And Sew the Time Passes

   I love birthday parties, especially those that celebrate more than just the passing of time.
   And this is exactly what I found so exciting about the fifth birthday party for Tiny Stitches two weeks ago.
   It was five yeas ago that I literally bumped into Debbie Vickers at Joanne's Fabrics. After we both said, "Excuse me!" she told me about this new volunteer organization for which she was a co-founder.
   In the time that's passed since that chance encounter, Tiny Stitches volunteers have passed time for thousands of hours sewing, knitting and crocheting layettes for disadvantages newborns, mostly in north Georgia. In 2000, Tiny Stitches started supplying baby items to Gwinnett Medical Center where the staff increasingly sees new mothers who have no money or family support.
   Guest speaker, Yvonne Wallace from GMC said, "You should see their faces when those bags open up and they see all the goodies inside. It makes them say, 'My baby is something special.' It's an awesome moment."
   Duluth Mayor Shirley Lasseter commended the organization that has grown from five to over 150 volunteers, ranging in age from 12 to 93. Last year they supplied 425 layettes containing over 16,000 items. The group also provides burial ensembles to families who suffer the loss of an infant.
   Some volunteers pass their time at monthly workshops at Atlanta Sewing Center, Bunten Road Park, Eastside Heritage Center and Gwinnett Medical Center. Others like Cathy Hall, a lawyer from Alpharetta, like to unwind by knitting in front of the TV at night. "It's so relaxing and so nice to know someone really appreciates what I do with my time," said Hall.
   At Creekland Middle School, HALO (Helping America's Little Ones) meets before school on Wednesdays. Chelsea Stephenson, Sarah Eccles and Kristen Englert are among the students who sew and serge. Girl Scouts Margaret Lyle (Troop 1178,) Ruth Kelly (Troop 8491) and Debbie Lewis (Troop 103) help make patterns.
   Being nimble at needlework isn't necessary to be a Tiny Stitches volunteer. Chris and Jennifer Dunbar of Dunbar Network Solutions maintain the Web site at www.tinystitches.org .
   Diane and Harold Levergne throw a benefit block party every year in their subdivision of Smokemist Trace off Pleasant Hill Road. "Even people who have moved away come back for this event," said Vickers.
   Others with expertise in fund raising like Tom Condon of Lutheran Financial Services help with financial backing. Stephen Friedman of fabric.com out of Marietta donated a van full of knits.
   Tiny Stitches volunteers will be passing time this weekend at the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo at the Gwinnett Civic and Cultural Center. If you go, you can stop by and watch some HALO kids serge up a storm. You can see for yourself the love that goes into the layettes. And it you're lucky, you'll find something you can do that will be more than just a way to pass time. 

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