The Memorial Circuit Stitches for Missions, a joint effort between Mann Memorial and Pierce United Methodist Church, provides handmade hats, booties, blankets, and scarves for newborns and premature babies, ailing children of all ages, and hospitalized adults in the area as well as abused children, the homeless, and disabled. The group also provides bereavement garments for stillborn or miscarriage births to hospitals upon request.
Founder, Kristal Singletary, started the group in July 2007 after visiting friends after the birth of their child and noticing the almost ‘cookie-cutter’ color hats and blankets provided by the hospitals. For some parents, it was difficult picking out which child was theirs if s/he was at the far end of the nursery just based on colors. After talking to the nurses, Kristal learned mothers of preemies whose babies would often go home with just a diaper and a blanket.
Having been taught to crochet at a young age, Kristal started making hats, booties and outfits for the babies whenever she had a few minutes of free time, but it wasn’t enough. Approaching her church with the idea to produce these garments in larger quantities than she could do alone, she was amazed by the response of people willing to help out.
While some of the volunteers came into the group knowing how to crochet, knit or even quilt, a quick lesson on loom knitting converted most of them this quick and easy way to knit. Since then they’ve enjoyed learning new patterns and developing innovative creations for the recipients.
For more information, please contact the ministry coordinator at stitchesformissionsATgmailDOTcom
