Catholic Community Hospice volunteer Jane Kreiter, along with Bonnie Krause, Director of Volunteers, proudly display the 100th and 101st afghans she has made for our hospice patients! Jane learned to knit when she was 16 years old. She taught herself to crochet when she was in her 20’s, making afghans for family and friends. When her parents moved to the VA nursing home in Marshalltown, IA, her Mom asked if she would make lap afghans for her.
Her Mom would pass them out to people she felt needed their day brightened by a little act of kindness. Jane’s Mom passed away in 2011, which put an end to her lap afghan making. A couple years later, she attended an informational fair in Overland Park for seniors and stopped by the Catholic Community Hospice booth. She asked if they had any use for lap afghans. She was put in touch with Bonnie and began making lap afghans for hospice patients in 2013. When she ran out of her stash of yarn, Bonnie started supplying her with yarn that had been donated to TurnStyles thrift store.
“It’s a labor of love as I combine odds and ends of yarn to make colorful lap afghans for hospice,” Jane says. “ As I work on each afghan I say prayers for the recipient and their family, and hope they enjoy the afghans as much as I enjoy making them. My plan is to continue to make lap afghans for hospice as long as my hands and the yarn supply last. This is truly a wonderful ministry.” Thank you, Jane!
If you have any yarn you’d like to donate for afghans, please drop it off at Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ administrative office: 9720 West 87th St., Overland Park.
