The Kalama Quilters welcomes new members and seeks supply donations
LONGVIEW, Wash. – The Kalama Quilters group, a new community crafting group focused on quilting and sewing, has begun gifting beautiful handmade quilts to patients and their families at the PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House.
Kalama resident Kate Northwood began the Kalama Quilters group in January. Meeting at the Kalama Baptist Church every other week, a dozen participants gather to quilt, sew clothing, and create community around their shared love of crafting.
PeaceHealth Hospice Volunteer Program supervisor, Jennifer Linde, began participating and realized the group could start making quilts for a very meaningful reason – to gift to patients at the PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House in Longview. “We have always had twin size quilts drape the hospice beds in Vancouver, and we are now doing the same for Longview,” shared Linde.
The PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House provides end-of-life care for the Longview community. The House has 12 private rooms so every patient gets individual, compassionate care in their own space. It’s a warm, calming place where patients and their families can spend the remaining time together in peace. Gifting patients meaningful keepsakes like handmade quilts could help them feel seen and loved by their community. Linde contacted Northwood once she saw a Kalama quilting group was starting up. “I knew we would be needing local groups here to support our efforts in supplying the hospice house with quilts,” she said.
“The ladies jumped right on it,” shared Northwood. “It gives us all something to look forward to doing together.”
Since January, the Kalama Quilters have created two twin-sized quilts for the hospice, and five are under construction. Collaborating as a group, the quilters map out a unique design and carefully select fabrics with cohesive patterns and colors for each of the 24 squares. All materials are donated by the group who work on blocks at home and bring them to the meeting.
It’s a win-win for the Cowlitz community – the members create connections with each other while crafting, and the hospice patients receive beautiful keepsakes that help them, and their families, feel cared for.
The Kalama Quilters welcomes new participants and donations of supplies. The group meets at Kalama Baptist Church (112 Vincent Rd, Kalama, Washington, 98625) every other Wednesday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Join the Kalama Quilters Facebook group here for updates.
About PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House: If your loved one is preparing for the final chapter of life, the PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House can make things a little easier for you and for them. PeaceHealth Richard Nau Hospice House cares for people who don’t expect to live more than a few weeks. Visit the website here or contact the team at (360) 501-3600 for more information.
About PeaceHealth: PeaceHealth, based in Vancouver, Wash., is a non-profit Catholic health system offering care to communities in Washington, Oregon and Alaska. PeaceHealth has approximately 16,000 caregivers, more than 3,000 providers, more than 160 clinics and 9 medical centers serving both urban and rural communities throughout the Northwest. In 1890, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace founded what has become PeaceHealth. The Sisters shared expertise and transferred wisdom from one medical center to another, always finding the best way to serve the unmet need for healthcare in their communities. Today, PeaceHealth is the legacy of the founding Sisters and continues with a spirit of respect, stewardship, collaboration and social justice in fulfilling its Mission. Visit us online at peacehealth.org.
###
