Pillow Making for Hospice 2021

March 24, 2021

ACUW’S LEGION OF SUPER SEW-ERS TO THE RESCUE!

When Covid hit last year, there suddenly was a shortage of face masks. Schools like Hokulani Elementary, Puuhale Elementary, Our Lady of Good Counsel, Lunalilo Elementary, Ulu A’e Learning Center, Ulu A’e Learning Center’s Afterschool Care, Manana Elementary, Malama Honua Public Charter School, Ewa Literacy Preschool and Farrington High School, were in need of masks for their students. Facilities like the Franciscan Living Senior Center, Lanakila Pacific Westloch Elderly Villages and River of Life also needed masks.

When this cry for “help” went out, ACUW’s Legion of SUPER SEW-ERS and our ever-ready band of MASK- MAKERS quickly mobilized to meet the challenge. Super Sew-ers Sandi Shiroma, Shari Lee-Huntoon, Pamela Chow, Karen Nose, Carolyn Misajon, Angie Chock, Gloria Fletcher, Betty Chang and Florence Poon sewed 600 masks; Edwina Lee and Anna Chang donated 400+ disposable masks; and Debra Lew-Wong dropped off yards of beautiful fabric. By the end, over 1,000 masks were donated in the course of six months.

While one challenge was ending, another quickly developed. . .a shortage of pillows for Navian Hawaii hospice patients. Sandi Shiroma, Pat Hubbard, Edwina Lee, Susan Lee, Sue-Jean Jung, Roberta Wong Leung, Shari Lee- Huntoon, Anna Chang, Betty Chang and her grand-daughter from Massachusetts, Jada Gaw, swooped down on the Navian HI building on March 24th, and whipped out a record 293 pillows!

Above the noise of clicking sewing machines, hissing irons and fluffing pillows could also be heard the lively chatter and laughter of this butterfish-eating cadre of pillow-pals. When the dust, thread and stuffing finally settled, a hoarse voice could be heard saying, “Next time, it’s 300+ pillows!” We are ACUW sisters after all!