About SOUL

Stitches Of Unconditional Love (SOUL) is a group of men and women who volunteer their time and talents to make quilts and Bags of Love for children who have been removed from their homes because of violence or drug use by their parents. Presently, we supply DHS in 9 Arkansas counties with these Bags of Love which they distribute to the children when they take them out of their homes. We meet every Monday at the SOUL building (the small building in front of the Seventh-day Adventist Church), in Bonnerdale, Arkansas, west of Hot Springs, (709 Adventist Church Rd.)  See Map and Directions on HOME page.

You do not have to know how to quilt. Among other jobs, we need people to wash and iron fabric, cut quilt squares, design quilts, and tie quilts (most quilts are hand tied).  We have lots of time to socialize while we're working and at lunch and we would like this to be a social time for us all in the community. You do not have to stay any particular length of time.  Just come for lunch or whenever you want to, and stay as long as you like.

 
Stitches of Unconditional Love (SOUL) meets at 11 a.m. every Monday for lunch and quilting.
 
What is a Bag of Love
Each Bag of Love is handmade and contains a handmade quilt, a large, new stuffed bear (15" or larger), personal items, a new toy, an activity kit or puzzle, another new (smaller) stuffed animal, a Bible or New Testament, and other miscellaneous items.  Bags are age and gender specific. Each quilt and each Bag is  uniquely designed-- there are no two alike even if the colors and patterns may be similar.

Why Bags of Love
  1. The local Dept of Children and Family Services may remove a child from his/her home at any time, maybe even in the middle of the night, because of drug use or family violence.  The child may see the parent or parents arrested and taken away in handcuffs leaving the child frightened and alone.  If Methamphetamines were being used, the child can take nothing with him/her but the clothes on his/her back.  A Bag of Love is something that child can call his/her own. We have also made quilts for a few adults who were ill and confined to their home. We thought this a good way to let them know they were not forgotten and it seemed to bring them joy.

Child abuse programs  in Arkansas: How you can help an abused child. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=child+abuse+programs+in+arkansas&sxsrf=APq-WBvFokI1gy_Vhw2924cb4wEghy4bEg%3A1650022474505&ei=SlhZYvarHsazqtsPk4mE8Ac&ved=0ahUKEwj2-Nrb_JX3AhXGmWoFHZMEAX4Q4dUDCA4&oq=child+abuse+programs+in+arkansas&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAw6BwgjELACECc6BQgAEIYDSgQIQRgASgQIRhgAUABYoCBgtltoAHAAeACAAWSIAekDkgEDNS4xmAEAoAEBwAEB&sclient=gws-wiz 

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Do you have a loved one in your care or in the care of others, home or nursing home, It's a stressful tme for the care-giver, family and staff. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=elder+abuse+arkansas&oq=Elder+&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i67l5j46i512l2j0i67j0i67i457.13044j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 

HOW YOU CAN HELP!
▫ Volunteer to prepare, sew and tie quilts and Bags of Love. 
Donate fabric for quilts and bags.
▫ Donate new toys or stuffed animals or personal items.
▫ Donate money via Paypal (below) or by check to Bonnerdale Adventist Church - SOUL,
   709 Adventist Church Rd, Bonnerdale, AR 71933
   or Online Giving: find SOUL under Local Church, More Offering Categories