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                                                     CHAT AND DO

Every Tuesday on the third floor of Glenwood Gardens a group of women gather together.  They come by wheelchair, by walker, with friends and alone.  Some bring armloads of fabric or bags of fiberfill.  Others come empty-handed but ready to work.  They all look forward to the conversation.  "That's where the ‘chat' comes in," says Marilyn Wietzke, an 87 year old resident, and the lone member of the group's telephone committee.  "We wanted to get the residents out of their rooms and acquainted with other people."

What began as "The Quilting Group" evolved into crocheting, knitting and embroidery.  It happened out of necessity - poor eyesight, shaky hands and a lack of sewing machines made quilting a difficult undertaking.  Yarn work was the focus for a while, so the group changed their name to "Needle and I."  Then, after deciding that the name was inappropriate since many of them no longer had the dexterity to push a piece of thread through the eye of a needle, they switched to "Chat and Do."  It was Maddie Turners idea.  Lynda Sweigart says it suits the group.

The "Chat and Do" girls also began to branch out into other crafts, like making Nutcrackers out of flower pots and necklace clips to hold napkins in place during meals.  Soon Maddie had the group helping with a project called "Angel Babies" and the women began sewing gowns, hats and blankets for babies born too early to survive.  The group then switched their focus and decided to use their skills to help others.  That's when Optimal Hospice got involved. 

"We have enough stuff but not enough things to do, so we decided to call Karen (the Volunteer Coordinator Assistant with Optimal Hospice)," says Lynda.  Several of the ladies had used Optimal Hospice during the final phase of their loved ones life.  They know first hand the grief associated with death, as well as Optimal's commitment to continuing support for the families after their loved one passes.  Wilma Guenther came up with an original doll pattern, several women went shopping for soft fabric with small patterns that won't fray, some fiberfill and all-cotton thread.  Once the necessities were procured, the group was in business.  The dolls they make provide comfort to children who are losing or have already lost someone they love.

"We like to volunteer," says Lynda Sweigart, certified teacher, daughter of Marilyn and acknowledged ‘leader of the pack.' 

Judging from the kind-hearted and sharp-witted women in the room, volunteerism is a perfect fit.  They just donated several fabric dolls to Optimal Hospice's Bereavement Program. Maybe "Chat and Do" should change their name to "Chat and Do Good."

For more information, please contact Karen Budnick in our Volunteer Department at 661-716-4000 or kbudnick@optimalcares.com.