Quilting Seniors at Weequahic Park
While the Northeast awaited the start of spring, The Weequahic Park Quilting Divas have been working on their labor of love for the babies. The ladies sewed handmade quilts to present to the babies of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC). The purpose of this event is to help care for the newborns of their Neonatal Unit by offering one of a kind custom quilts to the new parents at this South Ward Hospital.
This peer-led quilting project, directed by expert Quilter, Beverly Hunter, is one of the many activities supported by The Weequahic Park Sports Authority (WPSA). Doug Freeman, WPSA President, and CEO and the Essex County Parks (Sports and Recreational Programming) with the Weequahic Park Quilting Divas.
Mr. Freeman says: the program is a source of pride, unity, and fun for the participating seniors.
Quilter Group member, Ethel Lindsey shared, “At the time, I had no prior notion or thought of doing any quilting. It sounded like a good cause [sewing quilts] to give to infants, and it was.” “It has been a learning experience for me and something fun to do with the group showing and helping you learn.”
Quilting Diva Sandra Jenkins had some hesitation at first, “I was a little reluctant at first; I had experience with sewing before this,” She learned how to sew her own clothes in her Junior High School Home Economics class. “I sewed my own suits and skirts, so I knew it may make my hands tired and required a lot of patience.” She would baste, carefully stitching by hand, since she no longer owned a sewing machine. Undeterred, her persistence paid off. “When I began cutting the material out at home, I began to see the end product and I basted until someone could share their machine with me. It provides a sense of achievement and camaraderie. Even at our age, there’s a reason to get up in the morning, work together and help someone else.”
Others seniors have since joined the Quilting group like Linda Williams, a regular who began sewing items and learning at home, “They have a great idea. I’m usually at the door anyway to welcome the new people who come here.” Quilter group member, Annie Freeman, busy at work says it helps that, “Beverly Hunter quilted before for NBIMC and taught it”, which has had a huge impact on this dedicated group.
