Lawrence, Mass. – Members of the Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild recently donated 21 handcrafted quilts to High Pointe House in Haverhill, one for each patient suite at the hospice and palliative care residence of Merrimack Valley Hospice.
According to Susan Houde, co-coordinator of the Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild’s Quilt Cupboard, the organization is comprised of more than 100 members from northern and central Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Monthly meetings take place at the VFW in Pepperell, while open sews and workshops are held at the Pepperell Community Center.
Patterns, fabric and other supplies are stored at the Groton Senior Center, which is also the site of monthly meetings, open sews and workshops offered by the Quilt Cupboard. While some members complete quilts independently, others work in teams to piece tops, machine quilt and bind the quilts.
“We have amazing, talented and generous quilters,” said Houde, noting that more than 200 quilts and baby blankets were donated to individuals and area agencies in the past year alone. “Our members are very involved with sharing their quilting skills, providing quilts for comfort to members of the community and inspiring hope and healing through quilting.”
Director of Hospice Services Linda Miller, RN said generous community supporters such as the Squanicook Colonial Quilt Guild assist Merrimack Valley Hospice in its mission to provide compassionate care to patients as they face life-limiting illnesses with peace and dignity.
“These quilts are beautiful gifts from the heart that will wrap patients and their family members in comfort,” Miller said, “much as we do as clinicians.”
About Merrimack Valley Hospice
Merrimack Valley Hospice is a not-for-profit agency providing comfort care and supportive services to patients nearing the end of life and bereavement services to their families and loved ones. Together with Home Health VNA, the agencies provide a full continuum of home health and hospice care in more than 110 communities throughout northeastern Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and southern Maine as York Hospital Hospice. For more information, visit MerrimackValleyHospice.org.