Bundles of Love
April 12, 2019
Written By Megan Hill
On any given Tuesday, a jovial group of women can be found sewing blankets, infant clothing and accessories in a Hartville, Mo. church. The women share two passions—sewing and giving back to their local community.
These ladies make up the Southwestern Missouri Chapter of Newborns in Need, an organization devoted to providing newborn necessities to hospitals and agencies that serve premature, ill or impoverished babies. Members frequently sew gowns, hats, blankets, sleepers, isolette covers, and other items for infants.
The MFA Oil Foundation recently presented the chapter with a grant to purchase two vital pieces of equipment—a sewing machine and serger.
“We are so proud to receive it,” says Patty Schull, the chapter’s president. “The best thing about it is that we now have machines that are always reliable.”
Schull says her organization will make good use of the equipment as they produce a variety of lovingly sewn blankets and infant clothing. The women’s handiwork is then given to local health departments and newborn intensive care units at area hospitals to distribute based on need.
“We don’t get to personally see their reactions, but the hospitals and agencies we support tell us of the impact we are making,” Schull says. “It feels good to help make a difference for those people. So as long as I can sew, I will keep doing it.”
Schull says the organization’s mission is important to her and her fellow members, especially after they discovered the depth of the need in their community.
“I take the words of Jesus very seriously,” Schull says. “He says that any time we do anything for the least among us, we do it for him. To me, the babies are the least among us.”