Northborough quilting group gives back to the community

By Evan Walsh Reporter

NORTHBOROUGH – A Northborough-based quilting group gathered in February to collect and donate over 30 quilts to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and pediatric unit at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester.

Members filed into the meeting room one by one, each bringing a collection of beautiful, unique, and intricate quilts. Once all of the quilts had been collected in the center of the room, the group cheered and admired each one’s design. No quilt was left uncomplimented.

The group, which has roughly 20 members, came up with the idea to donate to the hospital last year. After months of work, the group will donate 30 quilts, each of which took 20 or more hours to create.

“I brought in the idea of doing UMass pediatrics because one of my sons was a junior in high school and was diagnosed with bone cancer, and we spent nine months at UMass,” group member Pat Link told the Community Advocate.

“We wanted to keep it local. For us, we’ve all used the services at UMass for one thing or another,” Terry Crean added.

The group donated the quilts in part to make the community aware of a worthwhile opportunity to make a difference in the local community.

“I don’t think a lot of people realize that you can donate to the hospitals,” group member