Program seeks more sewn pillowcases, volunteers
MADISON, Wis. – A fun and innovative volunteer program is bringing pillowcases and smiles to patients at American Family Children’s Hospital.
Cases for Smiles, a national program that brings volunteers to patient rooms to brighten their days by helping children in the hospital sew specially designed pillowcases, started a Madison chapter in 2008. During the pandemic, due to restrictions and infection protocols, the program was paused until last spring, but it is now thriving and seeking more sewn pillowcases and volunteers.
With the American Family Children’s Hospital set to expand in the coming years, there will be more children to serve, and the program will require additional volunteers, either in person or for sewing pillowcases. There are two donation drop-off sites in Madison: The Electric Needle and Blue Bar Quilts.
The program is special because the volunteers have been thoroughly vetted and trained in various medical complexities and infection protocols, allowing them to visit patient rooms independently, according to Heather Sheehan, child life therapy assistant, UW Health Kids.
This program is more than just sewing a pillowcase, it offers patients a warm, compassionate interaction, she said.
“Often, patients have difficult procedures or therapy, so this program gives them a special experience that is fun and pain-free,” Sheehan said. “Patients don’t often have a choice in the hospital, but this lets them decide on fabric and how much they want to sew.”
Patients light up when the volunteers enter the room, especially the long-term patients, because the volunteers know their preferences and bring specially designed fabric for them to use, she said.
The volunteer team of Nancy Carney and Sue Neuser, both from Madison, visits once a month, sewing approximately 12 to 20 cases during each visit. In addition, around 150 pillowcases are donated each month, serving all admitted children at the hospital. These pillowcases are either sewn by Carney and Neuser or donated by community members who drop them off at a Madison location.
The pillowcases are sewn in advance up to a certain point, allowing the patient to complete the sewing of the rest of the pillowcase if they choose. They are cleaned with a special detergent to prevent germs, pressed and sealed in a package, remaining unopened until they are in the room, according to Carney.
There are various designs for kids to choose from, including Spider-Man, Disney characters, Lego and animal themes. Children who are not feeling up to sewing can take a finished pillowcase. The team also adapts to the patient’s needs, such as moving the sewing machine foot pedal to the bed if a child needs to use their hands instead of their feet, she said.
“Our goal is to make kids feel better so they can heal better. It is amazing to see them work on these pillows and watch their spirits lift,” Carney said. “If they can feel happiness and forget about why they are in the hospital for a moment, that is what we are here for.”
For more information, visit the Case for Smiles website or follow the Madison Chapter on Facebook.
