Community Corner
Seniors Donate Quilts to Retirement Home
PALS (People Able to Lend Support) donated a plethora of finely crafted quilts to residents at Broadmore Assisted Living in South Fayette.
Randy Detweiler, program coordinator for People Able to Lend Support, a volunteer organization through Highmark, got a group of quilters from St. Thomas More’s Quilt Club to donate their creations to the residents of Broadmore Assisted Living at Lakemont Farms in South Fayette.
PALS is a volunteer service credit program available through Highmark Senior Markets. The goal of PALS, which began in 1997, is to help seniors support one another, develop social relationships and maintain their independence for as long as possible.
His toughest critic used to be Sister Cecilia at St. Thomas More over ten years ago. “Randy came to us with the idea of a book club and a quilting club ten years ago. I didn’t think the quilt club would work, but its really taken off. It’s formed a real community. We love coming out to these places. Today, we got to see a former resident of ours, Betty Pothier. She’s actually the reason we have come here today. It was lovely to visit with her again.”
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Jean Dusch, Ruth Keller, Rosemary Radick, laverne Hensler and Lorraine Jacks made lovely quilts for the residents of Broadmore.
The quilts not only serve as a source of warmth, but as symbols of happiness for the recipients and the volunteers who create them. More than 1,000 quilts have come from the PALS quilt group with more than 4,500 quilts created by other PALS quilt clubs across Highmark’s service area.
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“We love seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces.” Detweiler added, “This is the best part of my job.”
Sister Cecelia said, “Everyone is so dedicated. When Randy or I am busy, so one always steps up, takes charge and makes this happen. It’s really wonderful.”
Detweiler said, “We’re always looking for donations. We could sure use any extra yarn if you have it.”
Detweiler has quite a few quilters, but he’s even more proud of his book clubs. “We have 77 book clubs throught the region, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. I even read a few books I would have never read on my own. I really enjoyed ‘Water for Elephants.’”
When pressed about the next book selection at St. Thomas More, Sister Cecilia confessed, “I’m not sure. I usually come for dessert. Randy is promising to make his triple chocolate cake again and I’m going to hold him to it.”
