CARIBOU, Maine — Members of the Washburn Pentecostal Church’s Women’s Home Missionary Council recently donated ten handmade quilts to homeless veterans staying at the Dahlgren-Skidgel Farm of Hope in Caribou.
Organization President Brenda McCoy said members often make quilts for different organizations and that if they learn someone is in need, they will “just bring [the quilts] around and donate them.”
The organization also makes layettes for newborn babies and bibs for handicapped adults as well as hats and mittens.
McCoy said the church group has about ten members and that they’ve been helping out others for “years and years.”
Secretary Treasurer Brenda Boykin said the group’s primary mission is to “help people in need” and that when they learned about United Veterans of Maine’s project to build shelters for homeless veterans, they immediately recognized the need and contacted UVM Fundraising Chair and Army Veteran Karen St. Peter.
“I think this is great,” St. Peter said. “We have a lot of support from the community and helping homeless veterans is a big need.”
Boykin said it’s great when “people come together” to fulfill a need, and that “it’s wonderful when groups say, ‘Hey, let’s do our thing.’”
“We’re sitting here making quilts and they’re not doing anyone good sitting in a closet,” she said, “so why not find some areas in need of blankets; everyone needs to be warm.”
McCoy said she and other members of the group collect and donate food, hats and mittens and give to other organizations such as the Hope and Justice project and other homeless shelters.
Boykin emphasized that they’re trying to make sure any children staying in a shelter have hats and mittens for the winter.
“We do what we feel the good lord wants us to do,” she said. “It’s for Him and all of His children. Veterans have a special spot for all of us and we have family in the service. I think veterans have always held a special spot for us.”
