BOONEVILLE, Miss. (WTVA) -- One loop at a time, these Prentiss County residents are accomplishing something both for themselves and people they may never meet.
It all started from one woman who felt she needed to do more with her own time.
“My husband passed away 15 years ago on March 23rd. For a while, I was unable to do much, but then I decided to get up and stay busy," volunteer Judy George said. "This is what I’ve done for the past 14 years. I saw the need for senior citizens to be able to come together and fellowship, and learn new things and so, I started this sewing and craft class."
It’s a class that George said has blossomed over the years, with anywhere from 25 to 30 senior women participating each week.
Many residents in Booneville fall under that category; it is a certified retirement community, after all.
However, with few options available for those who live in the city, George saw a need.
“It really makes them feel good. When you’ve worked hard all your life, and you retire and sit at home day after day, pretty soon, you get to where you don’t even want to get dressed to go to church. Without this fellowship and without this need to feel needed, the next place is the nursing home," George said.
Now they’re getting ready to move into a new building.
With all the space they have, they’ll finally be able to make it a Senior Activity Center open five days a week to all seniors later this month.
You might be wondering what becomes of all the things that are designed and made by these ladies: they are used in hospice care, for Alzheimer’s patients and even for premature babies.
“We have 14 counties that I cover in this area, and patients in all those counties," Gentiva Hospice volunteer services manager Tracey Hollimon said. "Judy and her crafty ladies make all kinds of things for our patients who are actively dying, such as walker bags, adult bibs, lap blankets, footies...anything I ask, they’ll make for us. We just appreciate them so much for helping our patients in that way. And it just makes things more comfortable for them.”
All of it is provided free of charge to those who need it, and all of it is made from supplies donated to George's crafts class.
Many say what George has done for the community is something no one can put a price on.
"Their social life is very important to the elderly, because they’ve had it all their lives, and we do tend to forget them when they get older and they’re not as active, and I think it’s very beneficial for them and the community as well," Booneville resident Brinda Goo said.
It’s a gift George said will pay off invaluably for those who truly need it.
