Published: May 22, 2008 01:29 am         

MEDINA: Store fundraiser to benefit Children's Hospital

KRISTEN PALMER

Journal-Register Intern

Shawna Baldwin, owner of The Whole Nine Yards in Medina, is putting her customers to work.

She is spearheading what she calls the “Sweet Dreams Challenge” — a customer challenge and fundraiser that will benefit the Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

“All the profits will go to the hospital, specifically the children’s long-term unit,” Baldwin said. “Any time there is a problem with a child, they tend to go to the Children’s hospital. It is a wonderful local hospital within driving distance, and it fulfills a need and has a wonderful purpose.”

Lisa Latrovata, a senior development associate with Women & Children’s, said the challenge will enable customers to bring smiles to the children who are in the hospital every day.

“Basically, without the strong community support like we’re getting in Medina, we couldn’t deliver the quality care that we do,” she said.

Baldwin just recently decided to challenge her customers to the pillowcase-making contest. The idea came to her when a Pennsylvania native approached her about it.

“She said a store down there (Pennsylvania) did it, and she told me all about it,” Baldwin said.

Baldwin liked the thought of it and immediately took action. She called the owner of the Pennsylvania store to find out more.

“The woman encouraged me to do it. She said it was a fabulous first event for them,” she said. “I decided to do something like that, because it will give customers a challenge that’s not real expensive.”

As a matter of fact, the cost is only $2.50, and interested customers will receive a kit to get them started. The kit includes a piece of fabric, the “challenge material,” customers must use to design a pillowcase. The kit also includes directions for the project and a $5 gift certificate to Baldwin’s store for any additional fabric participators may choose to use.

“Everyone receives the same challenge material, and you can do whatever you want with it,” Baldwin said. “Just keep in mind it’s for the children.”

When customers have completed the project, they must return the pillowcases to Baldwin to be judged.

“When the customers are finished, they will bring them to me, and the pillowcases will be numbered, and I’ll string them on the ceiling for display. Customers will come in and judge them for a penny a vote,” Baldwin said. “June 13 they will be due back to me, and they’ll be judged for a couple weeks after that.”

The pillowcases will purposely be left nameless so it is a fair competition. Voting is open to everyone, and there is no limit on the number of times a customer can vote.

Baldwin originally put together 100 kits. Her goal is to sell out, and by the looks of it, it won’t take long. Baldwin sold 33 kits Saturday, the kick-off day, alone.

“Quite a few people picked up a kit even before it was advertised,” she said. “Kids as young as 10 years old have chosen to participate.”

The owner of the Main Street store is encouraging quilt guilds and 4-H sewing clubs to participate.

“I’d like to see everyone, especially kids, participate,” she said. “It would be nice to see different designs.”

But Baldwin does not feel this way for selfish reasons — she is fulfilling a need.

“I really wanted to give back to the community and do something special,” she said.

The pillowcases, along with the money raised, will be sent directly to the children of the hospital.

“The hospital is very excited about it, because they get a lot of blankets but no pillowcases,” Baldwin said.

Three winners will be chosen and will receive The Whole Nine Yards gift certificates ranging from $50 to $100.

Baldwin looks forward to the community’s response to what she hopes will become a yearly event.

“Hopefully we can fill the ceiling,” she said.