Women chatted as they arrived at Downs Park with bundles of material, sewing machines on trolleys, and batting stuffed in bags. They were eager to make a difference in the lives of women with breast cancer. Each year different projects were chosen to help local hospitals such as Baltimore Washington Medical Center and Anne Arundel Medical Center. Pillowcases were sewn at Christmas time for children who had to be hospitalized over the holidays. Small flannel blankets were made for newborns in the intensive care nursery. Quilts were stitched for wounded soldiers. Baby sweaters, caps, and booties were sewn for the Stork's Nest.
As the wind whipped the Bay into whitecaps, women organized themselves into groups. They plugged their sewing machines into wall receptacles and started sewing. Others traced the heart shape pattern onto fabric. One lady ran back and forth from the machines to other quilters who reversed the fabric. A group of women laughed as they worked together stuffing. Soft batting stuck to their clothes, turning them a dusty white. The pile of heart shaped pillows quickly grew as others sewed the ends to close the pillow seams. Hearts spilled off tables. Women gathered the hearts and placed them into bags for delivery to hospitals. Several survivors of breast cancer worked on the pillows, encouraging the ladies. The quilters poured their hearts into the pillows like coffee pouring into their cups.
