January 25, 2008

MGH Comforters: Offering support one stitch at a time

Often, a kind gesture or the comfort of a warm, meaningful object can help console those suffering illness or loss. The MGH Comforters — a group of quilters comprising MGH employees, patients and volunteers — offers both by donating dozens of handmade quilts each year to MGH inpatient floors for nurses to give to patients and their families.

The group was established in 2001 by MGH volunteer Jill Martuza, alongtime quilter who understood the comfort a quilt could bring to patients and individuals in need. Under the auspices of MGH Volunteer Services Director Patricia Rowell, Martuza created the quilting bee, which today includes close to 75 volunteers.

"We meet twice a month to work on the quilts," says Martuza. "About 15 people actively participate in the group, and we work well as a team. Everything is donated to us — the fabric, patterns and our volunteers' time — so that we can supply individuals with lovely quilted blankets. I count all of the volunteers as my friends and find it gratifying that friendships have been forged within the group."

From left, Martuza, Sandy Creaser, Crystal Moore and Vivian Theodoracopoulos

To date, the MGH Comforters have created and donated more than 300 quilts. Recently, the group gave 32 quilts to HAVEN at MGH, a program that provides counseling and advocacy services to survivors of domestic violence. One quilt in particular was offered to provide solace to a young Bosnian refugee whose mother had died at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. Bonnie Zimmer, LICSW, director of HAVEN at MGH, attended the memorial service for the girl's mother and presented the family members with a quilt to give to the daughter as a special gift from the MGH community.

"We hoped that this gift might provide some sense of comfort at such a tragic and heartbreaking time," says Zimmer. "It was wonderful to share a handmade token of connection with the community, especially to a family that has survived so much violence in their home country and now again here in the United States."

MGHers can see one of the quilts created by the MGH Comforters and several staff members of White 9, where the piece currently hangs. For more information about the MGH Comforters or to join the group, contact Martuza at rmartuza@comcast.net or call the MGH Volunteer Services Department at (617) 726-8540.