“The Little Washing Machine That Could”
A Washing Machine to Save the Day
It’s #GivingTuesdayNow, and we are looking for help with what might be the ONLY way kids in the hospital can continue to receive colorful fleece blankets with their important video messages of support.
To catch you up in a few words, we need your help this #GivingTuesdayNow to fund a washing machine so we can ensure a sanitary blanket to our patients in the hospital.
We wrote you this story to explain our Giving Tuesday goal, and today is part three of three.
We hope you can follow along with the story, and ultimately feel called to support our goal for Giving Tuesday- purchasing a washing machine- an essential step in getting comfort back to kids in the hospital.
The Little Washing Machine That Could: Part I, II & III
Part I: The Pile
A little washing machine had to wash a big pile of blankets for kids in the hospital.
He had washed many things before, but this pile was so large and the blankets were so heavy, he didn’t have the power to spin and couldn’t wash them quick enough.
No matter how hard he tried, he could not get himself to spin and wash the big pile of blankets.
He tried and tried to spin. He puffed and puffed with no luck. He would pause to catch his breath, then start to try again. Choo Choo!
But no! He just did not have the strength to spin the large pile of blankets.
At last he had to leave the warehouse, blankets left unwashed on the table.
Had he stopped working? No, indeed! He was going for help…
Part II: The Friend
“Surely I can find someone to help me,” the little washing machine thought.
Over the hill and up the road went the little washing machine. Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo!
Pretty soon he saw a big washing machine inside a building. The machine looked very big and strong. Running up to the window, he looked up and said: “Will you help me wash these large blankets? They are so big and heavy, and I just can’t spin.”
The big washing machine looked down at the little washing machine. The he said: “Don’t you see that I am through my day’s work? I have been emptied and cleaned and prepared for more work tomorrow. No, I cannot help you.”
The little washing machine was sad, but he went on, Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo!
Soon he came to a second big washing machine standing on a side track. The big machine was puffing and puffing, as if he were tired. “That big washing machine may help me,” thought the little washing machine. He ran alongside and asked: “Will you help me wash a pile of large blankets? They are so big and so heavy that I can’t spin.”
The second washing machine answered: “I have just finished a long day of washing. Don’t you see how tired I am? Can’t you get some other machine to help you this time?
“I’ll try,” said the little washing machine, and off he went. Choo, choo! Choo, choo! Choo, choo!
After a while, he came to a little washing machine just like himself. He ran alongside and said: “Will you help me wash this large pile of blankets? It is so big and so heavy and I just can’t spin all of them on my own.”
“Yes, indeed, I WILL help you wash that pile of blankets!” said this little washing machine. “I’ll be glad to help you, if I can.”
Part III: I Think I Can
So the little washing machines started back to where the blankets were. Both little washing machines stopped next to the big pile on the table Puff, puff! Chug, choo! Off they started washing.
Slowly the blankets began to spin. Slowly they started to wash. As they spun, each little washing machine began to sing: “I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I-think-I-can! I think I can – I think I can – I think I can I think I can–”
And they did! Very soon they had washed ALL of the blankets in the pile.
From then on, the little washing machine could be found merrily singing, “I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I-thought-I-could! I thought I could…
…and I did.”
THE END
We hope you can support our Little Washing Machine That Could Campaign so we can bring comfort back to kids in the hospital.
With gratitude,
Nicholas Kristock
Executive Director