Public Notices
Comment
Rate
Making a Difference: Colorful quilts from police to help comfort youngsters
 |
| JAIME RICHARDSON | SAHUARITA SUN Sahuarita Police Department Lt. Jim Gerrettie, left, accepts a quilt donation from Quail Creek Quilting Covey coordinator Pam Peake. Also joining in the morning gathering, in which 23 lap quilts were given to the department, are SPD Chief John Harris and Quail Creek quilters Carmen Peters, center, Marge Swim and Quail Creek Needlework Club President Marge Hockemeier, right. |
By Karen Walenga, Sahuarita Sun
Bright, cheery lap quilts in a rainbow of colors and designs will help comfort area youngsters thanks to the efforts of a group of Quail Creek quilters and needlework enthusiasts.
In mid-July, 10 members of Quail Creek’s Needlework Club and Quilting Covey delivered 23 lap quilts to Sahuarita Police Department Chief John Harris and Lt. Jim Gerrettie.
The department plans to have the quilts in briefing areas at the police station and in patrol cars to give out to children who need comforting, says Gerrettie.
Usually, contact with the police results from a crime or accident, and a child may view such upsetting incidents in a negative light, he says.
“We want them to see that good things come from the police, too,” Gerrettie says. “We want to show them there are people who really care.”
A throw-size quilt is ideal to snuggle in during tough times, says Marge Swim, charity chairwoman for the Quilting Covey.
“It’s critical to leave on a positive note” after an incident involving the police, he stresses.
While the department has been receiving and distributing stuffed teddy bears to youngsters in need for more than two years, the Quail Creek donation marks the first time SPD has received quilts.
Donating their creations to those in need is a tradition for the Quail Creek Needlework Club.
As of July 15, the group in 2008 had given away more than 340 items—including children’s hats, sweaters, duffle bags, dolls and bears—to such organizations as St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Salvation Army.
In addition, they’ve donated adult sweaters, vests, hats and quilts to Friends in Deed, Afghans for Afghanistan and Dazy’s.
This time around, the approximately 30 Quail Creek quilters and needleworkers wanted to donate to a local Sahuarita organization, so Swim talked with the SPD and found out it could use the quilts.
Its charity work will continue to be ongoing focus of the group, Swim says.
“It gives you a really good feeling to stay local,” says Pam Peake, coordinator of the Quail Creek Quilting Covey. “People in our neighborhoods need assistance.”
Such efforts show that the community is supporting local youngsters as well as the elderly who are victims of traumatic crimes, say Sahuarita Police Chief John Harris.
“People are helping us solve problems in our own town,” Harris notes.
“We have a really great community here. The public drops off teddy bears. We get a lot of response from community professionals,” Gerrettie says. “That’s why our VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) is so active” and has 25 volunteers at present, he adds.
Making a Difference features folks who help make Sahuarita a great place to live. To recommend someone for this weekly series, call Karen Walenga at 547-9739, e-mail to kwalenga@gvnews.com or FAX to 625-1603.
In mid-July, 10 members of Quail Creek’s Needlework Club and Quilting Covey delivered 23 lap quilts to Sahuarita Police Department Chief John Harris and Lt. Jim Gerrettie.
The department plans to have the quilts in briefing areas at the police station and in patrol cars to give out to children who need comforting, says Gerrettie.
Usually, contact with the police results from a crime or accident, and a child may view such upsetting incidents in a negative light, he says.
“We want them to see that good things come from the police, too,” Gerrettie says. “We want to show them there are people who really care.”
A throw-size quilt is ideal to snuggle in during tough times, says Marge Swim, charity chairwoman for the Quilting Covey.
It can encourage a frightened youngster to feel safe and turn to police officers for help, Gerrettie says.
“It’s critical to leave on a positive note” after an incident involving the police, he stresses.
While the department has been receiving and distributing stuffed teddy bears to youngsters in need for more than two years, the Quail Creek donation marks the first time SPD has received quilts.
Donating their creations to those in need is a tradition for the Quail Creek Needlework Club.
As of July 15, the group in 2008 had given away more than 340 items—including children’s hats, sweaters, duffle bags, dolls and bears—to such organizations as St. Andrew’s Children’s Clinic, the Ronald McDonald House, and the Salvation Army.
In addition, they’ve donated adult sweaters, vests, hats and quilts to Friends in Deed, Afghans for Afghanistan and Dazy’s.
This time around, the approximately 30 Quail Creek quilters and needleworkers wanted to donate to a local Sahuarita organization, so Swim talked with the SPD and found out it could use the quilts.
Its charity work will continue to be ongoing focus of the group, Swim says.
“It gives you a really good feeling to stay local,” says Pam Peake, coordinator of the Quail Creek Quilting Covey. “People in our neighborhoods need assistance.”
Such efforts show that the community is supporting local youngsters as well as the elderly who are victims of traumatic crimes, say Sahuarita Police Chief John Harris.
“People are helping us solve problems in our own town,” Harris notes.
“We have a really great community here. The public drops off teddy bears. We get a lot of response from community professionals,” Gerrettie says. “That’s why our VIPS (Volunteers in Police Service) is so active” and has 25 volunteers at present, he adds.
Making a Difference features folks who help make Sahuarita a great place to live. To recommend someone for this weekly series, call Karen Walenga at 547-9739, e-mail to kwalenga@gvnews.com or FAX to 625-1603.
 |
||
| Ask a Friend: Dress for success while expressing yourself |
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of sahuaritasun.com.
