Comforting the needy
CONNOQUENESSING — Although this group of women gathers in a cozy cluster to sew, their handiwork travels far from home.
Members of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church of Connoquenessing, the women's quilting and Bible study group meets every other week to create "comforts," often distributed in Third World countries.
The group meets as a chapter of WELCA, the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.
The patchwork comforts contain batting or recycled blankets as filling, but they are not called quilts because their layers are held together with knots rather than with stitches, the women said.
Ruth Boughton of Butler Township, a longtime member of the group, estimates the group has made more than 200 comforts in its 10-plus years together.
"I went down twice a year, and each time I took at least 12," said the 86-year-old Boughton, who delivers the comforts in her hatchback car to the Lutheran World Relief distribution center in New Windsor, Md.
The comforts are then baled and sent to various locations.
"A lot of them are sent to Africa," Boughton said, adding some blankets also were distributed to Hurricane Katrina victims and in other cases of domestic need. Boughton said in some instances the comforts are among the recipients' only possessions.
"These comforts just aren't bedding," she added. "They're used as tents."
"It's been a lot of fun," said Ruth Schreffler of Connoquenessing Township, who described herself as "knotty" when quipping about her role as needle threader.
Doris Chuhra of Lyndora, who joined the sewing group this year, said she is also learning to do traditional quilting through her association with women in the group.
Chuhra along with the other members already knew basic sewing when joining, however. Most of them recall a time when making clothing — especially for children — was commonly done.
"I've always sewn. I have seven children of my own. My husband and I have 11 together," said Carolyn Cook of Connoquenessing, another longtime member.
Currently, inner layers of the comforts contain quilt batting or recycled "unholy" blankets, and the sheets used for backing are sometimes purchased second-hand.
Patchwork fabrics for the top layer are purchased new or come from scrap baskets or recycled clothing.
"We've used heavy linen tablecloths. We've used blankets, bed spreads," Boughton said.
"This project is years and years old. I can remember my mother piecing together old coats."
Over time, the group has also donated other items and money to local and international causes, including providing holiday gifts for local children and "adopting" a needy child in India.
They also have donated toward silkworms and the mulberry trees to feed them to women in Bangladesh and have collected change to buy prosthetic limbs for landmine victims.
The women estimate their congregation numbers about 100, and many members are elderly. About 30 attend services regularly. Although the sewing group has consisted of up to 15 members, about five currently attend each week.
"I think our church has done a lot over the years for as little as we are," Chuhra said.
The group's latest batch of comforts will be blessed during services this Sunday before a Monday delivery to Maryland.
