A heartfelt delivery took place recently as Erina Osborne and Chris Forbes, along with a dedicated team of volunteers from local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, made their way to Waikato Hospitals with a total of 138 beautifully crafted quilts and angel blankets for various hospital units.
An “angel blanket” is a small infant sized blanket provided to mothers of newborn children with life threatening conditions.
The quilts will provide comfort and warmth to families and children facing difficult circumstances during the holiday season.
Angel Blankets Hamilton
Volunteers display the Angel Blankets they quilted© 2024 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.The quilts were distributed across several hospital wards:
- Neonatal Ward: 48 quilts
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) 76 quilts
- Waikids Cancer Ward: 14 quilts
Since 2021, Erina and Chris, along with a network of volunteers, have donated over 750 quilts and angel blankets to various organizations.
Erina and Chris took the opportunity to visit with nurses and doctors, thanking them for their unwavering dedication to the children and families in their care. Many of the healthcare workers were visibly moved by the thoughtful gesture.
Several young women volunteers, many of whom were learning to sew for the first time, bravely took part in creating the quilts for babies while overcoming their own personal challenges to bless the lives of newborn babies.
The quilts were delivered just in time for Christmas, offering families and healthcare professionals a tangible reminder of hope and warmth during a season often marked by hardship and loss.
The quilting project is promoted on the JustServe.org website so volunteers who wish to take part can join in.