ST. PAUL – The St. Paul-based Quilting Bees Club donated 14 quilts for the 14 children who attended a bereavement day camp July 8-11.
The club makes quilts primarily for cancer patients, but also donates to other causes, such as clients of the Capella Centre or residents of Extendicare.
Grief Camp, or Camp Sunshine, is operated by St. Paul Regional Family and Community Support Services (FCSS). The camp is for area children ages 7 to 12 and is designed to help them deal with their emotions after losing someone special in their life.
Kim Ouellete is a family education facilitator/programmer with Lakeland Family Resource Network and FCSS. “(Camp Sunshine) is a four-day camp. We do a variety of activities, which of course includes helping the kids process their grief and learn how to cope.”
The idea is to create a safe place where children can meet others who may be going through the same thing as them and share their feelings with each other. “We also do a lot of fun things,” Ouellete said, such as scavenger hunts.
Brooke Dechaine helps coordinate the camp. She says not everyone has a safe place to grieve, and not everyone knows how to deal with their grief, especially children.
“They don’t have as many resources to help them deal with their grief,” Dechaine said. “This is just one way we can take care of the children.”
Ouellete said the camp was founded by Caroline Yewchin, who once co-owned a funeral home in St. Paul called Yewchin’s Funeral Chapel before the FCSS took over the camp’s operations about two years ago.
Quilting Bees Club President Marguerite Hebert said that while they primarily make quilts for cancer patients, they also try to support other causes like Camp Sunshine.
“There is a need… and it is a fulfilling service,” Hebert explains.
Treasurer Angele Duncan agreed. “And we are very happy to do it.”
“Everyone is welcome in the club, even if they don’t know how to make a quilt,” Duncan said.
Individuals interested in getting involved in the club can contact the St. Paul Senior Citizens Club at 780-645-5566 and ask for the Quilting Bees Club. Mondays and Tuesdays are the best times to call, as the club meets then to quilt.
