AFA Project News/ PressRoom

6/1/2007 -- AFA Project has a new address

The Afghans for Angel Project
1016 Franklin Street
Galena, IL 61036

01/14/07 -- AFA Project Supports ALS Research. Read more.

01/11/07 -- Today we added a new feature-- Carri's Crochet Journal. Enjoy!

11/18/06 -- Our November Newsletter is downloadable HERE:

Microsoft Word --- Adobe PDF

11/16/06 -- Try something new! Make an afghan with triangle shapes. Visit the Talking Crochet Website for the pattern!

11/14/06 -- Thank you to a local "angel" Darlene P. of Galena. She has graciously agreed to edge nearly 500 afghan squares so we can "whip" up some more blankets!

11/13/06 -- We added some new hat patterns to our online library.

11/9/06 -- Look for a mention of the PopTab Project in an upcoming issue of "Talking Crochet!" by Carole Alexander. Ms. Alexander is the Executive Editor for Crochet Publications & Programs for DRG Publishing (Publisher of Crochet! Magazine). You can subscribe to the E-Zene Newsletter by visiting http://www.crochetmagazine.com/

10/24/2006 -- The Afghans for Angel Project collects 16,000 pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House Charities

10/24/2006 -- The Afghans for Angel Project collects 16,000 pop tabs for Galena Middle School and Ronald McDonald House Charities

(Galena, IL) 6th Grader Nala Johnson Burroughs wanted to show the world that one small person "CAN" make a difference. Starting in July, 2006, Burroughs began collecting the "pop tabs" off the top of aluminum beverage cans. Her goal was to collect 50 pounds of pop tabs by December 31, 2006.

Burroughs began by collecting the tabs from the soda cans of her parents. Then she asked other family members for their tabs. She was aided in her task by members of the First Presbyterian Church of Galena, staff and residents of the Galena Stauss Nursing Home, and patrons of The Gold Room, a local bar and grill on Main Street, Galena. People from across the country who saw her project on the internet also donated pop tabs.

On October 24, 2006, Burroughs donated 10 pounds of pop tabs to Galena Middle School. To figure out how many pop tabs are in 10 pounds, Burroughs counted how many tabs are in 1 ounce--about 100. If one figures there are 16 ounces in a pound, and Burroughs donated 10 pounds of tabs; then, Burroughs collected 16,000 (sixteen thousand) pop tabs in 5 months.

"That's a whole lot of pop tabs!" said Burroughs. "But, I have 40 more pounds to go to meet my goal!"

"We live in a state (Illinois) that does not have a five-cent-refund recycling program for pop cans," says CJ Burroughs, Nala's mother. "While recycling the cans would provide more donations for Ronald McDonald House Charities, collecting the pop tabs is a small way for children to learn the value of philanthropy and giving. It is quick, and easy, and many tabs can be collected in a short time if everyone works together."

According to Mr. Bruce Small, Student Council Coordinator for Galena Middle School, in Galena, IL "The pop tab collection is a student council sponsored activity.  The tabs are collected each year and taken to the annual Illinois Association of Junior High Student Councils state convention in April.  All schools that belong to the IAJHSC do the same thing.  The tabs are collected, weighed, and turned over to the Ronald McDonald Houses representative, Mr. Bob Witter.  The money is then submitted to the Ronald McDonald Houses in the name of the IAJHSC.  It is a statewide service project in which our council participates annually.  We receive points toward our Honor Council award for doing so."

Ronald McDonald House Charities recycle the tabs and use the proceeds to provide low cost housing for parents whose children are undergoing treatment. Each pop tab donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities equals about $0.01 for the Ronald McDonald House. According to Ronald McDonald House Charities' website, " To date, more than 400 million pop tabs have been collected, generating more than $4 million."

People wishing to help with the pop tab project should send their pop tabs to

The Afghans for Angel Pop Tab Project
C/O Nala Johnson Burroughs
300 N. Bench St.
Galena, IL 61036

The Afghans for Angel Project (AFA Project) is a not-for-profit, philanthropic organization whose primary program is to construct and distribute comforting afghans for children with life threatening illnesses, and whose mission is to educate, encourage, and promote grass-roots giving programs and philanthropic efforts developed by individuals and groups. For more information on the Afghans for Angel Project, visit www.afaproject.org or email CJ Burroughs at kate@afaproject.org.

Please visit http://www.rmhc.com/rmhc/index/programs/ronald_mcdonald_house/pop_tab_collection.html for more information on the Ronald McDonald House Charities Pop Tab Collection Program.

10/22/06 -- The Afghans For Angel Project Receives Gift from "The Cup of Cold Water Fund" ofFirst Presbyterian Church of Galena, IL

(Galena, IL) The Afghans for Angel Project, a not-for-profit philanthropic organization whose primary mission is to make comforting afghans for children who are undergoing treatment for cancer or other life-threatening illnesses, is proud to announce the receipt of a $100 gift from the "Cup of Cold Water Fund" of First Presbyterian Church of Galena, IL. The AFA Project was founded in 2001 by Nala Johnson Burroughs (now age 11), in response to the cancer diagnosis of her classmate, Angel. Burroughs' mother asked online crafters to donate 6" crochet squares to be joined together to make a blanket for donation to a school fundraiser for Angel.

The AFA Project operates entirely by donations from crafters who crochet or knit afghan squares, afghans, caps, hats, mittens, scarves, or yarn, to be used as part of one or more of the current programs of the AFA Project. All cash donations are used to cover postage of blankets or donated supplies or items to people who need them.

"On behalf of the Afghans for Angel Project, we would like to thank the members of the First Presbyterian Church for their generous donation to the Afghans for Angel Project," says CJ Burroughs, coordinator of the Afghans for Angel Project.

According to Pastor Jim McCrea of The First Presbyterian Church of Galena the name of thier fund comes from the Bible, in the book of Matthew chapter 10 verse 42:  "...and whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones in the name of a disciple—truly I tell you, none of these will lose their reward.”  According to McCrea, "the Cup of Cold Water fund is money that [The First Presbyterian Church] Mission & Stewardship Committee sets aside from their budget to help meet needs that we hear about during the course of the year. Most of their budget goes to grants for mission programs or institutions, like the Food Pantry and the Son Shine Center and CHOICES. But the Cup of Cold Water is essentially aimed at helping needy individuals with those needs that crop up now and then."

The Afghans for Angel Project (AFA Project) is a not-for-profit, philanthropic organization whose primary program is to construct and distribute comforting afghans for children with life threatening illnesses, and whose mission is to educate, encourage, and promote grass-roots giving programs and philanthropic efforts developed by individuals and groups. For more information on the Afghans for Angel Project, or to request a blanket for a sick child, visit www.afaproject.org or email CJ Burroughs at kate@afaproject.org.

Anyone wishing to donate funds to the Afghans for Angel Project to help with postage costs may send their check to:

The Afghans for Angel Pop Project
C/O Nala Johnson Burroughs
1016 Franklin
Galena, IL 61036

For more information on the "Cup of Cold Water" program of the First Presbyterian Church of Galena, contact Reverand Jim McCrea at jmfpc@sbcglobal.net or visit http://www.firstgalena.presbychurch.org/.

 

04/09/06 -- The Afghans For Angel Project Donates Blanket to Galena Rotarian Auction

04/09/06 -- The Afghans For Angel Project Donates Blanket to 2 yr. old Sydney D.,