From Laporte with love: Quilters craft comfort for NICU babies

By Kate Winquist

Every Wednesday, the Laporte Community Hall comes alive with the hum of sewing machines and the laughter of friends as the Laporte quilting group gathers to share their craft. Since 1999, the group has stitched together not only quilts, but also many friendships along the way.

Laporte quilters display some of the 160 baby blankets they have created for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. The 17-member group, which has been meeting weekly since 1999, will deliver the blankets on Oct. 1. (L-R): Stephanie Hilger, Janine Specht, Cannida Coventry, Dianne Lowenberger, Judie Lyons, Garnet Nunweiler, Marlene Lockwood, Linda Huck, Glenna Marchant, Margaret Shipley, Bev Thompson. Missing: Deanna Mock, Donna Boyd, Monica Buddeck, Jan Becker, Gail Morgan.

This fall, their efforts are reaching far beyond Laporte. The 17-member group has been working on a heartfelt project—creating 160 baby blankets for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital. The blankets will be delivered October 1.

Member Virginia Klarenbach says the occasion will be a special day for everyone. “We will deliver the blankets to Martensville where they will put labels on all of the blankets. They will then be taken to the NICU,” she explained.

To mark the milestone, the group has planned a celebratory trip. They’ll be traveling together by limo coach from Kindersley, enjoying not only the delivery but also stops at quilt shops in Warman and Saskatoon—a well-earned treat for their months of hard work.

With every stitch, the Laporte quilters are sending comfort, warmth, and love to the tiniest patients and their families.