The group also has programs open to all in the community, at which speakers from various charitable agencies come in to talk about volunteering. Staff members also make an appearance, with the Medical Center’s Dr. Karen Merritt being a particular favorite: “She’s the daughter of a Baptist minister,” Kathryn points out, “and she gives us quite a message.”

Committed to helping out

Within two months of its inception, the ladies in the Guild developed an interest in doing needlework projects for charities, hospitals, nursing homes, and other worthwhile groups—and the Mission Needlework Group was formed. The Guild pays for the yarn used in projects and the ladies create a wide variety of items, including lap robes, afghans, quilts, preemie caps, scarves, and hats.

“We’re completely ecumenical,” says Kathryn. “Anyone from the Henry Ford Village community can come and contribute to our efforts.”

And what diverse efforts they are! Among others, the Guild has made donations in knitted and collected items, and in cash, to the American Red Cross, the Gleaners Community Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, the Detroit Rescue Mission, the Gideons, the Friendship House-Hamtramck, The Navigators, the Salvation Army, the Penrickton Center for Blind Children, and the Cass Community Ministries-Detroit.

Helping preemies with a touch of warmth

At Oakwood Hospital, a renowned medical facility near Detroit, the results of the Guild’s efforts are on display on tiny heads in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

“As a group, the Guild ladies bring over knitted caps for premature babies to keep their heads warm,” says Debby Norton, manager of volunteer services. “They’re really nice keepsakes to take home.”

The Guild also brings over lap robes for patients in wheelchairs who are being discharged. “Just something to lay over their laps to keep them warm,” says Debby. “It’s a memento and a very nice gesture from Oakwood. And it’s very kind of the Protestant Women’s Guild to make them for the hospital.”

Giving that goes beyond knitting

Guild members contribute much more than their time and skill in making knitted items for distribution to charities.

For the local efforts of World Medical Relief (WMR), a well-respected non-profit charitable organization, the group is an important contributor of cash, blankets, and children’s school kits—in addition to handmade afghans and scarves—for a host of charitable projects.

“They’ve been most generous with their money for these projects,” says Carolyn Racklyeft, director of local programs, about Guild contributions, “as well as getting individuals involved with either collecting items for us or personally making items that are then donated.”

Contributions include the Blanket Days Project, a collaborative effort between WMR and the American Red Cross. Working with over 100 homeless, runaway, and domestic violence shelters in the Detroit area, the project distributes new full size blankets, hygiene kits, towels and washcloths, baby blankets, and school kits.

“We do appreciate what the Protestant Women’s Guild does for us,” says Carolyn. “They’ve really been a big help.”