Sewing For A Purpose Mom, Daughter Making Pillowcases For Soldiers' Kids

Deborah A. White and her mother, Patricia O. White, love crafts.

They have been knitting, sewing and quilting for years, but after meeting two girls whose parents are fighting overseas, they are now sewing for a purpose.

Since the first of the year, they have made about 30 pillowcases and are looking to donate their work to children of military men and women serving overseas.

"They were just the cutest little biscuits moving to Arkansas and they just looked like they needed pillowcases," Miss White said about the children she and her mother met while visiting family. "Their grandparents were comfortable giving us contact information and we sent them the pillowcases. It was just a feel-good kind of thing."

A nurse at United Helpers Nursing Home, Miss White calls this her "Sweet Dreams Project."

She has been in talks with officials from Fort Drum to find a place to send the pillowcases.

Julie A. Cupernall, a spokeswoman for Fort Drum, said the efforts are indicative of the North Country.

"It is absolutely true to say we have a community that is second to none when it comes to supporting soldiers and their families," she said.

Miss White accepted a challenge from a crafters networking Web site that asked quilters to make one million pillowcases and donate them to children in need.

"It's just a fun, quirky thing we do in our spare time," she said. "My mom and I just hang out in Canton and we've been working on them here and there. They are just beautiful."

The pillowcases are standard size and 100 percent cotton.

The materials are trimmed, pressed and sewn and the fabrics are in various colors and patterns, from polka dots to Mickey Mouse.

Miss White said all of the materials come from local businesses.

She said she has no plans to stop sewing pillowcases once the 30 that have been sewn are matched up with needy children.

"If we get a contact, we will continue," Mrs. White said. "They are very colorful and pretty and we had fun making them."

For more information about the project contact sweetdreamsproject95@yahoo.com.