Sparrow Caregiver Kathleen Johnson and her 88-year-old mother have exhibited Sparrow’s compassionate care by handcrafting more than 150 items for distribution to Patients.
It’s part of a long involvement with Sparrow to take donated scraps from home to assemble items that make Sparrow Patients’ stay and rehabilitation a little more comfortable and meaningful.
The items include walker bags, fidget mats, deceased baby layettes, receiving blankets hand-knitted baby caps and fleece chemo patient caps, and are all crafted from purchased and donated washable fabric, yarn, zippers, buttons, beads, belt buckles, loops, Velcro, elastic, dress shirt cuffs and other materials.
Johnson, Sparrow Administration and Human Resources Executive Assistant, has been participating in similar volunteer endeavors at Sparrow for more than 15 years.
"Our goal through these sewing projects is to provide our Patients with a better quality of life," said Johnson. "It’s rewarding to have helped our clinical staff rehab someone and to help provide them a better way of getting their life put back together."
Johnson and her mother, Jean Edwards, both spend upwards of two hours assembling each item. They appreciate the support they’ve received, noting the immense amount of donated materials from fellow Sparrow Caregivers.
"It’s a financial challenge sometimes producing the materials needed," said Johnson. "When Caregivers come together and find things just sitting around their house to donate, we are extremely grateful."
Caregivers interested in getting involved in volunteer activities can reach out to Sparrow's Volunteer Services Department at Sparrow.org or call the Volunteer Office at 517.364.3606, option 1.
