(Updated 8-11-08)

2009 (July, 08) Cultural Enrichment Winners listed below

2010 Cultural Enrichment Contest Information (see below “Soldiers list”)

COMFORT Items for OVERSEAS Soldiers

Reading- Writing- Games- Activities

Games and Books                                            Paperback books

Current Newspapers                                       Magazines (not too racy)

Board Games Checkers (travel size) Yo Yo's

Board Games-Chest (travel size)                    Playing cards*

Squirt guns                                                      Crossword or word search books

Frisbees (must be the dog frisbees)                Dice

Ping Pong balls                                               Puzzles

Writing paper/envelopes                                Permanent black markers
Pens/pencils*                                                 Small pocket size notebooks
A lot of reading material                                Small photo albums

Movies, CD’s, DVD’s

Drinks and Food  (NO PORK PRODUCTS) Etc.

Instant Coffee                                             Coffee Creamer, packets
Powdered Drinks mixes (Individual            Sweetener, packets
     Crystal Light, Sweeten Kool-Aid)         Tea mixes Hot chocolate
Freezer Kool-aid sticks to freeze                Gatorade individual packets

Ravioli’s                                                      Oatmeal packets

Raisins                                                        Beef Jerky

Gold Fish crackers                                      Pudding and fruit cups

Tuna                                                            Party Mexican mix

Dried Fruit Mix                                           Party Mix with nuts and raisins

Cheese & crackers                                       Pop tarts

Cereal- individual packets                           Hostess snacks

Little Debbie snacks (travel size best)        Peanut Butter

Jelly in plastic bottles                                 Peanuts-small bags, cans, snack bags

Breakfast, granola, protein bars                   Canned fruit in flip top can

Pringles Individual cans                               Gum & Hard Candy

Sunflower seeds                                           Pop corn

Small can opener                                          Plastic silverware

Microwave Items    (any dry meals that can be put in  microwave- Ramen noodles, soups)
Home made cookies packed in dry unsalted popcorn.

Clothing & Fabric items

Long boot length Black  socks,            Shoe liners (Dr. Shoal)             Kneepads             

Short sport type Black socks                Travel size pillows                Fitted sheets (twin size)
Neck Coolers * Need pattern all cotton material*                               Sweatbands

Helmet Liners* Need Pattern (all wool yarn knitted or crochet)*       Cushion Shoe insoles

Toiletries Etc.

Lip Balm with sunscreen                     Baby wipes*         Mouthwash          Tooth paste
Disposable razors                                Nail clippers          Shampoo                         Q-tips*
Tylenol (individual packets               Bar Soap                Plastic soap containers
Feminine Hygiene products for Women                        Dental Floss         
Throat Lozenges                                  Hair brushes         Tissues (Puffs)
Waterless Hand Sanitizer                   Toilet paper*        Wash cloths

Cold water wash for laundry (Woolite)                            Men’s deodorant (must be stick)  

Miscellaneous

Small American Flags                          Patriotic Magnets               Fly swatters
Batteries (AA, AAA, C)                     Scotch Tape                       Baggies with zip lock*

Bug repellant wipes*                           Flash lights                         Duct Tape

Fans that are battery operated           Disposable cameras             Small mesh bags
3M plastic wall hooks (used to hang towels)
Telephone Cards for International calls        NO AEROSOL CANS

Sponsored by the McLean County Association for Home and Community Education (HCE), GFWC Illinois McLean County Woman's Club and Carl Martin Unit Auxiliary Post 635.

To donate items, receive patterns for neck coolers and helmet liners or other questions call:  Marjorie Martin, 309-452-5734 or Leatha Poshard, 309-452-9164. Money donations accepted to cover the high postage expenses.

Packages are sent every 3-4 weeks. Call if you’d like to help pack boxes. Items can be left at the McLean County Extension Office, 402 N. Hershey, Bloomington, IL.

(Updated 8-11-2008)

July, 2008 Cultural Enrichment Contest

Top Entry in Each Category

#3   Embroidery:          Donna Bedell (German Embroidery Pillowcases

#4a Crochet or Knitting  Large item:    Winnie Nice (Crocheted “Nature” throw)

#4b Crochet or Knitting  Small item:                Donna Bedell (Crocheted Doily)

#5   Lace Making:        Carmen Schnitker  (Tatted wedding ring pillow & headband)

#6   Wearable Art:        Carmen Schnitker  (Embroidered Tote Bag)

#7   Art Work:               Barbie Brubeck   (Water Color of Antique Shop, Funks Grove)

#8   Wood Craft & Nature:

a) Basketry: Eileen Norin (Small basket with beads interwoven)

b) Wood:        Jane Callahan  (Pinecone Duck Decoy)

#9   Photography         Jane Callahan  (photo of Ripples in water)

#11 Jewelry                 Rosemary Martin (Bracelet made with beads)

FIVE ENTRIES RECEIVED RECOGNITION THAT WILL GO ON TO

THE IAHCE Annual Conference in March, 2009.

Crochet:           Rose Remschner         Lace Making:             Carmen Schnitker

Basketry:         Eileen Norin                   Photography:             Jane Callahan

Jewelry:          Rosemary Martin

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL FOR YOUR WONDERFUL ENTRIES!

2010 CULTURAL ENRICHMENT CONTEST

McLean County HCE is tentatively planning on hosting the 2010 Fine Art and Crafts Contest on Monday, July 27, 2009 at the Interstate Center Lobby. Items should be brought to the Interstate Center between 8-9:30 a.m. Judging will begin at 9:45 a.m. Winning entries in each category (or possibly all entries) will be displayed during the fair at the HCE Booth in the Interstate Center Lobby.   More details to be announced as developed.

REQUIREMENTS: 

Items made from kits will NOT be accepted.  They must be the hand work of the exhibitor.

Items must have been finished within the past two years. 

Any items entered in previous HCE shows are not eligible. 

All people (HCE members and non-HCE members) are eligible to participate

Exhibitor may enter more than one item in a category and enter more than one category. 

From the entries brought in, judges will pick the best in each category for the Top Award Ribbon. The Cultural Enrichment Committee will then choose the 5 entries to go on to the IAHCE annual conference in March, 2010 on Wednesday, July 29, 2009.   The categories to be entered are:

 1. Quilts - bed sizes and/ or wall hangings.

 2. Counted Cross Stitch - whatever you do in cross stitch.

 3. Embroidery - Machine, silk ribbon, or any other method of embroidery

 4. a) Crocheting                 b) Knitting

 5. Lace Making and Tatting 

 6. Wearable art - any technique applied to purchased or self made garments

 7. Art work - Charcoal, carbon, pigment, clay and paper (folded or cut)

 8. Wood craft and Nature - wheat weaving, baskets, wreaths, corn husk, any item of wood

      (no   larger than a bread box), chair caning

     a) Basketry                     b) Wood                     c) Other

 9. Photography - any picture matted or framed.

10. Rug making - any technique, no larger then 3 ft. x 5 ft. or 5 ft. in diameter

11. Jewelry, handmade - necklace, bracelet, earrings etc.

12. Scrap booking - 2 to 3 pages (new work done in past 2 years)

Call Carmen Schnitker, 309-379-3141 for further information. 

Updated 8-11-08