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The "Silver Ribbon
Campaign" originated as a grassroots effort of
members of the Our-Kids Mailing List to increase
"awareness and support of children with
disabilities." Our-Kids is devoted to raising
special kids with special needs, and is a
"family" of parents, caregivers and others who
are working with children with physical and/or mental
disabilities and delays. There are currently many groups
and organizations participating in the Silver Ribbon
Campaign, some of who add objects to the center of the
ribbon to distinguish themselves, as we have done with
the silver bell. For Awareness, Shannon Green
(committee member), contacted Our-Kids to discuss our
involvement in the Silver Ribbon Campaign. She was told
that the color silver was chosen for the ribbons
"to represent the silver lining behind every cloud,
and to show that our children are more than just their
disabilities." With our own silver ribbon campaign,
we also recognize the adults with brachial plexus
injuries, by addressing their "kid at heart.”
To learn more about Our-Kids,
visit: www.our-kids.org; and to view a website listing
other organizations participating in the Silver Ribbon
Campaign, visit: www.iso.net/~chigger/src/.
The Awareness Committee is pleased to
offer two different types of silver ribbons to our
community this year. We have also included resources for
your benefit just in case you'd like to sew your own
ribbons.
JEWELRY RIBBON PIN
In preparation for Awareness, and in response to a general consensus last year
that a more permanent, "jewelry-like" pin
would be a good item to promote awareness, Shannon
worked with a manufacturer to design and produce a
small, silver-tone lapel pin with a bell attached. The
pin is 1 1/8" in height and the bell is 1/4"
in size. The pins are made of a die-struck pewter with
nickel-plating to give a silver metallic look. A real
bell is attached to a loop on the front with a small
jump ring. The UBPN store is selling the pins for
$5 which includes postage to the continental U.S.
HAND-SEWN SILVER RIBBON PINS
The Awareness Committee
will also be using the regular hand-sewn ribbon pins
which can be distributed to those who make a difference
in our lives. We have a “sewing team” assembled to
prepare and sew 600 ribbon pins! The ready-to-wear
ribbons will be sold in packets of 20. The UBPN store is
selling the handsewn pins for $10 for 20 which includes
postage to the continental U.S.
SEWING YOUR OWN RIBBONS
- 1/2"
solid metalic silver ribbon (without the metal in it
for bending)
- 1/2"
silver libery bells
- safety
pins
- grey
thread (don't use silver thread - it's very hard to
work with)
These
items can be found at your local craft store or
online.
Instructions for Assembling
Silver Ribbons and Bells:
- Measure and cut the ribbon
every 6 inches
- Loop the ribbon
- From the back to the
front, pull the needle and thread through
- Slide the bell down and
loop the thread and needle back through to the
backside of the ribbon
- Put the clasp of a safety
pin against the back of the ribbon
- Go around with needle and
thread and back through to the bell
- Repeat threading through
bell and safety pin 3-4 times
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