Blanket Ministry
Two St. Barnabas employees are ensuring those in the final stage of life are as warm and comfortable as possible.
Johna Jacobs, who works as a receptionist at the nursing home, and Denise DeMarco, who is the volunteer coordinator for the health system's hospice program, have made and distributed 30 crocheted lap blankets for their employer's hospice patients since April.
Jacobs creates the blankets with a group of 10 women who meet at her Middlesex Township home every other Thursday. Jacobs said recently the group, Yarners for Yahweh, actually began in 2004 when she lived in Virginia and conducted a similar ministry there.
"I was praying one day and Yarners for Yahweh just came to me," Jacobs said.
Yahweh is the personal name of God in the Hebrew Bible.
A move to Middlesex in 2007 did not deter her from her charitable nature, as she slowly compiled a new group of crocheters from a pool of her sisters and fellow church members.
Jacobs said when her group began in earnest in April, she approached DeMarco to ask if St. Barnabas' two-year-old hospice program would be interested in accepting the lap blankets for patients.
DeMarco responded in the affirmative, but found herself feeling a little uncertain about the first blanket she received because of its dramatic, two-tone purple hue. But the pair said God knew what he was doing when he led them to carry out the Yarners for Yahweh program for the hospice patients.
"I took it to (a patient's) room, and she said 'Purple is my favorite color,'" DeMarco said.
The blankets are delivered folded and tied with a ribbon. A fabric tag added by DeMarco states the owner's name, and a card from Jacobs' group identifies the creators of the blanket and includes the words "May you discover comfort and solace as you use it. May it encircle you in God's love and peace now and always."
If no family members are present when the blanket is delivered, DeMarco leaves a letter informing the patient and family where it came from.
Jacobs said she began Yarners for Yahweh as a tribute to her late mother-in-law, who taught her how to crochet. Plus, the group satisfies her need to help the last, the least and the lost.
"I'm just one of those people who likes to give," Jacobs said.
DeMarco said the blankets also are appreciated by the patients' family members after their loved one has died.
"They knew the blanket was especially intended for this person," she said.
Loretta Oken of New Kensington, Westmoreland County, said her mother, Victoria Micklo, received a Yarners for Yahweh blanket after she was admitted to St. Barnabas' hospice program June 11.Oken said her mother used her lap blanket as a shawl when her health began to fail significantly. She said her mother, who died at age 94 on Aug. 3, loved her blue-and-green creation."It was beautiful, and what was really nice about it is that it was so soft," Oken said. "It was sort of soothing. It comforted her, and it comforted us."Oken said the shawl was given to her youngest brother after their mother died because he was only 2 when their father died. Oken said her mother and brother had developed a very special relationship."It was something special, and he knew Mother had it on her," Oken said.Oken cannot say enough about Jacobs or DeMarco and their blanket ministry."It's wonderful," Oken said. "It's strange; you can have a big bouquet of flowers sitting there, but that blanket? It was just heart-filling."She also praised Jacobs' upbeat, friendly approach to her job as St. Barnabas Nursing Home's receptionist, who is the first face families see when they enter."When you walk in, she makes you feel like you're family," Oken said. "She greets you by name, and she's all smiles and bright eyes. She's a great lady."Oken said DeMarco's concern did not end with her mother's peaceful passing."She is there for us," Oken said. "Denise still calls me to say 'If there's anything we can do to help you ... .'"Thinking back, Oken concluded the shawl served its intended purpose as a blessing to her mother when her days on Earth drew to a close."The shawl made her feel so much better, and it had those nice colors and was so soft."Jacobs said Yarners for Yahweh plans to continue its mission, possibly even expanding its inventory to cancer caps, wraps for stillborn infants or items for local humane societies.For now, she said the group will continue to create and pray over the lap blankets for St. Barnabas' hospice patients.Donations for items like yarn, patterns, hooks and other necessities used by Yarners for Yahweh can be mailed to Jacobs at 116 Hillview Drive, Valencia, PA 16059.
