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month basis what well make, Meenan says, adding that many members take things home to work on, and some who can- not attend meetings also sew at home. Material is donated by pa- rishioners. Most fabrics are of use to the ministry, but gauzy, sparkly, silky stu, Meenan says, is given to Star- light Theater and the Auburn High School theater depart- ment. The items they make meet many community needs. Its a network all over town, Meen- an says. St. Rita Parish is one recipi- ent. Altar linens and white bap- tismal cloths embroidered with St. Rita Church are regularly made by the ministry. One of our members does a lot of embroidery, Meenan says, adding that they are gearing up for the baby boom predicted after the current shelter-at-home directives end. Fabric pieces that are too small for most uses are turned into cat pillows for Noahs Ark and dog pillows for a Chicago- area animal shelter. The min- istry also provides fabric for the Catholic Charities refugee sewing group, and members have mended slightly-damaged clothing donated to St. Eliza- beth Center. The last few weeks have brought requests for masks made of layers of material, sometimes with interfacing in between the layers. Interfac- ing, along with elastic, is now in short supply because of the many groups across the area that are sewing masks. St. Rita masks have gone to area nursing homes and to Freeport Health Network and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center for ancillary staers. A recent round of masks headed to facilities like Car- penters Place, Mosaic, North- ern Illinois Hospice and Mile- stone for their essential sta, Meenan says. The group also just got a re- quest for masks for truck driv- ers who have to wear them when making deliveries. Truckers dont have time and sewing skills, Meenan says, so part of our next batch will go to truckers. Those rather-unusual recipi- ents are just the latest in a long line of people whose lives have been made better through the eorts of this one parish's sew- ing ministry.
(Photos provided)
Members of Rockford's St. Rita Sewing Ministry display some of the items they have made.
One of the women (below) in the Catholic Charities Refugee Relief Ser- vice sewing group makes personal masks to help people stay healthy during the coronavirus pandemic. In the past, the St. Rita Parish sewing group donated fabric for the refugee group to use.
Parish Sewing Ministry Adjusts to Coronavirus Times
What do they sew?
In addition to church items and masks, the creations St. Rita sewers make include: n Quilts, pot holders, table runners and American Girl doll clothes for raffles; n Decorative pillows to position patients in their beds, walker and wheelchair bags and clothing protectors (adult bibs) for nursing homes and other facilities n Curtains and drapes for St. Elizabeth Catholic Community Center in Rockford; n Winter hats for homeless shelters; n "Sporty-looking" bandana clothing protec- tors for the developmentally disabled; and n Embroidered travel pillows for parish March for Life pilgrims.
The Observer
FRIDAY MAY 1, 2020
5
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