Quilt donation to hospital ‘an amazing gesture’
A massive undertaking by the Matamata Patchwork and Quilters ended with a trip to Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital last Wednesday.
Members Joan Reed, Shirley Frew and Ruth Keoghan took up 19 quilts made from CanTeen bandannas to be gifted to children at the hospital.
They were met by staff members from the Auckland CanTeen office, who were very appreciative of the donation.
‘‘They all hugged us when we got there and hugged us again when we left,’’ said Mrs Reed.
‘‘ They were just so thrilled, it was lovely.’’
CanTeen would pass the quilts on to longterm patients staying in the hospital, said Mrs Reed.
‘‘It will be something special just for them,’’ she said.
Auckland CanTeen community relationships manager Ana Cunliffe said the quilts were an amazing gesture.
‘‘I think it’s incredible, I have a lot of time for them,’’ she said.
‘‘To spend so much time making these quilts and then to drive all the way here to present us with them – it’s awesome.’’
Parents could not always stay with their children at the hospital and the quilts would provide extra comfort for those patients, she said.
Around 500 CanTeen bandannas were given to the Matamata quilters last year by New World Matamata owner Ewan Atherton.
They were made into 41 quilts, with some auctioned off for CanTeen and Pohlen Hospital and the rest given to Pohlen Hospital residents.
‘‘When we first got all the bandannas we thought we would never be able to finish all that work,’’ said Mrs Reed.
‘‘ But when you see the reaction of people it makes it well worth it.’’
The quilters would like to thank Mr Atherton for the bandannas, as well as the Matamata Kiwanis Club for providing funding for the backing fabric.