United Church volunteers giving back to the community

Floral detail

T. Lucas photos except* 

Toni Lucas

Sharol Mattl joined forces with the United Church Thrift Store, know as 'Aquila's and Priscilla's',  in January 2011.  Aquila's and Priscilla's is run by volunteers.

Volunteer Coordinator Donna Elliott offered to donate all the wool and yarn that is donated to the church to Mattl, who then crochets this yarn into afghans for other charities.  To date Mattl has made 56 afghans that she has made the patterns for and have been donated to Vista Village and the Pincher Creek Women's Shelter.

Sharol Mattl,  Nieves Brestter, Erin Robinson and Tina Webber at Vista
* Submitted photo

This is similar to the arrangement that Elliott has for years with Nancy Cummings, who takes all the baby yarn donated to the church and makes baby toques with it.  Over the years Cummings has made over 50 dozen baby toques from this yarn that have been donated to newborns at the Pincher Creek Hospital, Lethbridge Regional Hospital, and Fernie Hospital.

Nancy Cummings donated baby toques

Both ladies consider theirs to be a labour of love, and have often bought more yarn to finish their projects.  They often work on these projects while watching television.

Mattl with new donations to go into the community.

Mattl makes a variety of sizes, from lap blankets to full sized spreads for both children and adults to give away.  "Sometimes when you get something, it just makes you feel so good, special," she said.

As the United Church Volunteer Coordinator for the last 25 years, Donna Elliott told how she appreciates the work of all of their many volunteers, and the public that donates clean, saleable clothes and items to their sale.   Aquila's and Priscilla's operates out of the United Church basement at 972 Police Avenue and is open to the public Fridays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm.