The Kissing Pillow Project is an ongoing project by the Evergreen Chapter EGA that provides hand-stitched pillows that are distributed to soldiers and their families upon deployment. The soldier and family each have their own pillows as reminders of home and their loved ones.
All finished pillows – either just the tops or completed pillows are all to be mailed to Nancy (address below) and she has finishers who will take care of them for Evergreen.
The supplies are generally purchased by those who are stitching the tops (the supplies required are listed on the pattern) – but Nancy will send fabric and floss to anyone who would like her to. All they have to do is request them.”
Nancy says, “My name and address can be published along with my email and phone number – so anyone can get in touch with me for any reason. Thanks so much.”
Nancy Behrendt President Evergreen EGA
280 E. Westlake Dr. S.
Allyn, WA. 98524
360-277-4113
Thanks again for all your support!
Roz first received this testimony from a newsletter subscriber during her “Stitching in Public Experiences” interactive topic:
For many years now, unfortunately too many to count, I have participated in the Kissing Pillow project through both my EGA and ANG chapters. They are wonderful “carry alongs” because they are small stitch up quickly and after doing a few, I don’t need to look at the pattern any more.
A few years ago coming back from the gulf coast for a family wedding, I was stranded in the Atlanta airport for hours. I found a seat at the edge of the check in area by the main corridor. As I was stitching, I became aware of someone behind me. I turned saw a younger (than me anyway) man in army uniform. I smiled and, as I always do when seeing anyone in uniform, thanked him for his service. He smiled back and said “Let me thank you for your gift.” He went on to explain that he had recently returned from service in Iraq and had been the recipient of kissing pillows, 1 for him, 1 for his wife, and 2 for his small children. He said that being able to feel the pillow that his family had kissed when they said good bye at the airport made each night bearable for him. His children held on to their pillows as they drifted off to sleep. He said this small gesture meant so much to his family and to the rest of his unit.
He never thought he would find someone to thank in person, but he did. I accepted his thanks for all the many, many stitchers over the years who had donated time and effort to see that all units that requested pillows had them before deploying. I have to admit that as we hugged and said our goodbyes and best wishes, we both had tears in our eyes. When I think I have stitched my last pillow I remember this encounter and put aside all thoughts of stopping, until the last soldier, sailor, or airman is home from harms way.
Donna
Roz then contacted the organizers and received this response:
So very glad to hear from you and yes this program is alive and well. In fact on the 24th of September we will once again be out at the base and giving out the Kissing Pillows to two Military Police units and their families.
Evergreen Chapter EGA is continuing with this out-reach program for as long as there are deploying soldiers at Joint Base Lewis McChord. We have been involved with the Kissing Pillows for seven years and in that time we have distributed approximately 24,000 pillows. We do keep busy.
As well as being President of Evergreen Chapter I am also the Out-reach Chair and it does keep me going. But we all feel that this small gesture is so important and so appreciated by our soldiers and their families that this effort is priceless. Because of our love, respect, and appreciation for the sacrifices made by all the soldiers and family members that hopefully these pillows show them all that we care.
I am the contact person and all pillows, finished and just the tops can be sent to me and I will get them to our members to finish. I willingly and gratefully accept all help. You have my permission to print my address, e-mail and phone number – I am fine with that and hopefully we will entice new volunteers to help with this cause.
Thanks so much for contacting me and I hope this information is on time for you. PS I love the Nordic Needle!!!
Thanks for your help.
Nancy