A milestone of generosity and love was reached at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital (CHH) this week when Quilts that Care (QTC) President Deborah Van Steenbergen, Vice President Maura G. Yerger and Communications/Development Officer Edna Z. Wells delivered their quarterly donation to the hospital’s nursing department.
This year is QTC’s 10th anniversary and the 10th year it has donated quilts to cancer patients at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital. In that time, QTC has donated 480 quilts to CHH and nearly 4,600 quilts overall.
“Our mission is simple: wrapping patients and their families in comfort and hope, one quilt at a time,” said volunteer Edna Z. Wells, Quilts that Care Communications and Development Officer.
Quilts that Care, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Waterbury, currently makes and donates quilts to cancer patients at 15 Connecticut facilities. The group was founded in April 2012 by Deborah and Robert Van Steenbergen and a handful of friends. It has grown into a group of more than 60 volunteers dedicated to bringing comfort and hope to those undergoing cancer treatments.
“For over a decade, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital has been able to give these specially made gifts from Quilts That Care to our cancer patients who are so surprised and grateful to receive and take one home,” said Catherine Clinckscales, Nursing Supervisor at CHH. “The quilts are a tangible symbol of care and comfort, and come in a variety of colors and themes. The incredible talent and love that go into each one is apparent and provides a lovely touch in a clinical setting for our patients and families. We are so indebted to this group for including us in their scope of generosity.”
QTC also donates to other Hartford HealthCare locations at Midstate Medical Center in Meriden, Hartford HealthCare at Home, The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute and The Hospital of Central Connecticut in New Britain.
Each quilt is handmade by a single group member or a team of group members. Quilting sessions are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at the Litchfield Community Center, 421 Bantam Road, Litchfield; and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Quilts that Care Headquarters, 130 Scott Road, Waterbury. Donations of fabric, sewing notions and financial support are accepted. Volunteers are also welcome.
For information, call 860.782.1043 or click here.
In the photo above: CHH Nursing Supervisor Catherine Clinckscales, left, accepts handmade quilts for Patients from Quilts that Care Communications and Development Officer Edna Z. Wells, Founder and President Deborah Van Steenbergen and Vice President Maura Yeager.