In the spring of 2012, Lifeline of Ohio, at the direction of bereavement services coordinator, Jenny Hoover, began its Shawls of Support program, which will provide a handmade shawl to the family of those who give the “Gift of Life” through donation. Lovingly made by donor families, recipients and volunteers, each shawl is entirely unique in color and style and is made by hand. After a summer filled with crocheting and knitting, Lifeline of Ohio has received enough shawls to begin handing them out to donor families. The shawl will be provided to the donor family by Lifeline of Ohio staff when they meet in person at the hospital to discuss their loved one’s donation, or mailed to the family’s home if there is no hospital meeting.

Kidney recipient Kathy David has knitted dozens of shawls for donor families.

Volunteers from churches, senior center, groups, clubs, neighbors, friends, family recipients and donor families are creating each shawl hope that this gesture will provide a small measure of comfort to the family as they grieve the loss of their loved one.

In addition to providing shawls, one volunteer, a former elementary educator, donated knitted caps to honor those under the age of two who give the “Gift of Life” through organ and tissue donation. The cap will be placed on the head of the donor at the conclusion of the recovery and will then be given to the family of the donor by the funeral home. A card explaining the cap will be sent with the paperwork to the funeral home so that it may be presented to the family by the funeral home so the family is aware of the care that Lifeline of Ohio took with their loved one before, during and after the recovery.

“We want families to know that we care for their loved one throughout the entire donation process,” Hoover said. “In addition to our Lasting Legacies program, this allows us one more way our staff can show our support and care for the donor and his or her family.”

For more information on the Shawls of Support program, to donate handmade shawls and yarn or participate in the Yarn Club contact Jenny Hoover at 614-384-7358 or jhoover@lifelineofohio.org.

2013 Yarn Club Schedule

• Day Group: 10:00a.m. to 12 noon – Second Tuesday of the Month: January 8, February 5, March 12, April 9, May 13, June 11, July 9, August 13, September 18, October 8, November 12
• Evening Group: 6:00p.m. to 8:00 p.m. – Third Wednesday of the Month: January 16, February 13, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17 , August 21, October 16, November 20
• Location: Lifeline of Ohio Office – 770 Kinnear Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212