Make Welcome Bags with Dream Catchers for Children Going into Emergency Shelters

What: We made "welcome bags" with dreamcatchers, a soft blanket and pillowcase for children coming into emergency shelters and foster care who may be nervous, anxious, or scared about their surroundings. The supplies will help them have a good night’s sleep. When children arrive they are usually given a trash bag to hold their belongings so we put all the items in a drawstring backpack that they could reuse.

How:

Make dreamcatchers with your family or friends. See instructions below for making the dream catchers. We sat around making them for hours, it was a lot of fun. This is also a good project to do if you volunteer in a classroom as long as the kids aren't too young. Supplies needed:

• 6” wooden hoops from Amazon (approx. $1/each)

• Yarn - Michael’s has a good selection and lots of sales

• Embellishments such as tassels, beads, yarn, ribbon, rickrack, feathers & flowers

• Colored wire to make a loop on the top to hang (or use yarn)

• We added a card with the explanation of the origin of dreamcatchers

• Soft blanket (can get them for $5 at Five Below)

• A cheery pillowcase (Walmart has great sales)

• Add a note of encouragement - see positive sayings list below

Where: Jafco, ADVA, SOS Children’s Villages

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