The York Quilters’ Guild has been making pillowcases for two years. This year at their quilt show, they had a ConKerr Cancer booth where they demonstrated, had a sit and sew area, and had pillowcase kits for sale so they can buy more fabric. They had raised money to buy fabric for the kits with raffle baskets at guild meetings. The local quilt shop owner, Jean Mirizio, allowed them to purchase fabric at cost. Below is a copy of an article they sent the local newspapers.
A CASE FOR SMILES
AT CELEBRATION OF QUILTS 2010
Members of the York Quilters’ Guild have gathered behind what has been dubbed a “case for smiles”: the effort by the project ConKerr Cancer to brighten the days of as many chronically ill children as possible with playful, colorful pillowcases.
Two years ago, the Guild adopted ConKerr Cancer’s mission as an ongoing service project and has already made over 1,000 pillowcases for children at Hershey Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, and University of Maryland Medical Center.
“All of my grandchildren are healthy,” said Janet Fitch of the Guild, adding that she feels blessed to have it so. “If one of them were to become ill, I can’t imagine the feeling of helplessness I would have.”
It was this feeling of helplessness that led Cindy Kerr to found ConKerr Cancer in 2002, shortly after her 12-year-old son Ryan was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.
“I couldn’t cure him, I couldn’t make him feel better,” said Kerr. “But I could make his [hospital] room look better.” After seeing how much her son enjoyed the pillowcases she made for him, Kerr began making them for other children in the Oncology Unit of the Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia; gradually, her friends and relatives rallied to the cause and ConKerr Cancer was born.
Ryan lost his fight with cancer at age 18, but lives on in the thousands upon thousands of pillowcases that are made and given out every day by his mother and many, many others across the globe. The project has grown from its origins in Philadelphia, now encompassing 117 chapters serving 172 hospitals and pediatric hospices across the United States, Canada, and South Africa. Over 210,000 cheerful pillowcases have been sewn by thousands of volunteers and donated to children struggling with illness.
Kerr received Martha Stewart’s Dreamers into Doers award in 2007 for her efforts, and was L’Oreal Paris’ Woman of Worth in 2008.
On Saturday, June 26 and Sunday, June 27, the York Quilters’ Guild will present Celebration of Quilts 2010 at the York Expo Center at 334 Carlisle Avenue, Route 74, in York, 10am – 5pm. Admission is $8, $6 for seniors, and $4 for children. Amidst the hundreds of quilts that will be displayed, there will be a demonstration by Guild members detailing how to make a pillowcase for ConKerr Cancer. A sewing area will be provided specifically for patrons who wish to sit and sew a pillowcase at the show.
“It’s an extremely worthy cause and accessible to all levels of sewing ability,” said Sarah O’Sullivan, co-chair of the show. To complement the demonstrations, York Guild members will have available pillowcase kits for $10; all proceeds will go toward buying fabric to be used for more pillowcases. Sewing machines will be provided by John Morgan of Sew Unforgettable in York, and fabric by Jean Mirizio of the Finishing Stitch in Littlestown, both of whom said they want to help provide pillowcases for as many children as possible.
“As a mom,” said Mirizio, “I know what it means to see a sick child smile.
Celebration of Quilts 2010
Sat., June 26 & Sun., June 27
10am – 5 pm
York Expo Center
334 Carlisle Ave. – Rt. 74
York, PA
Admission: $8.00, $6.00 for seniors, and $4.00 for children
Ryan Kerr is surrounded by pillowcases his mother, Cindy Kerr, made to brighten his hospital room.
Pam Leonard, Linda Smith, Jean Mirizio, and Judy Porowski sew bright and cheerful pillowcases for chronically ill children at The Finishing Stitch in Littlestown.
Bright and cheerful pillowcases are sewn for chronically ill children at Hershey Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Children’s Hospital.
Who knew pillowcases could be tough? Okay, well maybe they still aren’t but we’ve at least branched out into rock and roll! That’s right, the Las Vegas Hard Rock Cafe has taken us on. Their great employees are sewing pillowcases and incorporating the famous t-shirt. How cool is that?
by Katie
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