Print Article 06/22/2011
Making a difference in the lives of grieving children is the goal of Home Nursing Agency’s Healing Patch, A Center for Loss and Hope for Grieving Children and Their Families.
Some local community members chose to make a difference by supporting The Healing Patch in the recent Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community in Johnstown.
More than $3,000 was raised through the Highmark Walk to benefit The Healing Patch, a free program that provides a safe place for grieving children to express their feelings and connect with others who have had similar losses. Of the funds raised, $950 was from the raffle of a quilt made by a Healing Patch volunteer, Shirley Wallace.
A Hollidaysburg resident, Wallace regularly gives her time to sew quilt squares for children that are made of their loved ones’ favorite clothing or other items such as handkerchiefs or scarves. Wanting to do more, she decided to experiment with a new pattern to create a quilt that could be raffled off to benefit the Healing Patch.
“Basically, I like to do things that help children who need help at that time in their lives,” Wallace shared. “I know when my husband died there wasn’t any program like that for my daughter. I’m glad there is something now for kids who need it.”
Wallace’s service is also about giving back to the organization that cared for two important people in her life.
“The staff from Home Nursing Agency’s home health and hospice services were really good to me when my husband was disabled. We had an aide who came to help us. My father also had hospice care in his last days,” she said. “This is just a way of giving back to Home Nursing Agency.”
The support of Wallace and the 32 people who walked in the June 4 Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community was greatly appreciated in the efforts to support The Healing Patch, which has locations in Altoona and Ebensburg. Annette Romani of Altoona was the winner of the quilt raffle.
You can make a difference in the lives of grieving children by becoming a Healing Patch volunteer or giving a donation by clicking here.
