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November 17, 2009
One selfless stitch at a time, Health New England associates help the United Way
Health New England associates
display their 2009 quilt. The women plan, design and put together a
new quilt to raise money each year for the United Way of Pioneer
Valley. From left to right: Sharon Dorsey, Eileen Meyers, Joyce Gay,
Florence Dupuis, Joan Lepowski, and Jennifer Morris Debbie Kasvich.
Not pictured: Debbie Blackack.
For eight women at Health New England, a love of
quilting has turned into a passion for helping the United Way of
Pioneer Valley.
What began five years ago as a raffle idea for HNE's United Way
workplace campaign has evolved into a volunteer labor of love that each
year features a new quilt and contributions for the community.
The self-named "The HNE Quilters" each year get together to plan
the HNE United Way Annual Campaign Quilt. This year's quilt was
created by Joyce Gay of South Hadley, Eileen Meyers of Easthampton,
Jennifer Morris of Leeds, Debbie Blackak of Feeding Hills, Florence
Dupuis of Ludlow, Sharon Dorsey and Joan Lepkowski both of Springfield,
and Debbie Kasevich of South Windsor, Conn. Each of the HNE associates
contributes their own time and money to the project.
Associates at the health maintenance organization who pledge during
the campaign can purchase raffle tickets for $2 each or three for $5 to
earn a chance to take home the quilt. Each year, the quilt raises
approximately $450 for HNE's campaign.
This year's winner, who wanted to remain anonymous, is now the
proud owner of a 12 by 15 feet quilt named "London Roads," named for
its pattern, which is a stunning kaleidoscope of colors and intricately
detailed patterns.
"I want to thank all of you for quilting such a masterpiece," said
the winner in a note she wrote to the eight quilters. "I'm truly
blessed to have won what all of you worked together to make."
Indeed, the handmade quilts have become instant keepsakes and a
United Way campaign tradition, said Pat Scheer, Director of Quality
Operations at HNE and the HNE Employee Campaign Coordinator for the
last seven years. HNE's 240 associates look forward to a new design
each year and a new opportunity to be the lucky person to take home a
new treasure.
"The quilt has proven to be a huge success," said Scheer of
Longmeadow. The quilt, for HNE associates, she said, is a treat to see
and is a main topic of interest during the campaign. "I can't say
enough about the time and energy that our quilters have contributed to
help the campaign; it really has become an example of the giving spirit
of Health New England and our contribution to a good cause."
Scheer said the quilt idea has surpassed all expectations when, in
2004, she thought a quilt would be a nice feature to help raise
excitement and inspire associates to participate in the United Way
campaign. In keeping with that year's campaign theme, "Over the
Rainbow," the quilt featured a predominant yellow color, symbolic of
associates finding "that pot of gold" to help the United Way, said
Scheer. Each subsequent quilt has similarly told a charitable story.
The very first quilt raffled was won by none other than Peter
Straley, HNE's President and Chief Executive Officer. Straley hung the
quilt proudly in his office until last year when he brought the quilt
to his home when his office was renovated.
The quilt, he said, is a reminder of his company’s commitment to the community and the community spirit of HNE’s associates.
”The quilters impress me every year with their dedication to this
project," said Straley. "This is a unique, hands-on way to use their
talents to benefit others. I’m very proud to be the owner of the first
HNE-United Way quilt.”
Since 2004, each succeeding year's quilt has been an even greater
work of art -- each quilt as unique and beautiful as the creative
imagination of the HNE quilters.
The effort involves a very coordinated and meticulous assembly line
like operation that would be the envy of any military planner.
Each member of the quilters averages about 20 volunteer hours at
home or 200 total hours combined at home putting together the quilt.
They each cut fabric, sew squares, machine embroider the squares
together, and then bind their handcraft to complete the quilt. It’s
then square by square by square until they finally meet as a team to
put the finishing touches on their creation. It's exacting work that
demands careful attention. Quilting is a solitary hobby, and that's
how the HNE quilters like it.
"There's something very therapeutic about sitting down and seeing
those little pieces turning into something beautiful," said Dupuis of
Ludlow, an underwriting technician who has quilted for 22 years and has
worked on every HNE United Way quilt.
The annual quilt also serves as a great platform for the ladies to
share their mutual interest and matches relative newcomers to quilting
with more seasoned and experienced ladies.
The quilters shop for the best bargains by choosing local fabric from local quilt stores for their patterns.
And just as soon as the last quilt was raffled on Oct. 30, the
quilters were already discussing plans for next year's sixth quilt with
anticipation already building on what pattern the quilters are choosing.
Several associates have already asked the quilters if they could get a peek at next year's design.
"We haven't even started the next one yet and already we've had interest," said Scheer.
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