The Stitchin’ Sisters gather to sew quilts in the auditorium at St. Andrew’s Residence and have their yearly donation to the Chatham Goodfellows ready for the Christmas baskets. From left, with Goodfellows Toy Co-chair Tim Haskell are Joanne Smith, Jane Jenner, Marlene Warren, Barb Chandler, Sharon Wilkins, Diane Tatchell, Mary Deturck, Barb Slavik and Marlene Ternoey.
For 13 years, a fun and community-mind group of ladies have come together to share their love of sewing and helping others.
The Stitchin’ Sisters have been working together, sewing quilts for good causes such as breast cancer research, the Chatham-Kent Hospice, Comfort Caps for the oncology department, and the Chatham Goodfellows.
This week, the Stitchin’ Sisters donated quilts for the Goodfellows Christmas baskets, to be given to families with a baby or infant. According to Marlene Warren, a member of the Stitchin’ Sisters, the quilts donated this year bring the total donated to the Goodfellows over the years to 1,000 quilts.
“The quilts go with their Christmas baskets to families who have small children. We also knitted 100 hats for their use,” Warren said. “Our funding comes from BMO Financial in the way of a volunteer grant every other year, donations by private individuals and donations from R&B Fabrics.”
Amidst friendly banter with Goodfellows Toy Co-chair Tim Haskell, the quilters boxed up the colourful blankets they have created over the past year.
“It’s nice for the kids to have the quilts in the baskets,” Haskell said. “They (Stitchin’ Sisters) do a really good job on them.”
The Goodfellows provide a Christmas food and toy basket to deserving families in the community with the help of individuals, businesses and community organizations.
Goodfellows volunteers will the going door-to-door Dec. 5 for their Porchlight campaign, so if you have a donation to make, leave your porch light on that evening.
Mary Beth Corcoran, Chatham Voice