Infusion Therapy patients receive warm donation from local quilters
Published 5:42 am Friday, December 6, 2019
- Pictured, from left, Ashley Schmakel, Karen Weis, Polly Drenth, Jane McFarland, Sheila Benson, Pat Lester, Ila Johnson, Dorothy Christensen, Arvilla Boehm and Dr. Sandeep Jain. Photo provided
Quilters from Grand Meadow Lutheran Church have presented handmade quilts to patients at the Infusion Therapy Center at Mayo Clinic Health System in Austin.
“We thought the patients in the Infusion Therapy Center would appreciate the colorful, warm blankets while they received their therapy,” said Christy Benson, nursing placement coordinator for Mayo Clinic Health System Southeast Minnesota.
The idea gained momentum as Benson and her mom, Sheila Benson, a volunteer at the Mayo Clinic Health System Austin clinic, offered the idea to the quilting group.
“We were looking for places to donate these in Mower County,” said Dorothy Christensen, one of the long-time members of the quilting group. “We have been quilting for years, using fabric donated by others. We love it when we can turn those scraps of fabric into something that will do someone good.”
The quilters meet every Tuesday in Grand Meadow for quilting, coffee and Bible study. Over the years, quilts made by the group have also been donated to refugee relief efforts, graduating high school seniors from the congregation and newly baptized babies in the church.