Colorful Linens
Image by egin akyurt on Unsplash
Those multi-colored sheets can be amazing. Gorgeous color patterns quilted by creative volunteers are often state fair quality. The Tuesday Linen Ladies encounter donations of sheets and quilts of all kinds each week at Global Health Ministries. Nothing is overlooked and every piece of cloth is put to good use.
In U.S. hospitals, we all expect to see white linens on every bed. The country partners that receive linens from Global Health Ministries for their hospitals rejoice in the colorful and patterned. GHM sends twin- and full-size sheets, both fitted and flat for hospitals and clinics. If there is a stain, one of our Tuesday Linen Ladies volunteer group takes it home to wash and bleach. If there is a slight tear, one of the ladies mends it. They may tear off a side with several rips and sew a new hem on the sheet. If the sheet is white, but beyond repair, it goes into the bin for ripping and processing into rolled bandages.
In years past, hospitals and hotels donated generous loads of sheets and linens. Since Covid, laundry routines have changed, and sheets have become a precious commodity. Household donations of gently used sheets and pillowcases are eagerly welcomed. Your local Goodwill or thrift store probably will not accept used linens, but GHM can put them to use.
The Linen Ladies hard at work
What about the king and queen sheets? Some of them can ripped and used to make rolled bandages. The larger sheets are cut up to make pillowcases. One of the linen ladies works long hours at her home to sew hundreds of small sized modified pillowcases, as well as baby blankets and diapers for our newborn kits. Every newborn or hospice kit goes out wrapped in a pillowcase to keep it clean. Large flannel sheets can be passed on to quilters to make a new quilt back. Nothing is wasted.
When those colorful quilts arrive at hospitals in Africa, they may be used on patient beds. In other instances, they may become the sleeping bag for a parent or caregiver who is accompanying their family member and sleeping on the ground next to the bed. When a doctor from Tanzania came for a visit to GHM recently he mentioned those colorful quilts. “Oh yes, the mamas recognize the workmanship in those quilts and appreciate them very much!”
With gratitude and great appreciation, the volunteers and staff of Global Health Ministries thank you and encourage you to continue your partnership with GHM. If you or your group would like to work on rolled bandages you can pick up white sheets at the GHM warehouse. Details on other sewing projects such as receiving blankets, pillowcases or diapers are available upon request.