Volunteer Spotlight Archives

A group such as The Preemie Project would be nothing without a dedicated group of volunteers. We feel lucky to have so many amazing people from all walks of life trying to help our organization. With each newsletter, we try to highlight different volunteers. This is the archive of those highlights. To each of you, please accept our heartfelt 'thanks.'

Cathy Kaman Ryan

Featured Volunteer Cathy Kaman Ryan

October’s National Volunteer Spotlight shines this month on Cathy Kaman Ryan, an early member of TPP living in Rochester, New York. Cathy joined The Preemie Project in the Summer of 2005 while the organization was still in its infancy. Her interest developed years after the birth and death of her premature daughter, Kelly Harrington Ryan, born October 30, 1982, at 26 and ½ weeks. She lived only five short days but instilled in her mother an abiding sense of gratitude and appreciation for the care and skills of the hospital staff at her local neo-natal intensive care nursery. And she has never forgotten the heartache, longing and isolation that are the hallmarks of parents caring for their precious tiny babies.

Cathy has been a lifelong crocheter and by 2005 her children and friends had more afghans than they could possibly use or enjoy. That Summer, she began looking for an opportunity to provide blankets to a charitable organization. She stumbled upon The Preemie Project while surfing the Internet one night and its goals and mission matched her desire to help others facing the challenges that come with delivering a premature baby. When Cathy’s daughter was born, there were no clothes sized to fit a one pound, six ounce baby, no miniature blankets and no right-sized diapers. Kelly was buried in a massive receiving blanket that dwarfed her tiny body. Through The Preemie Project, Cathy relishes being able to touch parents in times of stress and crisis.

Cathy’s heartbreak losing Kelly was followed by the blessings of two wonderful children. Her daughter, Kerry, is 25 years old and a first year veterinary student at Cornell University. Her son, Kevin (“KC”), hopes to become a City of Rochester firefighter. Cathy is a full-time partner in a large law firm in Rochester concentrating on a commercial real estate law practice. She encourages people in her firm to donate hand-made articles to The Preemie Project and is a missionary spreading the word of the organization and its goals to her friends and colleagues in Rochester. In addition to crocheting for relaxation, she also loves to read and tries to spend an hour each day working out in a local gym.

Every box of blankets sent to Iowa is sent from Cathy with heartfelt love and appreciation for the extraordinary efforts of Laura Aker and her fantastic Mom, Linda. Cathy’s “job” is easy; she makes hand made items at her own pace and then packs and send them off to Coralville. There the hard work begins as the Aker women and dozens of dedicated volunteers organize and collect the donations and arrange delivery of same. In addition, they manage fund raising, correspondence and communications, website maintenance, and a thousand other details. Cathy is thrilled to play a small part in an organization that has had such a profound impact on the lives of so many and looks forward to many years of future involvement in The Preemie Project.

Martha Schlicht

Featured Volunteer Martha Schlicht

My name is Martha Schlicht. My husband and I live near Webster, IA on an acreage. We farmed for many years and I retired from teaching after 50 years. I have always enjoyed making crafts, crocheting and sewing. Two years ago a friend suggested I use my talent and time for The Preemie Project. I have crocheted many hats, booties, gowns, blankets and just completed 100 stuffed toys. I truly do believe God gave me this talent to help others in need. It is a privilege to be a part of The Preemie Project and to bring love to the families in need.

Marcia Williams

Featured Volunteer Marcia Williams

Hi, I’m Marcia Williams. I have recently moved with my husband to a home close to where I grew up in central Illinois. It’s a nice change from the Chicago suburbs where I’ve lived for the last 30 years or so. My husband and I continue to work as the advertising department for our Chicago-area employer by taking advantage of our internet connection to the company. I have three sons who are now grown, educated, employed and in their own homes. Two are married, and the oldest has given me three grandchildren in rapid succession . . . which brings me to how I found The Preemie Project. I was searching online for hat and blanket patterns for my newest grandson when I stumbled upon this organization.

The Preemie Project immediately interested me because I have twin nephews who were born almost three months early in 1991. From that experience, I learned how much tension parents can feel when their infants are so very fragile. I remember that every kindness meant a lot to them. That is why I decided to start making hats, booties, blankets, and bereavement items for this cause. By the way, my nephews are now 16-year-old honor students, so be assured that it is possible for some of these babies to thrive.

I have truly enjoyed working on these tiny baby things. I particularly like to make complete outfits, because I like to imagine a baby using the whole ensemble. There is one thing I’d like to emphasize for those who are interested in knitting, crocheting or sewing for us. You don’t need to be an expert or have any fancy equipment. I don’t even know how to use double-pointed needles, and my sewing machine is a 1950 model that is older than I am! There are many very easy patterns provided on The Preemie Project website, so there isn’t any need to feel intimidated. Happy New Year! Let’s all work to make 2008 the best donation year yet for this worthy cause.

Sue Bates

Featured Volunteer Sue Bates

In February 2006 I was reading the local newspaper and saw an old coworker and her family were the area March of Dimes Ambassador family. Her son was a preemie twin born in Feb. 2004 and his sister made it for a month when they lost her. Seeing this picture made me get on the internet and search for anyway to make the tiny hats all newborns need to regulate their body temperature. That is when I found The Preemie Project. I got excited to see it was in Iowa, being in North Central IL I thought hey that is close enough. I signed up right away and started knitting as soon as I got the appropriate yarn. I was asked to donate my items to the Michigan Chapter as it was just starting out. So I’ve been knitting and crocheting ever since. I try to find new and different hats to make and my knitting skills have greatly improved over the last couple of years.

I live in Ottawa, IL right in the middle of the Preemie Project chapters. I have a wonderfully supportive husband and 2 grown sons and 3 stepson’s two of which live with us. My husband got a kick out of my name after we married realizing I have knitting items with my name on them. I joke it’s like being a baker with the name Betty Crocker. I work full time for the Chamber of Commerce & Economic Development as a Technical Assistant. I like to knit at my lunch hour at a local lake, very peaceful and stress relieving. I enjoy the speed that hats are finished, being small they are great take along projects. I also like to hike our beautiful state parks when I do put my needles down.

I enjoy the sense of community we have amongst the volunteers. I lost my 12 year old niece in a tragic accident Thanksgiving weekend. I want to say thank you to everyone for supporting me through a very difficult time. Sara was an eager learner who had just finished her first scarf and wanted to learn how to make more for the seniors in a nursing home up the street from her house and when she got better make Preemie Hats with me. If any one would like to donate squares or lapghans using up your “non baby” yarn, you can get more info on how to help at http://sarasmilesproject.blogspot.com. I never would’ve known how to even dream of making her wish come true if I hadn’t signed up to be a volunteer for Preemie Project. I’m thankful to be a part of this wonderful family of giving people.

Judy Carpenter

Featured Volunteer Judy Carpenter

My name is Judy Carpenter, and I live in Iowa City with my husband and three cats. One day late in 2005 when I worked a volunteer shift at the local senior center gift shop, I found a notebook with information on The Preemie Project. It was full of knit and crochet patterns, and as I browsed through them, it was heartbreaking to see the miscarriage wrappers and burial garments. As a fairly recent retiree, I saw TPP as an opportunity to dust off my knitting skills and spend my newfound free time doing something I enjoy that would benefit others. So, when Laura did a presentation at the Senior Center in October 2005, I attended, signed up, and have been knitting for The Preemie Project ever since. I started just with hats and booties but have since made burial gowns as well. Since I’m right here in Iowa City, I have also been able to help on Work Group weekends and contribute baked goods to the craft and bake sales. It has been a pleasure to work with a group of such dedicated and caring volunteers, and it’s gratifying to see the letters of appreciation from parents who have received items from us. I hope to be knitting for TPP for a long time.

Laura Bolton

My name is Laura Bolton and I sew blankets and crib sheets for the Preemie Project. My husband and I live in Pleasant Ridge, MI and we have a son who lives in Houston, Texas.

Two years ago I found the Preemie Project on the internet. I was so amazed at the drive and ambition of Laura Aker and wanted to join this organization. As luck would have it, there was a chapter in my own state—so I became part of the Michigan chapter which is run by Jan Berry.

The talent and creativity of each volunteer in this organization is just incredible to me. I love reading the emails and blog to see how everybody is looking for a new pattern or adjusting a pattern to fit a tiny little one. I love to see the creativity come alive when I look at the pictures. Every item is made with love, care and individuality.

I truly believe that God gave me this talent to help others in need. I cannot imagine the worry and heartache that these families go through when their little one is born prematurely and so ill. Therefore, I find it a privilege to pray for the families and the medical staff as I make a blanket or crib sheet.

I feel that the Preemie Project has given each of us a chance to use our talents and let the families know how much we care for them during a time that is so overwhelming and challenging. I hope that this organization will continue to grow and impact people through the gifts of our hands.

Chris Miller

My name is Chris Miller. I live in Solon, IA with my husband, Dennis, and our youngest son, JC. We have five grown children also. The eight year old was a ‘surprise’, but he is also the reason I was interested in The Preemie Project. He was born 5 weeks early and nothing fit him right, so when I read about Laura and TPP in the paper, I thought “this is something I can do.”

I have really enjoyed being a part of this group! I love seeing what everyone makes and meeting other volunteers. My favorite thing to do is making the hats and booties. I have made blankets and gowns, too, but they don’t go as fast, so I’m always doing two or three projects at a time!

Right now I have a hat, a scarf and a pair of booties on needles. I am proud to be a small part of TPP and hope it goes on for a very long time.

The Relief Society (Dubuque, IA)

We are the Relief Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints of Dubuque, Iowa. One objective of this women’s group is to exercise charity and nurture those in need. Last spring we decided the Preemie Project would be ideal for fulfilling this objective because it provides so many varied opportunities to share our talents with others. Every member of our organization can do something for the project: hand-made keepsake cards, knitting, crocheting, sewing, crafting, and donating items.

We have group workdays and also work individually. We have also involved the eight to eighteen year old girls in the project. They have helped on our workdays and created two quilts for donation. In the near future we will be instructing the girls on how to loom preemie hats for donation. We feel it is important for the youth to learn through practice the important principle of service to others.

The women often comment how meaningful it is to be able to bring a little comfort to those who are worried about the welfare of their little ones or are grieving. It enriches our life to know we have touched the hearts of others.

Cherie Warner

Featured Volunteer Cherie Warner

I’m Cherie Warner, and I live with my husband, two college-aged sons and four cats in Trenton, Michigan (a suburb of Detroit). I work at my church as the Children’s Choir Director and Assistant to the Music Director. I love to sing in various choirs there, and play the flute every now and then, as well. Relatives taught me how to knit and crochet when I was a little girl, so I’ve been at it for many years now! I also enjoy sewing, cross stitch embroidery, reading and gardening.

I joined The Preemie Project a little over a year ago. I had been looking around on-line for a place to donate baby items because I thought that making baby things would be a great way to use up the ever growing piles of yarn in the basement. Little did I know that it would be so much fun, and rewarding, to make these little baby things! And, no, I haven’t even made a dent in the yarn stash—I keep buying more!

Crafting for The Preemie Project is the perfect therapy for me. I get the joy of making the items, and the knowledge that the things I make are so appreciated by the families who receive them.

Tracy Batchelder

Featured Volunteer Tracy Batchelder

When I learned to knit four years ago, my mother-in-law encouraged me to find a charity to knit for. She knew first hand the joy that comes from knitting for others. Her needles were always busy with a hat or a sweater for a child in need. Following her example and in her memory, I began to knit for The Preemie Project in May 2005.

I live in Needville, Texas, which is near Houston. My husband, John, and I have two children. Our daughter is married and lives in Fort Worth. Our son just completed his first year at Oklahoma Christian University. An empty nest has its benefits: our time is more our own than ever.

I enjoy spending that time knitting for the babies. My favorite things to make are preemie hats. However, the most important items I knit are bereavement sets. It’s impossible to knit a tiny gown without thinking about how hard it would be to lose a child, so it’s a challenge sometimes, but I’m glad I’m able to share a little kindness with those who are grieving.

The highlight of being a volunteer for this group came last summer when I was able to attend a sewing weekend in Iowa. It was great to meet Laura and everyone in person. Working together we were able to sew almost 100
blankets! It was a wonderful experience and I hope one day I’ll be able to do it again. I had no idea back when I made my first preemie hat that this work would become such an important part of my life. You never know the impact your actions will have on someone else or how they will inspire those close to you, so I was touched and a little surprised when my husband wrote a song called Little Babies. A home recording of it is on The Preemie Project website. I hope it will encourage you, as it has me, to give your best for the little babies and their families.