Members of Prince of Peace Church participate in Piece Makers project
Neighbors | Submitted.The blankets and school kits that were made by members of Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church as part of the Piece Makers project were put on display in the church.
Neighbors | Submitted.The adults and children of Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church who participated in the Piece Makers project included, from left, (front) Kaison, Georgia, Jake, Kendall, Bruce and Charlee; (back) Tammy Cracraft, Lois Sferra, Norene Yeropoli, Phyllis Forris, Betty Lou Donachie, Marilyn Pekkanen and Nora Smith.
By TIM CLEVELAND
Five members of Prince of Peace Evangelical Lutheran Church made 45 blankets that along with school kits, were sent to Lutheran World Relief on Sept. 28 for distribution in several foreign countries.
The project, called the “Piece Makers,” has been in existence for many years.
“It was presented at one of the women’s district meetings in the early 1970s as a project congregations could do to support the work of Lutheran World Relief,” Prince of Peace Pastor Julianne Smith said. “The pastor’s wife, Joyce Mercer, suggested we do it. The group has been active since then. Although they are often called quilts, there is no quilting done. All the sewing is by machine and the knotting is done by hand.”
The five women met on Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. For several hours to make the blankets. The split up the duties of cutting squares, sewing and knotting. Fabric for the project is usually donated, or purchased with funds donated for that purpose.
“They work for nine months of the year, taking summer off,” Smith said. “We currently have two women, Norene Yeropoli and Betty Lou Donachie, who have been involved for over 15 years, plus Lois Sferra and Marilyn Pekkanen, who have joined within the past few years. Phyllis Forris cuts fabric into squares at home for the project. Recently, Grace Burkert and Audrey Deichert, who were working on them from the beginning, retired from the project. Two of our long-time members, Barb Cracraft and Sara Stumpo, died within this past year.”
The blankets will be distributed by Lutheran World Relief to countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Armenia, Syria, Jordan and Serbia.
The items that were included in the school kits included four notebooks, a ruler, pencils and a sharpener, pens, a pair of scissors, a box of crayons and an eraser. The items are placed in a school bag and sent to Lutheran World Relief.
Ten School Kits were put together by members of all ages on “God’s Work – Our Hands” on Sept. 7. The projected was spearheaded by Nora Smith. The group has also made personal care kits consisting of soap, toothbrush, comb, washcloth and towel in the past.
Smith said the project was a success.
“Any blanket made and sent is a success,” she said. “The women currently involved would like to invite others [men too] not only from Prince of Peace, but anyone within the Poland community who enjoys sewing to join them. For more information about the project they can call the office, 330-757-3272 weekday mornings.”
Two of the women who helped make the blankets said they enjoy doing the project and would appreciate any material that can be donated.
“We enjoy the fellowship of each other while we sew,” Betty Lou Donachie of Poland Township said.
“All contributions of fabric are greatly welcomed,” Poland Township’s Norene Yeropoli said. “We can always use additional folks.”