April 16, 2024

Common Threads support group donates to local students

By Special to

Common Threads support group members recently presented handmade winter items to Aurora Heights school staff. (Front) Dorothy Hallam and Charlotte Auten. (Middle) Aurora Heights principal Carol Farver, hospice volunteer and lead group facilitator Diana Cumpton, Ann Salyers, hospice volunteer and group facilitator Kaye Swarts, June Ver Woert and Phyllis Shakel. (Back) Aurora Heights teacher and hospice volunteer Doug Smith and Skiff Hospice Bereavement Coordinator Jennifer Barnett.

Members of the Skiff Hospice Common Threads bereavement support group recently made a large donation of handmade items that will help keep Aurora Heights students warm this winter. Common Threads is a support group for individuals who have experienced the death of a loved one and enjoy knitting or crocheting.

“One of the purposes of the Common Threads support group is to donate all the items they make back to the community,” said Jennifer Barnett, bereavement coordinator.  “While speaking with Doug Smith, a teacher at Aurora Heights and hospice volunteer, he indicated how much of a need there is at the schools for winter weather items, such as hats and mittens.”

Barnett presented the idea to group facilitators Diana Cumpton and Kaye Swarts, who loved the idea of helping young children. The members of the group spent many hours making scarves, hats and mittens that were donated to students in need at the Aurora Heights.

The group presented the items to both Smith and Aurora Heights principal Carol Farver.

“This is wonderful and so thoughtful,” Smith said. “There is such a need for these essential winter items and they will be put to good use.”

Common Threads meets on the first Wednesday of the month in the second floor activity room at Newton Village. Anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one and enjoys knitting or crocheting is welcome to attend. A person does not need to have had a loved one use Skiff Hospice services to take part in the group. To learn more about the group, contact Barnett at (641) 787-3074.