Sewing with a Purpose

Sewing With a Purpose (SWP) has been busy preparing

flannel hearts for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for

the Golisano Children’s Hospital. The table in the SWP

room is set up as stations for helpers to participate in a

station or skill they can share to complete this project.

Flannel Hearts 1 — 2 — 3

Station 1 -- Select flannel and take a template to trace

and cut a heart --- samples for this stage are on the table.

Scrap flannel is brought back to church and placed in the

scrap box for Darlene who donated flannel and uses each

piece ... no waste with this project.

Station 2 – Cut hearts are placed in this box and machine

sewing is required. Sample of this is provided

Station 3 - Sewn hearts are placed in this box for the

hearts to be turned right side out and hand sew the little

opening closed. Ironing the heart finishes it.

We have been requested to make 50 hearts per month

for this service project. Each preemie baby receives two

hearts. One is on the mom’s chest transferring her scent

to the flannel heart. The heart is then placed in the

incubator for the baby to lie on. This is an emotional and

physical bonding between the mom and the baby. The

hearts are washed and cycled through so that the mom

and the baby continue to bond. A little history for this

project .... Shirley VonBergen was the person who heard

about this and approached SWP to see if we could help

support this need at Strong Hospital.

Thank you to everyone who is praying for this outreach

and involved in this ministry.