support. With this somber thought I walked into one rape crisis center, and was thanked because they were out of scarves...again letting me know how big the need is. But there is hope too. I get so many emails from people who have experienced sexual violence first hand, and yet as they continue their healing, they want to reach out and support someone else. A tangible way of walking out their healing, that in turn helps others. The beauty in this gives me hope, that just maybe we are making a dent in the pain that is out there. And I just want to thank everyone who has contributed to the work of Threads and has helped make the dream behind Threads a reality.
Sarah, Cindy, and Tracy / Threads 0f Compassion
Dec. 14, 2007
April 2008
A lot has been going on with Threads of Compassion in the last 4 months:
- Threads is going to be featured as the charity group of the month in an upcoming Crochet! magazine.
- We have been contacted by numerous people who are looking into starting their own Threads groups. One group, the Woven Lotus, has started in Canton, Georgia. Others have started in Boulder, CO; Chapel Hill, NC; Barre (central), MA. and also the Washington DC area.
- And most important the scarves keep coming in from all over the country (truthfully world). I can't say thanks enough to those of you who have sent scarves. I try to get out thank you letters, but I'm usually running months behind in getting those out (thanks Cindy...if it wasn't for you I would be running years behind!!!). Recently I spent an evening bundling up over 100 scarves (with the help of my husband and also a good friend Sandy). I was so touched by the letters that people sent with the scarves, the following is a quote from one letter: Please know that I have been through similar circumstances and I have made these scarves with the intention that these women will heal, survive and be stronger than they can imagine.
Sarah Sullivan
Threads of Compassion
Boxes of scarves almost reaching the ceiling...I think it's time to bundle this batch.
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