The participants at Estevan Diversified Services (EDS) have used their talents to help a couple of causes.
EDS has donated about 15 lap blankets to the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, and eight toques and 31 scarves to the Warm Welcome homeless shelter. The blankets, scarves and toques were completed during the participants' free time, and turned over to the organizations on Thursday.
“Our clients at Estevan Diversified Services like to keep busy with what they enjoy doing,” said Cindy Anderson, a direct support worker at EDS. “We have some people who enjoy crocheting, and they have made lap blankets.”
EDS has been stockpiling lap blankets for quite a while, as they were unsure of where to send them. They decided on the Estevan Regional Nursing Home, as they thought the blankets would keep residents' legs warm, and the residents would enjoy them.
“We thought they would get use out of them, and that their clients would enjoy them,” said Anderson.
Brad Bolton and Pauline Tuchscherer made the lap quilts.
Christine Stephany from the Estevan Regional Nursing Home said they were very happy to receive the donation.
“Our meeting area is kind of in the front foyer of Estevan Regional, so when that front door opens and closes, it's kind of nice to have everybody tucked in and cozy, because it's very much a meeting place, and people like to sit there and talk and see who's coming in and out of the building,” said Stephany.
Warm Welcome was chosen to receive the scarves and hats because EDS thought the shelter could use them. EDS has donated scarves and toques for the Estevan Salvation Army previously for Christmas hampers, but this year they wanted to support Warm Welcome.
“It's something the participants do well, and they enjoy doing, and all our wool is donated, so we like to donate it back to the community to people who can use it,” said Anderson.
Some of the participants can complete a scarf in three days, while others need a couple weeks. It depends on who is tackling the work, how fast they work and how much time they are able to dedicate to the project. They continue to make the caps and scarves.
Colleen Jensen, who is the director of hospitality at Warm Welcome, said she was “quite intrigued” when she first heard about the efforts of EDS.
“Estevan Diversified Services is extending their love basically to strangers whom we have not met yet,” said Jensen.
She looks forward to explaining to the shelter's board how much time the EDS participants have dedicated to the project.
It is important for EDS participants to put their heart into something, Jensen said, and to make something out of love for strangers. She believes the items will be appreciated, especially now that cold and windy weather has settled into southeast Saskatchewan.
Adele Beaulieu, Angela Brokenshire, Dorothy Johner, Marcella Mack, Hazel Neal and Sharon Steffensen worked on the toques and scarves.
