“Crafty Ladies” raise funds for cbm Micro-Finance Loan

London, ON, February 17, 2010- Members of the Crafty Ladies Group in London, Ontario, raised over $1,300 for cbm Canada in memory of one of their members, Sylvia Evans. Funds will go towards a cbm Canada micro-financing loan for a person with a disability in one of the poorest countries of the world.

In October 2006, a group of four ladies started a craft group in their condominium complex. Over the years, the group grew 23 members who like to quilt, knit, crochet, cross stitch, needle point and paint.

When one of the founding ladies of the group, Sylvia Evans, suddenly passed away from a heart attack two years ago, it deeply affected the members.

“We took it very hard,” said Marsha Lunn, Group Coordinator. “In her memory, we wanted to do something.”  The Crafty Ladies offered to complete Sylvia’s unfinished projects as a way to extend their care for her family.

In return, Sylvia’s family donated a set of quilt tops to the group that Sylvia had purchased but never started. The Crafty Ladies decided that they would complete the quilt as a group and donate the proceeds to a charity in her memory.

This was a challenge for some members as not all the ladies knew how to quilt.

“The last quilt I made, I was 20 years old and that was 57 years ago,” says Treasurer Dorothy Pazzuit.

It took the ladies two years to complete the entire set – a Western Star pattern queen size quilt with matching two pillow shams and three throw cushions.

The Crafty Ladies sold raffle tickets and raised $1,385, which they donated to cbm Canada to be used for a microfinance loan for a person with disabilities in the developing world.

Members include: Marsha Lunn, Group Coordinator, Dorothy Pazzuit, Treasurer, Shirley MacPherson, Isabel Brydie, Freida Hooker, Margorie Chivers, Joan Gough, Grace Gibbs, Marie Gerrier, Marina Carleton, Gladys Sanding, Leanne McLeod, Rita McWilliam, Lorraine Watkin and Marie Book.

A leading international Christian humanitarian organization, cbm Canada works to meet the needs of persons with disabilities in the poorest countries of the world.