Quilters bring kindness to care facility residents
Members of the Teakettle Quilters' Guild with two members of Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation deliver pillowcases to residents last week. From right: Activities director Jessica Watson, Guild members Marlene Wollan, Sheryl Toal, Karen Lee, Summer Swanson, Orry Nail and Eden Larmoyeux, activity aide. (Julie Engler/Whitefish Pilot)
Orry Nail, president of the Teakettle Quilters' Guild, combined her big heart with her great idea to make nearly 100 quilted pillowcases for residents of Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation, formerly Whitefish Care and Rehabilitation.
“My sister is a resident here and I wanted to do something special for Christmas, so I made her and her roommate a Christmas pillowcase. Then I made a Valentine’s, then I made a St. Paddy's Day,” Nail recalled.
When her sister’s neighbor came over to borrow one of the handmade pillowcases, Nail said that broke her heart. She had also noted that some of the residents never have visitors. While walking to her car after her visit that day, she decided she wanted to make pillowcases for everybody.
“I couldn't do it on my own. We needed 85-90 and we got 99,” she said. “We just did it as we could and I washed and ironed the tags inside. It probably took two months.”
The quilters’ were able to deliver a colorful pillowcase made with care and love to each of the 75 residents of the care facility. About six members of the guild visited the care facility on June 20 to deliver their handiwork in person.
“Anytime someone from the community can do something for the residents, I'm in love with it,” said Claudia Ramirez, marketing director at Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation. “The days of COVID are gone and we need to reintegrate the community back to our residents.
“We need to bring the community back to … remember these [people] who built the foundation for everything we enjoy today,” she added. “Remember them. Honor them. It’s a beautiful thing.”
Ramirez said 60% of the residents at the facility are in long-term care and the rest are undergoing rehab.
Nail said she wants people to know the Teakettle Quilters Guild and that, although it is based in Columbia Falls, the not for profit organization with a membership of about 100 serves the entire valley.
In addition to making quilts for Project Linus and other groups, the Teakettle Quilters’ Guild has donated money to food banks, volunteer fire departments, the Abbie Shelter, Sparrow’s Nest and Hope Pregnancy.
“Another project that’s currently underway is fidget blankets for the patients with dementia and Alzheimer's at the hospital,” Nail said.
The Teakettle Quilters’ Guild is looking forward to celebrating its 25th anniversary in January.