Handmade Hugs Society
Cowichan Valley
About Us
Who are we?
Handmade Hugs Society Cowichan Valley is a local group of caring individuals that provide comfort items to those in need in our community with an emphasis on children, the displaced, and seniors.
What, specifically, do we do?
Handmade Hugs Society Cowichan Valley provides our local care facilities with Winter Woollies (toques, scarves, & mitts), slippers, pajama bottoms, handmade quilts and afghans, and a variety of other products that make long hospital stays or other emergency situations easier to cope with.
We also provide individual "Hugs" to nominated individuals who are facing life-changing events such as illness, loss, displacement, etc.
When did Handmade Hugs begin their work?
Handmade Hugs was established in 2009 and began producing the items required to meet the criteria outlined. We began our work with CDH in 2010, expanding from that point to include all of the Cowichan Valley.
In 2011, we became Handmade Hugs Society Cowichan Valley, a registered society.
In 2014, another small Handmade Hugs group was formed in Quesnel. Their focus is entirely centered on providing Woollies (specifically, toques) to school-aged children.
How can you help?
We need sewers (simple straight seam sewing, simple serging), quilters, knitters and/or crocheters. We need people willing to sort and pre-wash fabric donations. to cut fabrics into usable dimensions, to do finish work (embroidering features, tying quilts, hand-sewing ribbons).
We need volunteers willing to make new community connections: finding those who need our services, speaking to local businesses, churches, and community groups about our Society and finding resources (cash, product items, or time) to expand and continue our work. seeking donations (cash, product items, or time) to expand and continue our work.
If you'd like to help or if you know someone who needs our help, please contact us.
Here's a link you might enjoy:
Our Board of Directors
POSITION
President
Vice President
Co- Secretary's
Treasure
Past President
Director
Director
Director
Director
Volunteer Coordinator/Social Media
Director-at-Large
MEMBER
Vivian McDonald
Andrea d'Haene
Deb Melnyk
Helen Nation
Tracy Clements
Linda Kemp
Monique Lapointe
Karen Brule
Fran Whitfield
Jan Orrico
Cathy Schmidt
Departments
POSITION
Fabric
Yarn
Inventory / Warehousing
Media / social media
Community Contact
Volunteers
Project Contact
Fundraising
MEMBER
Andrea d'Haene and Jan Orrico
Monique Lapointe and Deb Melnyk
Jan Orrico and Deb Melnyk
Karen Brule and Cathy Schmidt
Cathy Schmidt
Jan Orrico
Andrea d'Haene