Volunteers Make Coats for Children

Just as the morning air is getting crisp, Valley Presbyterian Hospital volunteers have completed more than six dozen jackets and other cold weather items for low-income children.

Nearly 30 people--including former patients, hospital volunteers and staff--sewed 73 jackets that will be distributed beginning next week to needy boys and girls identified through the hospital’s Patient and Family Services Department.

Meyling Eliash-Daneshfar, the hospital’s marketing and public relations coordinator, asked people to join the “Sew Warm” program after she discovered a simple diagram on the Internet for making a jacket from two-thirds of a yard of fabric. She was pleased that volunteers surpassed her goal of having 50 jackets ready by this time.

“It was extremely rewarding,” said Eliash-Daneshfar, who sewed five jackets herself. “This will give the children a lot of love and dignity.”

Volunteers also made a dozen hats, five blankets, a scarf and several pairs of mittens using leftover material that had been donated or purchased at discount.

The next batch will be made by about 20 people who attended a “Sew Warm” class last Saturday at Joann etc, a large fabric and crafts store in Porter Ranch.

Now that it’s launched, the program will be handed over to the hospital’s volunteer coordinator.

“I’m hoping people will continue it [throughout the year],” Eliash-Daneshfar said. “People say they want to make more. It’s addictive.”