Redlands Volunteers Go on 'Sewing Spree'

Redlands, Ca -- An 80-year-old tradition continues this year when the Redlands’ Sewing Center begins their ‘Newborns in Christmas Stockings’ project. The group of sewers is creating oversized holiday stockings, making sure every child born in December goes home swaddled in a unique holiday gift to commemorate their seasonal birth. Thanks to a group of sewing enthusiasts, volunteers will be donating their efforts to making the holiday stockings this season.

“This is a true labor of love given by all of the volunteers in the Redlands Sewing Center,” said Lauren Spilsbury, Vice President of Patient Care Services. “We are so grateful to them for helping us keep such a great tradition alive. The staff loves to present the parents with the stocking, and the parents are always extremely excited about the gift.”

A tradition that started in 1930 by the Linen Committee which was compromised of hospital auxiliary volunteers transformed into a sewing committee. Holiday stockings were made and given as gifts to newborns and their families during the holiday season. Over the years, the sewing group began to see a decline in membership and could no longer provide the service. Hospital Auxiliary Volunteer, Sylvia Terifay thought of an idea to ask outside enthusiasts for help. In 2005, the stockings were once again provided and the tradition continues to this day.

“It seemed logical to utilize people in the community who like to sew,” said Sylvia. “I was ecstatic when I got confirmation from the store owner. I knew Redlands Sewing Center would come through in keeping the tradition alive.”

For information about the newborn holiday stockings at Redlands Community Hospital, call 909.335.5500. For services and volunteer sewing opportunities offered at the Redlands Sewing Center, call 909.792.3994.

Redlands Community Hospital is a not-for-profit standalone hospital.