Hospice News

Call for Skilled Volunteers with Superior Sewing Skills

Essex County, NJ -- Following tCall for Skilled Volunteershe loss of a family member, many people are comforted by an item of clothing, such as a favorite sweatshirt or t-shirt, which was worn by their loved one.  “Memory Bears,” as they are known, are made using a favorite garment(s) of the person who passed away.  The bears instantly become treasured keepsakes.

The Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center’s (SBHPCC) new BearHugs program is actively recruiting volunteer designers, quilters and crafters to make handcrafted “Memory Bears” for grieving families whose loved one has passed away on the hospice program.  Intermediate sewing skills are a prerequisite for participation. The next teaching session, led by trained instructors, will take place on Monday, September 14, from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., at the SBHPCC, 95 Old Short Hills Road, West Orange. Additional workshops will be held on Monday, 10/12, 11/9 and 12/14.  For more information about becoming a BearHugs volunteer, please call Spiro Ballas, Volunteer Coordinator, at 973-322-4866.

BearHugs is funded by a generous grant from the Schwimmer Family, in memory of Judith Schwimmer.

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