Birmingham group sows seeds of love by sewing baby clothes

When Carol Miller picked up an issue of Sew Beautiful magazine last spring, she had no idea it would change her life.
   
Miller read an article about the Louisiana-based Threads of Love ministry. Threads of Love reaches out to parents of premature infants and bereaved parents by providing tiny handmade gowns, blankets and booties accompanied by written prayers for the children.
   
Miller was moved by the article and showed it to her daughter Christy Waldrop. They soon knew God was leading them to start a Threads of Love chapter. Their big questions were why and how since neither woman sews.
   
“We decided we could administrate it and bring together women who would do the sewing,” Waldrop said.
   
The two contacted churches near their homes in Trussville and invited them to a tea to learn about the new Hearts of Alabama chapter of Threads of Love. Few attended that first meeting, so they ran an ad in the newspaper and received 60 telephone calls. All across Birmingham, women were eager to use their tatting, crocheting and sewing skills.
   
Riverview Baptist Church in Trussville has become home base for the now thriving ministry. According to Miller, there are at least 35 regular contributors, and each bimonthly meeting brings more interest.
However, finding volunteers was not the only hurdle in getting Threads of Love off the ground locally. They also had to convince hospitals to accept their gifts.
   
While all items are provided to the hospitals and families at no charge, there is one string attached: the gift packet must include a written prayer. Initially, some local hospitals were unwilling to include the prayer sheets, but Waldrop said, “God has just worked that out. At one hospital, the lone staff member who opposed bringing in our ministry was transferred.”
   
The Threads of Love volunteers are currently furnishing the baby items for Medical Center East, Brookwood Women’s Center and Baptist Medical Center Montclair. In April they added University (UAB) Hospital, an exciting challenge since it has the largest neonatal unit in the area and plans to expand.
   
Miller and Waldrop agree the backbone of the ministry is the team of tireless and talented needleworkers.
   
One of those is Hazel Smith, a member of Shades Mountain Baptist Church, Vestavia Hills. She has been sewing gowns and blankets for the ministry for a year.
   
“I had often wondered how I might use my talent as a ministry,” Smith said. “Threads of Love gives me a unique opportunity to reach people who might not have a relationship with God.”
   
Another dedicated volunteer is Chalkville Baptist Church’s Mildred Hassell. Although she is unable to sew now, she painstakingly cuts out the fabric to create the kits the ministry provides for its volunteers.
   
“Many of our volunteers can’t get out much because they are caregivers or are in poor health themselves,” Waldrop said. “This is a great way to serve the Lord. They don’t have to attend any meetings. We can bring supplies to them and pick up the finished piece.”
   
Miller is overwhelmed by what God has done in the ministry in its first year. “It has an impact far beyond the babies and their families. God uses it to make ladies like Mrs. Hassell, Pat Heard, Christy and me realize He can use us,” she said. “Even though our talents seem small and insignificant, He is almighty God and if we are obedient to His call, He will make our work meaningful to His plan.”
   
For more information about the Birmingham chapter of Threads of Love, call 205-655-7197.