The Madison County Extension Homemakers in Richmond have continued a holiday tradition. Every year, a group of volunteers gets together to sew up homemade stuffed animals for children.
The stuffed animals don't go to just any children, though; they are given to those who have been admitted to area hospitals. The idea came from Anne Poulter, who volunteers with the organization and who first moved to Richmond over a decade ago.
Volunteers gathered on Tuesday, November 11, to stitch up the toys. Most of the items sewn are teddy bears, but the volunteers also create heart-shaped pillows for patients receiving treatment for breast cancer and cloth cage covers for the humane society to use to protect feral cats when transporting them. The organization had about 30 volunteers participating, and will no doubt postcard printing to attract even more next year.
JoAnn Grimes, a new master clothier with the Extension, described the volunteers as “a blessing” to both the organization and the kids who receive the stuffed bears.
The event gave volunteers more than just an opportunity to help out others; it also offered them a chance to connect with their neighbors and meet new people. The Richmond Register described the atmosphere in the extension center as “joyous”, as women worked side by side and made new friends.
