RUMFORD — Volunteer stitchers and yarn donations are being sought by a local group making comfort covers for patients at the local hospital.

The covers are 36 inches by 48 inches, which is a good size to use as lap robes or over the shoulders, Jane Bubar, Rumford Hospital spokeswoman, said Wednesday morning by email.

Some are crocheted, some knit, some sewn and some are quilted. They’re given to every in-patient at the hospital, she said. Each cover carries a tag urging patients to take them home.

“They help patients feel not only warm, but also cared for,” Bubar said.

They are being created by the Caring Stitchers, a group led by Charlene Cooper and Joette Carlton.

“Right now we are in need of more stitchers to make comfort covers, because we haven’t been able to keep up with the demand,” Cooper said Wednesday.

Bubar said Caring Stitchers was originally made up of hospital employees who met every other week to knit and crochet and exchange patterns.

They also taught volunteers to knit and crochet. Now, the group has expanded to welcome members from the community, some of whom meet with the group and some of whom do their stitching on their own, Bubar said.

She said many of the stitchers buy the yarn they use, donating not only their time and talent but also their materials.

Occasionally, other people donate yarn, fleece or fabric for quilts to the group, which is why Corrine Downs and Jeanne Cole of Region 9 Vocational and Adult Education conceived a plan to increase yarn donations, Bubar said.

They are placing baskets at Region 9 and at the Rumford/Mexico University College, hoping that students and staff will drop materials off for comfort covers.

“We are always happy to accept donations of materials,” Cooper said.

Bubar said anyone interested in joining the Caring Stitchers, either at their get-togethers or as an at-home stitcher, or anyone with materials to donate, can call Cooper at 369-1038.

tkarkos@sunjournal.com

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