Crafters at the Cone Exchange have turned out in force to help a local hospice care charity to continue providing personalised support to people affected by terminal illness through a unique and creative venture.
More than 200 hand-sewn bags have been lovingly created by volunteers and customers at the local community recycling project to extend the personalised support for patients and families using Saint Michael’s services.
The bags have been specially designed to enable people receiving inpatient care at the Hornbeam Park-based hospice to store special items, keepsakes or belongings during their stay, and for patients or their families to take home with them.
Chief executive of Saint Michael’s Hospice, Tony Collins, said:
The care Saint Michael’s offers local people is as individual as they are, and the things that are important to the people using our services are important to us. These lovingly crafted bags mean that the special belongings that matter to our patients and their families can be stored in a bag which has been hand-made just for them.
We would like to say a big thank you to the team of crafters at the Cone Exchange for their remarkable support. Each unique creation made by the team represents something very special: the coming together of a community in support of their local hospice care charity.
Sue Snow, volunteer at the Cone Exchange explained why the group were keen to support their local hospice in this special way:
My father was in a hospice before he died so this was something that was very close to my heart. Being able to provide comfort for patients and their families even in a small way was something that was very important to me but a huge thanks has to go to our customers, many of whom have had first-hand experience of Saint Michael’s and were thrilled to have the opportunity to give something back by creating these bags.
Since Saint Michael’s became the area’s first adult hospice three decades ago, the charity has improved the lives of thousands of families affected by terminal illness and bereavement.
Its high-quality hospice services have grown and evolved, from inpatient care and day therapy services provided from the Hornbeam Park-based hospice building, to a dedicated Outreach Team, visiting patients wherever they call home.
The Cone Exchange works with 200 community groups, social enterprises and Yorkshire schools every year, transforming and reusing waste materials and turning these into treasure; whilst encouraging participants to become more environmentally aware. It is the flagship community project of Bettys & Taylors of Harrogate.
If you would like to volunteer with Saint Michaels or find out more about The Cone Exchange you can find more information on their websites. Saint Michael’s Hospice: http://www.saintmichaelshospice.org/ and The Cone Exchange: https://www.coneexchange.org/
