Covenant News

Sewing Project Aids Charity, Creates Ministry Opportunity

CHICAGO, IL (January 5, 2002) - An inter-generational service project has helped bond older and younger women from Edgebrook Covenant Church and has aided a local organization in the process.

Edgebrook Covenant's Crafty Angels, a group of about 20 women led by Chris Pokorny, have been sewing, knitting and crocheting baby clothing and other items for the North Park Friendship Center at North Park Covenant Church since July. Since then, the group has knitted items like mittens, hats, scarves, blankets, sweaters and sweatshirts.

Clothing and baby items are put in the Center's Mother's Closet, where moms and dads can pick out clothing for themselves and their children. More than 50 families have been helped through the program, said Ann Maleski, Friendship Center director. The Crafty Angels held a dedication for the project December 9 and items were delivered to North Park Friendship Center families in time for Christmas.

"They asked if we needed help for the winter and we always need things for Christmas," said Maleski, whose Friendship Center aids some 300 children that sign up for Christmas gifts. "But I was just overwhelmed by their abilities and their artistry. They were unbelievably beautiful things."

Pokorny has been an avid sewer for years and hoped to find other women from church who enjoyed sewing as well. After consulting with Edgebrook Covenant pastor Greg Mesimore, she inquired with others in the church to see if there was interest in a sewing service project. Fifteen people attended the first meeting. Pokorny said participants range in age from the 20s to those over 80.

"We were looking for a way to do two things: provide more support to the North Park Friendship Center and provide a service project that both younger and older women from our church could work on together," said Pokorny, who serves as office manager for the Central Conference based in Chicago. "It also needed to be something women could do on their own time and at their own pace, without having to have weekly meetings as many of our women who work can't fit that into their already busy schedules."

Pokorny found much free information via the Internet and put together a book of patterns that can be used for charity projects. She also solicited donations of yarn and fabric for the women to use. She is grateful for a generous donation of yarn from the Mosaic Yarn Studio in Des Plaines, Illinois, as well as donations of yarn, fabric, knitting and crochet needles and other supplies from family, friends and colleagues.

The Edgebrook Crafty Angels will continue to make items for winter and spring projects, said Pokorny. To learn more about the group, call Pokorny at the Central Conference office, 773-267-3060, or email her at clpokorny@aol.com.

The North Park Friendship Center has served the North Park neighborhood for more than 30 years and distributes more than 3,000 pounds of food each week. For more information about the Center's ministry, call Maleski at 773-463-8993.

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