Every Wednesday, come rain, sleet, snow or sunshine, members of the Stonewood Sunbonnets Community Educational Outreach Service club and whoever else shows up that day gather at the Stonewall United Methodist Church and create lab robes. The club has been doing this community service project for more than a quarter of a century.

 

As the club prepared to donate a tableful of the small quilts to the Cancer Center at United Hospital Center and to Amedisys, a local hospice care center, the members heard stories of just how appreciative the patients are to receive such a token. One such story ended with the small quilt being taken home, framed, and placed in a focal spot in a family home so that it would constantly serve as a reminder that someone cared enough to do something during a time of illness.

 

“When people are so unhappy and they are really upset and sick, I tell them I have a little gift for them,” said Janice McMurdo, a volunteer at the Cancer Center. “I tell them all about the Stonewood CEOS organization. I feel like I owe this club something for what they do.”

 

“The patients absolutely love these,” added Nicole Dulaney of Amedisys. “It means an awful lot to their families as well.”

 

Ladonna Tucker, the president of the Stonewood Sunbonnets CEOS club, said members and friends create more than 200 of these lab robes every year, and they are distributed to local hospitals, nursing homes, and veterans groups.

 

“We have always wondered what people do with the lap robes,” she said. “To know they are not being thrown away, to know that our heritage skills are being kept alive is exciting.”

 

 Tucker said anyone interested in helping out should come to the church between 10 a.m. and noon on Wednesdays. Those wanting more information about the club or the activity can call the West Virginia University Extension Office at 304-624-8650.

 

“We always need volunteers,” Tucker said. “If you can tie a knot, you’re hired.”

 

Also sent to the two agencies were a collection of adult aprons made from men’s dress shirts. Those items were created and donated by the Bridgeport Originals CEOS club.

 

Programs and activities offered by the West Virginia University Extension Service are available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age, veteran status, political beliefs, sexual orientation national origin, and marital or family status. When registering for programs, please designate special access or dietary needs three weeks prior. The information given herein is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended, and no endorsement by the Cooperative Extension Service is implied.

 

Editor’s Note: The Stonewood CEOS club displays some of the items being donated to the Cancer Center at United Hospital Center and to the Amedisys hospice care organization. From left are Willa Jean Green, Betty Shreves, Ladonna Tucker, Nicole Dulaney of Amedisys, Deonna Crowe, UHC Cancer Center volunteer Janice McMurdo, Harrison County CEOS president Connie Wolfinger, and Deloris Wilson.