What started as a prayer shawl ministry in 2010 has turned into something much more for a group of women based in Carter County.
The East Tennessee Stitching Sisters recently came together to donate quilts to benefit individuals that use the services provided by Silver Angels — located on West Elk Avenue in Elizabethton.
Six of the 35 ladies who are part of the organization met at Silver Angels Thursday to provide the quilts and receive a tour of the facility from Silver Angels Life Coaches Bryan Smith and Nikki Jones.
During Thursday’s tour of the facility, Carmen Yates, founder of the group, provided background information on what spearheaded the creation of the East Tennessee Stitching Sisters.
“My husband (Kelly) passed away in 2009 and a friend from Illinois sent me a prayer shawl,” Yates said. “It meant so much to me that I wanted to start a group. We started with eight ladies and now our group has grown to 35.”
The group meets on the second Monday of each month to bring their handmade items and pray that God will bless and comfort the person receiving them. During their meetings, they work on projects, discuss where items need to be sent and then have a meal provided by one of the four groups.
“We not only do all this, but we have a ton of prayer for people that receive these gifts,” Shirley Marshall said. “We want to pray for them. God is so great and we’re so happy to do these projects.”
Yates added the group is comprised of women of all ages from being in their 90s to the younger being in her 20s. Members of the stitching sisters come from several different churches and Yates added that “many new friendships have been made.”
Along with their donations to Silver Angels, the prayer shawl ministry has grown by leaps and bounds. The group makes various items for different organizations and individuals, which include:
• Hats, scarves and baby blankets for World Vision
• Hats, pillowcases and blankets for Niswonger Children’s Hospital
• Hats and scarves for homeless veterans
• Christmas pillowcases for the Shriners Hospital
• Fidget quilts and twiddle muffs for dementia patients
• Red scarves for the Red Scarf Project for foster children
• Cancer hats, blankets, knockers and shawls for cancer patients
• Developmental hearts for premature babies
Following the donation, Smith and Jones provided the women with a tour of the facility and thanked them for the efforts of benefiting individuals that use Silver Angels and for their service in the region.
For more information about the group or to possibly join, contact Jeanne Simerly at (423) 543-4857.