Heart-shaped Pillows Stuffed with Beanie Babies, Small Toys, Crayons and Stickers Bring Comfort to Children

Special thank you to Assistance League of Northern Virginia member volunteers who participated in a Hugs Pillows workshop after the Regular Monthly Meeting on May 16. Together, they stuffed Beanie Babies, other small toys, crayons and stickers into the pockets of heart-shaped pillows donated by Helping Hands of Dunbarton, an active adult community in Bristow, VA. Since 2005, the chapter has been privileged to have this group of talented women sew pillows for the Operation Hugs program. Assistance League of Northern Virginia donates 80 pillows and other hand-made items to Inova Cares Pediatric Clinic in Falls Church each month. The pillows provide comfort to children from low-income families undergoing medical treatments, sometimes following traumatic events. Assistance League recognized current members and Hugs Coordinators, Karen Craft and Kathy Jackson, for their dedication to this program, and thanked Peggy Roberts and other members of Dunbarton’s Helping Hands for their long term commitment to helping children in need. To learn more about this and other programs, contact VP Philanthropy Jeanne Sclater: Jeanne.sclater@verizon.net.