It may seem like a simple piece of fabric, but a pillowcase can have a powerful effect on brightening up the life of a child in the hospital. For the last four years, East Williston residents have joined together to help put smiles on the faces of youngsters with life-threatening illnesses, an act that can be achieved with something as simple as a needle and thread.
Caroline DeBenedittis is the chairperson of the East Williston Recreation Committee, the local chapter of Ryan’s Cases for Smiles (formerly ConKerr Cancer). Formed in 2007 by a mom who made cheery pillowcases to brighten up the hospital room of her son, who was battling cancer, the nonprofit organization now delivers colorful pillowcases to children in hospitals in the United States and Africa.
“It helps children when they are at a challenging time,” DeBenedittis said. “If this gives them a smile for that day, that’s great.”
Once a month, volunteers of all ages meet at East Williston Village Hall to coordinate patterns, iron, cut, pin and sew fabric together to make pillowcases, which are made from a variety of different prints. Volunteers help fold the pillowcases, as well as bring them to other volunteers who wash them at home using special detergents, and then put them in Ziploc bags to be handed out at seven area hospitals and cancer centers. People come and go over the course of a few hours and at the end of the session, the group usually has 100 pillowcases made.
The group usually meets on weekdays, but on Saturday, July 16, will be meeting at East Williston Village Hall from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to reach out to new volunteers. Volunteers of all ages, regardless of sewing experience or interest, are invited to come help create pillowcases.
Lisa Adamo from East Williston got involved in Ryan’s Cases for Smiles through her sister, Samantha Buster, the Long Island coordinator for the organization. Though she’s not a sewing enthusiast, she helps in others ways, saying she enjoys helping children going through a scary time.
“I love that it brings a smile to someone’s face during a difficult time,” Adamo said. “The children are scared and it makes them happy. It’s so easy, anyone can get involved. It means so much to the kids.”
Volunteers will be taught how to create the pillowcases and those who would like to create them at home are also welcome to. To find out more information about Ryan’s Cases for Smiles, visit www.caseforsmiles.org.
