Coast to the Cascades
Memory Boxes
Linda Jones - Chairperson
The memory box program is a national effort in which boxes are hand painted and donated to hospital grief programs for distribution to parents who have lost children during or after pregnancy. Our chapter chose this program as our community project because it allows us to share our craft while benefiting families during their time of loss.
The purpose of this program is to help parents through the grieving process and prevent them from leaving the hospital without any representation of their child’s life. These boxes are not just storage containers; they are affirmations of a child’s existence. They are instruments of healing that provide a place to hold cherished memories, and an opportunity to create new ones.
Inside these memory boxes, nurses, pastors or social workers, place items such as an identity record, bracelet, nightie, bonnet, booties, or photo. These boxes of love give the family a meaningful and permanent keepsake.
The paper mache boxes that our chapter uses for the memory box program are purchased by CCC with money raised from the cans our members paint and sell at the Greens Show in Salem in December. These boxes are provided free of charge to CCC members, who graciously and lovingly donate their talent, paints and time to this important cause.
This is a totally volunteer project that continues to thrive through the kindness and generosity of our members. Our commitment to this program is a reflection of who we are as a chapter…our willingness to give to others, our desire to help those in need and our caring nature that makes CCC feel more like a family that a painting club. That’s who we are and that’s what makes us such a great chapter.
If you’d like to find out more about the program, how it got started or download free memory box painting patterns, please visit Tole Friends at www.memoryboxes.org.
Tole Friends Memory Box Program Guidelines
The following guidelines are meant to give you the benefit of our experience. We have few "guidelines" as we feel it is important the boxes come from your heart. We will not give you a lot of "do's" and "don'ts". However, there are some things we have learned along the way which may be helpful in creating a box that will last as a family heirloom.
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First and most important is this: Create a box that you would like to receive if you were in the family's situation. You do not have to be the best painter, collager, stamper, or artist. You just have to create a box from your heart. If it is something you would want to receive, then there will be a family suffering a loss who would also appreciate it.
First and most important is this: Create a box that you would like to receive if you were in the family's situation. You do not have to be the best painter, collager, stamper, or artist. You just have to create a box from your heart. If it is something you would want to receive, then there will be a family suffering a loss who would also appreciate it.•As a basic guideline, the boxes should be approximately 7" to 12". There are uses for boxes as small as 7", and as large as 24". ALL sizes of boxes are needed!
As a basic guideline, the boxes should be approximately 7" to 12". There are uses for boxes as small as 7", and as large as 24". ALL sizes of boxes are needed! They should be at least 3" deep, but may be deeper. They can be in any shape. Large stars, ovals and octagonal boxes, as well as traditional square and round boxes have been used in the program.
Some hospitals request that we not use rectangular boxes as they are reminiscent of coffins. The boxes are meant as an affirmation of the life of the child, so the hospitals prefer not to have a symbol of death given to the family.
The boxes will typically be used to hold the birth certificate, clothing, footprint and hand print, photographs, etc. but some of the boxes are used for SIDS babies or babies with birth defects who have lived for several weeks, so all size boxes are needed!
•Because the boxes are usually mailed to the hospital, we suggest paper mache boxes as they weigh less and cost less to ship. Please be sure to seal and varnish the boxes as the families will keep them for a long time; apply a little wax to the inside rim of the lid, this will make sure that the lid does not stick to the bottom and makes opening the box difficult. Paper mache is a wonderful surface which will last a lifetime or more!
Because the boxes are usually mailed to the hospital, we suggest paper mache boxes as they weigh less and cost less to ship. Please be sure to seal and varnish the boxes as the families will keep them for a long time; apply a little wax to the inside rim of the lid, this will make sure that the lid does not stick to the bottom and makes opening the box difficult. Paper mache is a wonderful surface which will last a lifetime or more! •Appropriate subjects are flowers, sun, moon and stars, animals, teddy bears, angels, children's toys, dolls, rosemaling or other scrollwork. You can paint, collage, decoupage, stamp, and decorate the box in any way you feel is appropriate.
Appropriate subjects are flowers, sun, moon and stars, animals, teddy bears, angels, children's toys, dolls, rosemaling or other scrollwork. You can paint, collage, decoupage, stamp, and decorate the box in any way you feel is appropriate. Some social workers have stated to avoid religious or holiday themes as the parents come from different cultures and religious backgrounds, but most said angels were okay.
•Do not glue lace, paper doilies, or other materials that are likely to come off in time. Many families will keep these boxes for generations and they are handled a lot. Collages work well, but try to avoid things that would easily catch or rip off the boxes when handled.
Do not glue lace, paper doilies, or other materials that are likely to come off in time. Many families will keep these boxes for generations and they are handled a lot. Collages work well, but try to avoid things that would easily catch or rip off the boxes when handled.•Be sure to finish the inside of the box by painting it, lining it with fabric, or using a product like "Soft Flock". Varnishing the inside of the box will also help protect the papers and cloth from deteriorating from the acid in the paper.
Be sure to finish the inside of the box by painting it, lining it with fabric, or using a product like "Soft Flock". Varnishing the inside of the box will also help protect the papers and cloth from deteriorating from the acid in the paper.If you would like to include a saying or poem in the box, please click on the links at http://www.memoryboxes.org/. Any saying can be used, as long as it is appropriate to the situation. The sayings on this site are examples of what would be appropriate, and you are free to use them, if desired.
Be sure to sign your box. This is a work of art to the family who receives it. If you wish, you may include the program web address and/or your email address, so the family can contact you. This also gives the family a way to learn about the program. We have provided examples of enclosures you can use in your boxes at our web site at http://www.memoryboxes.org/.
Thank you for your support and help!
