Community Service

For Columbia River Sewing members, community service is at the heart of what we do. As a chapter, we partner with local organizations, providing handmade quilts, pads, and other sewn items to bring comfort and care where it’s needed most. Our current projects support patients at Providence St. Vincent, children and teens served by CARES Northwest, and cats and kittens adopted through Portland’s Cat Adoption Team.There is always a need for more member involvement. Please contact Community Service to learn about ways to participate or to connect with others who are already sewing. You choose how much time you can give, and there’s lots of flexibility. In addition to serving others in our community, it’s also a great way to connect with fellow members.It is a joy and a privilege to use our skills and passions to help and support others. Each item we create is an expression of compassion and encouragement for its recipient. Sewing brings care and comfort to all life’s challenges and celebrations.

Current Projects:

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Passage Quilts (Providence St. Vincent) Through Providence St. Vincent’s Pastoral Service, volunteers create “Passage Quilts” for patients nearing end of life and for families with babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Each quilt is a way to share warmth and comfort with those facing challenges. There are many ways to take part—some members love following pre-cut kits, others use their own fabric to design unique tops, and some come together to sew at the hospital. However you join in, your stitches will wrap someone in comfort when they need it most. How you can help: Pick up a pre-cut kit at CRS meetings and sew a quilt top. Use your stash to create a quilt top or complete a finished quilt. Join our monthly sewing day at the hospital (3rd Saturday, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Stanley Shaffer Conference Rooms). Specs: Size: 48″ × 60″ Fabric: 100% cotton Contact: Iris Walling

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Kitty Pads (Cat Adoption Team) Portland’s Cat Adoption Team (CAT), the region’s largest cat shelter, places a soft pad inside each adoption carrier to make the trip home more comfortable for cats and kittens. Our members supply those handmade pads. These pads may be simple, but they make a big difference—turning a plain cardboard box into a cozy first bed. Sewing them is quick and fun, and it’s a wonderful way to use up stash fabrics while helping an animal feel safe on its way home. How you can help: Sew pads at home or with a group of members. Use stash fabrics that are soft, sturdy, and tightly woven. Arrange pickup or drop-off with the contact below. Specs: Finished size: 9″ × 18″, about ½” thick Fabrics: Soft, tightly woven fabrics (avoid loose weaves; stable knits are okay) Contact: Julie Watrous

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Comfort Quilts (CARES Northwest) CARES Northwest (Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Services) provides a safe, supportive environment for children and teens during medical evaluations related to abuse and neglect. Each child who visits receives a handmade quilt or blanket to take home—something warm, personal, and lasting to remind them they are cared for. These quilts do more than provide physical comfort. They are often cherished as a symbol of safety and kindness, carried by children and teens long after their visit. Making one is a meaningful way to let a young person know they are not alone. How you can help: Sew and donate a quilt in one of the sizes below. Choose natural fibers and fabrics that are kid- or teen-friendly, durable, and uplifting. Specs: Children’s quilts: 42″ × 60″ Teen quilts: up to 45″ × 72″ Construction: Top, batting, and backing; finished in any style Contact: Dusty Trenberth