Church sewing groups’ comforters will create a warm welcome for Beyond Housing families.
When families move into Beyond Housing’s new townhomes on Frederick Street this fall, they will receive more than a set of keys. They will also get a handmade comforter — a gift that offers warmth in more ways than one.
The comforters echo those given to the families who moved into Beyond Housing’s first project on Village Road in 2003. Kathy Bauman, who has supported Beyond Housing with her husband Ray since it began as MennoHomes 25 years ago, played a key role in bringing that first project to life.
A warm welcome
At the time, Kathy was volunteering at Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in Kitchener, helping prepare comforters for relief efforts around the world. When she heard about the Village Road project — which would provide homes for 16 families — she wondered what the wider church community could do to help these new neighbours settle in.
“It was a dream,” she recalls. “I thought ‘Maybe we could ask people to make a comforter or two for the new homes.’”
The response was overwhelming. Volunteers in local church sewing groups created far more comforters than needed. When the Village Road families moved in, Kathy had the privilege of helping to deliver the comforters — each wrapped with a simple ribbon and accompanied by a card with a message of welcome.
“They were so well received by the families,” she remembers.
Now, Kathy is helping to coordinate the creation of comforters for a new generation of Beyond Housing families.
Creating something beautiful together
Individual sewers and women’s groups — including those at St. Jacobs Mennonite Church and Gale Presbyterian Church — are making the comforters, which are created by stitching together three layers—top fabric, batting, and backing—and tying them off with knots. These individuals and groups donate not only their time but the materials as well.
Kathy notes that the production process itself reflects the community spirit behind the project.
“I really enjoy working with other women (as opposed to working just by myself) and it doesn’t feel like work because we have fun together. Also, we are making something for someone else. That’s pretty awesome,” she says.
“Comforter making is meaningful to me. You start out with pieces of material that might not look like they go together,” she adds. “But when they’re sewn together and finished, they become something beautiful and useful.”
A message of acceptance
For the families who will receive them, the comforters carry an important message, Kathy says.
Each one symbolizes warmth, acceptance and community. They are a reminder that neighbours across the region care deeply about their well-being.
Beyond Housing is grateful to Kathy Bauman, the sewers and the church communities who are once again coming together to create these gifts.
Their kindness is helping turn housing into homes.
