By MARY KORNGUTH

Valentines Day came early for the residents of Wharton nursing home in Pleasant Hill as Helping Hands Ministry on Peavine Road delivered 84 handmade shawls and lap robes to provide a caring hug. Winter weather is lingering on the Cumberland Plateau, and the need for warmth is now rather than mid February.

The picture shows a resident at Wharton enjoying his knitted orange shawl while he sports a U.T. football helmet. The shawls and lap robes were knitted and crocheted in various designs and colors by Helping Hands many volunteers with donated yarn. This effort followed the knitting and crocheting of more than 250 Christmas scarves. Two thousand and nine was a very productive year for Helping Hands Ministry with more than 300 adult bibs made, 150 baby bibs sewn, and 300 blankets of various sizes and styles. This is an increase from 2008 of 20% more bibs, 25% more blankets, and 10% more shawls. Altogether 1538 hand made items were distributed in 2009. These figures do not include any number of handmade items “in stock”  for delivery later

in 2010.

The mission of HHM is to provide handcrafted, donated and some purchased items to babies, children, the homeless, the ill and residents of nursing homes and the community in need. We also assist other local groups to feed the needy. HHM has about fifty volunteer members who sew, knit, crochet and craft hundreds of items for the 13 agencies we serve.

Helping Hands Ministry, located at 4166 Peavine RD. in Crossville,  is NOT a thrift store — we do not take used clothing except infants to 2T. We do not accept household items. We are not a craft store, but do hold craft sales both in the spring and fall to raise money for items we need to purchase. Any donations to us in goods or money are tax deductible as we are a 501(c ) 3 public charity registered with the IRS.

We are open 10 AM to 3 PM Monday through Thursday to accept donations of fabric, new hand towels, yarn and other items—and for some volunteers to pick up resources to handcraft shawls, bibs, tote bags, chemo hats, blankets etc. as well as to drop off completed items.  Call 707-8606 for more information.

CAPTION: Pictured clockwise are Bill Winston, Barbra Leach, Jean Sohnley, Sally Winston, Lee Skinner, (Wharton Activities Director),  Dick Leach,Wilma Roth, and Carol Beyer, HHM Board President.