The owners of Quilt Lovers’ Hangout are inviting community members to help a great cause Wednesday, June 20, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“It’s the ConKerr Cancer event called A Case For Smiles. We’ll be making pillow cases for The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida Hematology / Oncology Unit,” said owner Debbie Olive. “Lots of sewers will be needed to help with this cause. There will be food, drinks and prizes all day. We will also have some of our fabric/notion representatives here. They will be doing trunk shows, demos and helping with the sewing.”
There will be pillowcase kits available for a small cost, she continued, which will be donated to ConKerr Cancer.
“Some donated fabrics will be available for making pillowcases but if you can go through your stash and pull out some fun, happy fabrics to share for this cause, that would be great,” she said. “All of us have so much I’m sure you’ll be able to find some special fabrics to use.”
She added that participants will need one-yard cuts to make a pillow case. “Come join in the fun as we help to put smiles on little one’s faces,” Olive said.
Quilt Lovers’ Hangout co-owner Gayle Cowdin said she feels it’s a wonderful cause.
“Part of it is giving back to the community,” Cowdin said. “It’s awesome because when they take to the kids, and some are struggling for their lives, it gives them something to smile about. It’s another way to bond with them and allows them to have a part of home with them in a hospital setting.”
She has all kinds of whimsical fabrics ready for the event.
“We’ve had a great response from our manufacturers and customers,” she said.
There is also a raffle quilt there for the event.
“We hope you will join us — we guarantee it will put a smile on your face, too,” said Olive.
Quilt Lovers’ Hangout is located at 13494 N. Cleveland Ave. For more information, call 995-0045.

ConKerr Cancer
Olive shared information and a story from the ConKerr Cancer organization.
In 2002, Ryan Kerr was diagnosed with a rare childhood cancer. Founder Cindy Kerr began making pillowcases to brighten up his hospital room and to put a smile on his face. He loved it and she began making pillowcases for other children with cancer at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
In 2008, Ryan lost his very brave battle with cancer but the pillowcase project — now a not-for- profit called ConKerr Cancer — has grown in amazing ways. In just two years, Cindy and thousands of volunteers have provided over 75,000 pillowcases to sick children in hospitals across North America and in South Africa. School groups, sewing circles, church groups and fabric stores have all pitched in and are making pillowcases for the kids.