COMMUNITY SERVICE
GUILD CONTACT: Marilyn White

August Community Service Sew-in
Click Here for more info
Click the heart to see who we sew for

Community Service Update
​
COMMUNITY SERVICE SEW-IN
Monday, August 4, 2025
Conley’s UM Church
9:00-2:00
Morning snacks provided; BYO drinks and lunch.
Come support our CS projects by cutting, pressing, sewing, trimming, packaging, creating, SOCIALIZING, and more, all for charity! **Each of our group’s tasks are listed below.
**SIGN UP: PLEASE SIGN UP IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND in order for us to accommodate everyone. You can sign up for the group of your choice at the July meeting or by email to Marilyn White. mbwhite106@gmail.com.
​
Angel Gowns-Melissa Sopko
Volunteers will cut and sew infant burial gowns. Fabric, ribbon, and patterns will be provided. Bring sewing machine, rotary cutters, shears, pins or weights, white thread and bobbin.
Duffle Bags and More- Mary Shepherd
Volunteers will cut fleece blankets with our supplies. Or use a kit to sew a duffle bag or toiletry bag. Bring sewing machine with an empty bobbin.
Heart Pillows- Carol Fisher Volunteers will cut out, sew heart shaped fabric with ribbon strap, stuff the pillows, and hand sew the opening. 2 sewing machines requested. Needles, thread, and scissors provided.
Pillowcases of Love-Sue Brittingham
Volunteers will cut fabric and prepare pillowcase kits. Cutters bring rotary cutter and 24” ruler. Eight (8) volunteers needed. **Prepared pillowcase kits will also be available for pickup to sew at home.
Quilts of Love-Pat DeVoll
Volunteers will sew baby quilts. Kits with pattern will be provided to make a 36x36 inch baby quilt. Nine rows of nine squares make each quilt. Bring thread and sewing machine.
Patriotic Quilts- Kathy Varga and Rita McConnell
Volunteers create blocks to be used to make Quilts of Valor. These are strip foundation pieced blocks (no paper piecing). Bring sewing machine and any red, white, or blue fabric scraps and strips at least 2” wide
​
Learn More About Each Group...​​​
​
​​​
​​​​​DUFFLE BAGS and MORE​
​​
About us: This group is a 501C3 organization that creates duffle bags and toiletry bags for children in foster care. It is funded from grants, donations, and fundraising events. Ocean Waves will be helping to promote the program through publicity and participation, coordinated by Mary Shepherd. The project will be self-sustaining on our budget line. Mary’s group meets once a month at the Village of Five Points Community Center to sew the bags. All supplies, including sewing machines and sergers, are provided. We will highlight Duffle Bags and More at our October guild meeting. In addition, DB&M will participate in our February, 2025 Sit and Sew! Duffle Bags and More will be added to our Community Service webpage. For more details, contact Mary Shepherd, mtshepherd@mindspring.com or www.dufflebagsandmore.org .
Activities: We have 100 sets of duffle Bags and toiletry bags ready to deliver to Delaware Department of Family Services. We've started making fleece blankets for kids who need them, and they're easy to make.
Mary Shephard
Mark your calendars! The Ocean Waves' 2026 Sit and Sew (date to be determined) will be Duffle Bags and Toiletry Bags. We'll be doing all phases of bag construction, from cutting to bagging for delivery. If you have a serger sitting around collecting dust, please think about bringing it to the sew-in. You've got time before February to dust it off, and thread it.
​
In addition to bags, we'll also make fleece blankets. These are fun projects for anyone who feels less confident about sewing a bag.
We'll have more details as we get closer to February.
Our work parties are on the third Monday of most months, from 9-12 at the Villages of Five Points Community Center in Lewes.
GUILD CONTACT: Mary Shepherd
​
​
​​
PATRIOTIC QUILTS
​
About us:
This service project group organizes and leads productions of patriotic themed quilts to be donated to the Quilts of Valor Foundation. (qovf.org) “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing QOV.” The procedures for making these quilts are specific. Check the newsletter and announcements at guild meetings for scheduled Sew-Ins and drop-offs.
​
** Patriotic Quilts is looking for volunteers to quilt one or more quilts for Quilts of Valor. If you can help, please contact Kathy Varga. kvarga07866@gmail.com.
​
Activities:
*So far this year alone, Patriotic Quilts has finished 17 twin-sized quilts for donation to Quilts of Valor, along with 4 more tops that are still to be longarmed and bound. These quilts were assembled from over 500 blocks made by our guild members.
*Patriotic Quilts is an Ocean Waves only group, with all materials and labor provided by our members. Heartfelt thanks to everyone who has participated in this wonderful effort!
*For your summer sewing pleasure... plenty of Floating Star block kits are available in fresh new fabrics at the Community Service table. Take as many as you like, to sew on retreat or vacation. If your Bee or group would like to make something special, see Kathy Varga or Rita McConnell for help with patterns, ideas and fabric.
Donations needed: Fabric - Red, white, blue solids or tone-on-tone fabrics are greatly appreciated - fat quarters, strips 8” or longer, yardage
​
GUILD CONTACT: Rita McConnell
HEART PILLOWS
About us:
Pillows are given to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Kits, assembled and ready to be sewn, are available at the Ocean Waves Quilt Guild monthly meetings.
The pillows are donated to the following organizations: Cancer Support Community of Delaware
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
Beebe Healthcare - Tunnel Cancer Center
Beebe Rehab
Dr. Spellman's office
Nanticoke Memorial Hospital - Allen Cancer Center
Activities:
We delivered 12 pillows to Cancer Support Group. We will be delivering 12 pillows per quarter. New kits for heart pillows will be available at the Guild meetings beginning in May. These new kits will only have the pre-cut heart fabric and strap to be sewn. No stuffing required at this time since that will be completed just prior to delivery. Carol Fisher
​
Donations needed: No fabric needed for now.
GUILD CONTACT: Carol Fisher
​
TINY TOTS - Baby Items
​
About us:
Tiny Tots was started in February, 2010 with 12 ladies from St. Ann’s Bazaar Workshop. Today it has 50 members and is still growing. Tiny Tots makes quilts, hats, blanket and sweater sets, teddy bears, nursing covers, and exercise mats for the Rosa Health Center in Georgetown, DE. To date, over 4,000 quilts, 500 blanket and sweater sets, 2,000 teddy bears, and 200 exercise mats have been made.
​
The Rosa Health Center takes care of infants thru adults. The Center is absolutely free to whoever cannot afford medical help. Dr. Rama Peri runs the Center.
​
Tiny Tots also donates items to St. Vincent de Paul.
​
Tiny Tots meets at St. Ann’s Church, Delaney Hall, in Bethany Beach on the 4th Tuesday of each month (except December, July, and August) from 9AM to 1 PM. It is supported by St. Ann’s Parish, Bethany Beach, DE, and Ocean Waves Quilt Guild.
All of the fabric and yarn used to make these items is donated.
Activities: *We delivered the following items to Rosa Health Center: 12 quilts with hats, 10 exercise mats, 12 sweaters with hats. *Also sent 6 twin quilts to Project Gabriel in Dallas, Texas. *We are in need of washable worsted weight yarn and baby yarn. Contact Mary Martinez
​
Donations needed: We are in need of worsted weight yarn and fiberfill stuffing. Fabric - Yarn, Baby Flannel and fleece, Adult fabrics
GUILD CONTACT: Mary Martinez



COMFORT QUILTS,
formerly BABY WRAPS
About us:
Our group started in 2017 with five women. Now we have 19 members who meet once a week at Heritage Shores Community Center in Bridgeville. We originally made quilts for newborns at Nanticoke Hospital, but in the last year, we have reached out to other charities who use our services. We changed our name from Baby Wraps to better reflect our commitment to provide quilts to older children, hospice patients, and veterans.
​
Activities:
During the month of May our group distributed a total 33 quilts to the following charities:
Delaware Hospice - 8 patriotic quilts for veterans who are in hospice care. Division of Family Services for Foster Care - 11 regular quilts, 14 fidget quilts for children who have autism, and 10 plush toys.
Darlene Jack
​
For more information contact Darlene Jack at ken.dar.jack@gmail.com. or 302-956-0380.
Charities we support include:
​
Olivia's House - York, Pennsylvania
oliviashouse.org
​
Delaware Hospice -- Milford, Delaware
delawarehospice.org
​
KatyBug - pediatric hospice -- Milford, Delaware
delawarehospice.org
​
Dover Air Force Base - Dover, Delaware
dover.af.mil
​
Veterans Home - Milford, Delaware
vethome.delaware.gov
​
We have also contributed to other groups when asked, including the Salvation Army, Cross Roads Church, and Ft. Dix
​
Donations needed: Fabric: cotton, flannel (any color, prints other than toddler and baby OK); Rick rack; Lace; Yarn
GUILD CONTACT: Darlene Jack

QUILTS OF LOVE
​
About us:
This group's primary mission is to make baby quilts for newborns at BayHealth Hospital and A.I. DuPont Children's Clinic in Milford. Larger quilts are made and given to Habitat for Humanity when new homeowners move in Quilts of Love hold quilting bees 4 times during the year in September, November, January, and March. Kits are assembled and ready to be sewn. The location varies so listen at guild meetings or read the newsletter. Quilts of Love sews from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Bring your sewing machine and a covered dish for lunch. Quilt kits are always available at guild meeting to be sewn at home. Contact the coordinator for more information.
Activities: Quilts of Love is having a drive-by quilting bee Saturday, June 14 at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Lewes from 9AM til noon. Drive by the fellowship hall to drop off finished quilts or pick up a kit. Hope to see you then.
Questions – contact Pat DeVoll – pjdevoll@aol.com or 302-259-1022.​​​​​​​​​​​
Donations needed: Fabric: Baby, Kid, Blenders 4.5” squares or larger. Backings – at least 1 ¼ yds x WOF
GUILD CONTACT: Pat DeVoll
THE GLADE QUILTERS
About us:
​
The Glade Quilters meet each Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 noon at the Glade Clubhouse to design, assemble, and sew quilts for babies, children, and adults. Its workshop includes cutting tables, sewing machines, and a fabric room. The Glade Quilters donates to the following organizations:
Bay Health Hospital in Milford and Dover
Sussex County Women's Shelter
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Baby Pantry (resource center)
Kody’s Kids Reading Group (started by Phillip Brown)
Cape Henlopen High School homeless students
YMCA (for the homeless of Rehoboth)
The Glade Quilters also provides quilts to several organizations which have fundraisers during the year, such as Stockings for Soldiers and Ducks Unlimited.
Activities:
We sent 25 scarves made of fleece to our Resource Center here in Rehoboth two weeks ago. Sussex County Women's Shelter picked up 24 quilts that we made--12 for children and 12 for mothers.
Terry Cassanelli
​
Donations needed: Baby Fabric
GUILD CONTACT: Terry Cassanelli
​
​
ANGEL GOWNS
Infant Burial Gowns
About Us:
Our guild members sew infant burial gowns from bridal dresses.
We have the patterns for the members to use. The need is
approximately 50 per year. The burial gowns are distributed to
Christiana Cares and A. I. DuPont Children's Hospital. Every year
there continues to be a need for infant Angel Gowns (burial gowns). Please consider sewing one (or more) of these gowns from a simple two-piece pattern. Any white fabric is suitable, and you may add trimmings as you wish. The families of the infants are most appreciative.
The project coordinator is Dr. Shelly Hopkins
​
Activities:
Received thank-you notes from Beebe Hospital and Project Sweet Peas for its recent donation of infant burial gowns. This was the first donation to Beebe. Melissa Sopko
Donations needed: Fabric: White; White Bias tape;
GUILD CONTACT: Melissa Sopko
Download the patterns:

Baby Burial Gown Basic Sewing Instructions
​
TEDDY BEARS (formerly FRIENDS OF THE FALLEN)
About us:
The seed for giving teddy bears started at the Dover Air Force Base Transfer Ceremony for children attending a fallen family member's return. It was felt they needed "something to hold." We have also found these teddy bears comfort children at hospital emergency rooms. We offer bears to first responders at all local police and fire departments. In addition, bears are given to children attending Operation SEAs the Day each September at Bethany Beach.
​
Teddy Bear pattern is in two parts as a PDF file, which you can access by clicking on its underlined name.
• Teddy Bear: Upper Body Pattern, Lower Body Pattern, Updated Instructions
​
Activities:
We thank Marcia Bonifas for her many dedicated years as head of the Teddy Bears, a project near and dear to her heart.
Donations needed: Fabric: Light denim, children’s print, patriotic prints- fat quarters or larger
GUILD CONTACT: Daria Ewanik

PILLOWCASES OF LOVE
​
About us:
Pillowcase kits, containing the necessary fabrics, are available at meetings. Members take the kits home, sew, and return at a future meeting. Some get together and make them, enjoying the community effort. Some raid their own stash! Once returned, the finished pillowcases are then laundered, ironed, labeled, and attractively packaged individually, and are ready to be given.
​
Activities:
Yearly total: 172 pillowcases This month, we delivered 60 pillowcases to Bayhealth. Sue Brittingham Reminder: Kits can be picked up, and completed pillowcases can be dropped off at Dreamweavers, located in the Midway Shopping Center in Rehoboth, any Saturday 10:00-1:00.
Sue Brittingham
We welcome donations of fabric that are width of fabric by any length 2" and over, preferably bright and cheerful. We hope for a wide range of colors and patterns so we can create pillowcases for all ages and genders - babies, kids, teen, women, and men.
​
Donations: No fabric needed for now.
GUILD CONTACT: Sue Brittingham
​
• Pillowcases of Love Instructions
​
​
​
