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PITTSBURG —
A group of women gather every Wednesday morning at St. John Lutheran Church to provide warmth and comfort to those in need in the Pittsburg area and around the world.
“We made what we call comforts,” said Marilyn Davis. “We really can’t call them quilts because they aren’t quilted.”
The women just completed one that will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Crawford County.
“We also give them to Wesley House, the homeless shelter and Red Cross,” Davis said. “We gave out a lot when we had the tornados, and we give them to people we know are in need. Those that aren’t given out locally we donate to Lutheran World Relief, which goes all over the world.”
She said that the finished comforts donated to Lutheran World Relief have to be 60 by 80 inches.
“That’s a small standard for an American bed,” Davis said. “We try to make the ones we donate to Americans a little larger.”
Not all of those making comforts attend St. John Lutheran.
“We have women from other churches who come to make comforts for the needy,” said Betty Kalusha. “The friendships we make and the fellowship we have are wonderful.”
“It’s ecumenical,” added Edie Hobson, one of those who attends church elsewhere.
The group uses donated fabric, and sometimes completes two or three comforts every session. This can cause a problem.
“We’re running out of fabric,” Kalusha said.
Davis said that cotton is their favorite fabric to work with, but the group will take everything. They displayed one comfort pieced together with upholstery samples.
“It blows my mind what they can do with all these scraps of fabric,” Hobson said.
Davis said that the scraps shouldn’t be too small.
“Sometimes people give us blocks or narrow strips for quilting, and that’s not what we need,” she said.
On the other hand, Davis said that the group has been able to use tablecloths that have gotten stained.
“Mattress pads make very good lining for the inside,” Kalusha said.
Davis said it takes five women to assemble the blankets to pull them tight, somebody to tie it, while others cut materials. The work fills the morning, but it’s worth it.
“These comforts go to a lot of places in dire circumstances,” Davis said. “I think a lot of the ladies appreciate knowing that. I’m so glad there’s something useful we can still do. It doesn’t pay us in money, but does pay with a lot of satisfaction.”
Anyone wishing to donate fabric may drop it off at St. John Lutheran Church any morning during the week.
A group of women gather every Wednesday morning at St. John Lutheran Church to provide warmth and comfort to those in need in the Pittsburg area and around the world.
“We made what we call comforts,” said Marilyn Davis. “We really can’t call them quilts because they aren’t quilted.”
The women just completed one that will be donated to Habitat for Humanity of Crawford County.
“We also give them to Wesley House, the homeless shelter and Red Cross,” Davis said. “We gave out a lot when we had the tornados, and we give them to people we know are in need. Those that aren’t given out locally we donate to Lutheran World Relief, which goes all over the world.”
She said that the finished comforts donated to Lutheran World Relief have to be 60 by 80 inches.
“That’s a small standard for an American bed,” Davis said. “We try to make the ones we donate to Americans a little larger.”
Not all of those making comforts attend St. John Lutheran.
“We have women from other churches who come to make comforts for the needy,” said Betty Kalusha. “The friendships we make and the fellowship we have are wonderful.”
“It’s ecumenical,” added Edie Hobson, one of those who attends church elsewhere.
The group uses donated fabric, and sometimes completes two or three comforts every session. This can cause a problem.
“We’re running out of fabric,” Kalusha said.
Davis said that cotton is their favorite fabric to work with, but the group will take everything. They displayed one comfort pieced together with upholstery samples.
“It blows my mind what they can do with all these scraps of fabric,” Hobson said.
Davis said that the scraps shouldn’t be too small.
“Sometimes people give us blocks or narrow strips for quilting, and that’s not what we need,” she said.
On the other hand, Davis said that the group has been able to use tablecloths that have gotten stained.
“Mattress pads make very good lining for the inside,” Kalusha said.
Davis said it takes five women to assemble the blankets to pull them tight, somebody to tie it, while others cut materials. The work fills the morning, but it’s worth it.
“These comforts go to a lot of places in dire circumstances,” Davis said. “I think a lot of the ladies appreciate knowing that. I’m so glad there’s something useful we can still do. It doesn’t pay us in money, but does pay with a lot of satisfaction.”
Anyone wishing to donate fabric may drop it off at St. John Lutheran Church any morning during the week.
