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The residents of Haviland Care received extra special gifts this year courtesy of a small, local group of generous knit-happy women.
Members of a local group known as the Church Ladies spent months quietly knitting scarves for the patients at the Haviland Care mental health rehabilitation facility on Main Street.
The humble group, some members of the Methodist church, this year expanded the passion project of Haviland resident, Delores Williams, who began making scarves last winter.
“I started making scarves, because I wanted something to do,” said Williams. “Then I thought that I would make a scarf for each resident at Haviland Care. There are about fifty patients and it was going to take a long time. I started in October and I only made nine that year.”
Williams, a retired Kiowa County librarian wanted to continue making scarves and this year, found a group of local women who were willing to help.
“This fall I was talking to my friend and mentioned it to her that I made these scarves,” continued Williams. “She presented it to the Church Ladies and asked if they would be interested in doing it and that’s how it got started.”
Armed with bags of colorful yarn and well-worn knitting needles, the ladies knitted more than 50 scarves and delivered them to all 48 patients in time for Christmas.
“It was probably in October, she told me she wanted to do this,” said Haviland Care Activities Director Shelly Fisher. “I thought it was great. I thought it was wonderful. I actually got goose bumps when she told me that they wanted to do this for our residents.”
Fisher picked up the scarves, individually wrapped each one and presented them to the residents at their Christmas celebration on Dec. 22.
“They loved them. The reactions have been amazing,” continued Fisher. “They are all wearing them.”
The patients weren’t the only ones who got to enjoy the scarves. Fisher says that after every patient got one, there were enough left over to give a couple to the staff.
“We handed them out at our staff party as a first-come, first-serve basis,” continued Fisher. “Everyone really enjoyed them. They all went very quickly.”
Although it is the center of town, many Haviland residents know very little about the facility that provides in-patient mental health services.
Many patients have very little contact with family and some can be hundreds of miles from home.
The residents of Haviland Care received extra special gifts this year courtesy of a small, local group of generous knit-happy women.
Members of a local group known as the Church Ladies spent months quietly knitting scarves for the patients at the Haviland Care mental health rehabilitation facility on Main Street.
The humble group, some members of the Methodist church, this year expanded the passion project of Haviland resident, Delores Williams, who began making scarves last winter.
“I started making scarves, because I wanted something to do,” said Williams. “Then I thought that I would make a scarf for each resident at Haviland Care. There are about fifty patients and it was going to take a long time. I started in October and I only made nine that year.”
Williams, a retired Kiowa County librarian wanted to continue making scarves and this year, found a group of local women who were willing to help.
“This fall I was talking to my friend and mentioned it to her that I made these scarves,” continued Williams. “She presented it to the Church Ladies and asked if they would be interested in doing it and that’s how it got started.”
Armed with bags of colorful yarn and well-worn knitting needles, the ladies knitted more than 50 scarves and delivered them to all 48 patients in time for Christmas.
“It was probably in October, she told me she wanted to do this,” said Haviland Care Activities Director Shelly Fisher. “I thought it was great. I thought it was wonderful. I actually got goose bumps when she told me that they wanted to do this for our residents.”
Fisher picked up the scarves, individually wrapped each one and presented them to the residents at their Christmas celebration on Dec. 22.
“They loved them. The reactions have been amazing,” continued Fisher. “They are all wearing them.”
The patients weren’t the only ones who got to enjoy the scarves. Fisher says that after every patient got one, there were enough left over to give a couple to the staff.
“We handed them out at our staff party as a first-come, first-serve basis,” continued Fisher. “Everyone really enjoyed them. They all went very quickly.”
Although it is the center of town, many Haviland residents know very little about the facility that provides in-patient mental health services.
Many patients have very little contact with family and some can be hundreds of miles from home.
Fisher says that thoughtful gifts, like those provided by Williams and the Church Ladies, can go a long way with residents who feel lonely around the holidays.
“I think it really means a lot to them to see the community care. I think that’s also the general consensus amongst our staff. It’s reassuring to know that the community cares and wants to help.”
With the holiday season over, Williams and the Church Ladies are looking forward to branching out and continuing the giving spirit throughout the year. Williams says that they are looking for other places to donate their scarves.
Although Williams and her small circle of giving-knitters insist that they don’t want attention or recognition for their work, it is hard to ignore the generosity of the group, which purchases their own supplies, and gives away items that can take hours to make.
Williams explained that the enjoyment of giving their scarves is recognition enough.
“One of the patients was taking about getting gifts and the first thing they mentioned was their scarf, and that made me feel good,” said Williams. “Hearing things like that lets us know that it was worth the time we spent on them.”
editor@kiowacountysignal.com
