In an effort to warm hearts during the cold winter season, members from Busy Hands Quilters have donated handmade quilts for babies and patients at Cambridge Memorial Hospital.
“It was an absolute ray of sunshine that this donation of time, energy and love was put into these beautiful quilts by the Busy Hands Quilters in Cambridge. We are just so very grateful,” said Gillian Dyck, manager of Woman and Children’s Programs.”
“Being in hospital right now is very challenging with the visiting restrictions and the staff being stretched every which way. These lovely quilts are something beautiful, that come with very warm and loving sentiments from community members to our families.”
The Women and Children’s Programs provides safe, quality patient and family-centred care to families. Whether it’s for a birthing experience, breast feeding support, or taking care of a sick child, the Women & Children’s program creates an environment that promotes optimal healing.
“We’ve donated to the hospital for a long time,” says Pauline Isbester, co-president of Busy Hands Quilters.
“We just love to sew. We love the feeling of knowing that the quilts are going somewhere where they will be used.”
In addition to 31 baby quilts, the guild also donated 60 hats for babies, five memory quilts, and three knitted bears.
“We have one member of the guild who just loves to make the bears and they are so very cute,” Isbester said.
Busy Hands Quilters has about 50 members.
“Most of our members are seniors. We are a daytime guild,” Isbester said.
Besides donating to the hospital, Busy Hands Quilters has also made quilts for local seniors, the Haven House-Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, a suicide prevention group, and Quilts of Valour which supports injured Canadian Armed Forces members, past and present, with quilts of comfort.
“When COVID-19 began, we were busy making masks for frontline workers,” said Shirley Boddy, co-president of Busy Hands Quilters.
“We do this because it’s a hobby that we enjoy but we also enjoy giving to others.”
Cambridge Memorial Hospital is grateful for the continued support from Busy Hands Quilters.
“It is clear that the time and energy that are put into these detailed and colourful quilts, is a true labour of love,” Dyck said.
“They are a wonderful example of the generosity of our incredible community members here in Cambridge.”
