Morris' Disappearing Bag...Christmas Book Activity: Day 22

Morris' Disappearing Bag is a delightful story

about a family celebrating Christmas Day.

The youngest boy feels left out,

because his siblings say that he is too young to play with their new toys.

Eventually, Morris wanders over to the Christmas tree

and finds a package that has not been opened.

In it he finds a disappearing bag.

His siblings look for Morris, but can't find him.

When they realize that he has this amazing new toy,

they all abandon their other gifts for a turn in the disappearing bag...

leaving Morris alone to play with all of their precious toys!

Of course, we just had to have a disappearing bag of our own!

Autumn took it for its maiden voyage. That's her in the first photo...

and here playing peek-a-boo.

Scarlett staked her claim to it.

But the kids have strict instructions that the disappearing bag is to be shared.

I really enjoyed making it, because it reminded me of

the many years my Grandma sewed kid-sized sleeping bags

for a service organization called Kidsacks.

The "sacks" were personalized with each child's name on it

and were given to children living in battered women's shelters.

My Grandma was a compassionate individual. Such a good example.

I miss her.

I wonder what has become of this organization...

that my Grandma was such a key part of.

I found this article online, which appeared in the Ensign Magazine, January 1994:

Ohio Saints Make Sleeping Bags for Homeless Children

For the second year in a row, members of the Cleveland Ohio Stake participated in the KIDSACKS project. The service project, organized by a local association of seamstresses and textile artisans, consists of making kidsacks, a sleeping bag with a built-in pillow. The items are then given to homeless children.

“It is exciting to see the huge bolts of colorfully striped or plaid and plain materials, bolts of batting, and huge spools of thread travel the production lines [set up in local malls] and emerge as finished, lightweight sleeping bags, each appliquéd with a huge heart embroidered with ‘Sweet Dreams’ and completely portable for even the smallest child to carry and call his or her own,” reported Gladys M. Osborne, stake public affairs director.

“Our young people are enthusiastic over this service project; we call it ‘kids working for kids.’ We make use of everyone; they cut material, pin, sew, serge, unpin, inspect, and bag. They leave feeling happy and successful with their service.”

KIDSACKS project director Marlene Ingraham called the two hundred-plus LDS volunteers the “backbone” of the production line. “Without the ongoing, enthusiastic work of your experienced volunteers, working side by side with other volunteers, the project would not have run as smoothly or been as productive. The LDS families, youth groups, women, and men set the example of good workmanship, teamwork, and productivity. We know that other volunteers caught the spirit and learned from your volunteers.”

For more information, contact Kidsacks, 26612 Center Ridge Road, Westlake, OH 44145; 216-871-1913