Stitches of Love, sponsored by Extension Winnebago County Home and Community Education, was created in January 2002 by Janet Hansen. After conducting research and collecting data from both the American Cancer Society and local hospitals, Janet found there was a significant unmet need in the Fox Valley for headwear for cancer patients. Many cancer centers receive quilts for patients to provide comfort during treatment, but no one was donating hats to help patients, especially women, stay warm and comfortable after the loss of their hair.
Mission Statement
The mission of Stitches of Love is to make headwear, free of charge, for local cancer patients and distribute them through local treatment centers.
Donation Sites
Four regional cancer centers are currently supported:
- The ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center (Appleton)
- The Vince Lombardi Cancer at Aurora Medical Center (Oshkosh)
- The Michael Wachtel Cancer Center at Ascension Mercy Medical Center (Oshkosh)
- The SSM Cancer Care Center at St. Agnes Hospital (Fond du Lac)
Workshops
Four workshops are held each year: four at the J.P. Coughlin Center in Oshkosh. During the workshops, fabric hats are cut out and then taken home by volunteers to sew. A number of volunteers also sew, knit, or crochet hats at home.
In 2024, Stitches of Love made and donated 2,750 hats, thanks to the time and talents of 30 volunteers. These dedicated women devoted nearly 6,000 hours of their time to support the mission of Stitches of Love.
Revenue/Support
The Extension Winnebago County staff at the J.P. Coughlin Center provide clerical support along with a great facility for the workshops. Revenue comes primarily from donations, the sale of walker caddies through ThedaCare at Home, and gift cards from Thrivent.
Contact
Lynn Mozingo, Coordinator
(920) 428-6947
LynnMozingo@gmail.com
