Patches, cotton, needle and thread is all the women of Faith Lutheran Church in Avon need.
The group of 12-15 women meet twice a month to work on quilts. Shirley Heckes, one of the group members, said she goes for the comradery.
“I like to sew and it’s nice to get together with all the ladies,” she said.
The group has been getting together for the past 15 years making what they call ‘Care Quilts’ for cancer patients at area hospitals.
Shirley Dunham, the lead of the group, said the time they spend together is part fellowship and part social.
“We just enjoy doing it, we enjoy getting together for a purpose. We have no idea who receives the quilts but they go around and distribute them to their patients.”
“I’ve gone through it and I know what cancer patients are going through,” Heckes said.
Last year the women made and donated 220 care quilts and 15 heart pillows for patients receiving treatment at Fairview Hospital's Cancer Center.
And this year, the women are starting off strong. With just a month under their belt they've already made 35 quilts.
Kathryn Lazroff recently received a quilt during her first chemo treatment.
She expressed her gratitude for the gift that came during a time that was very fearful for her.
“For me, it meant the world. When you get a cancer diagnosis, it’s like the world drops, but it was so comforting.”
She’s been battling uterine cancer for the past year and recently received the quilt from an anonymous giver.
“To receive something like I said someone was kind enough to make for you, not knowing who you are or not knowing where it was going to end up it felt personal to me,” she said.
Dunham explained how much it meant to her and the other ladies knowing they can bring comfort and a smile to others in need.
“Very fulfilling you know. It just makes you feel good that you’ve done something for somebody else, with love you know.”
