Threads of Love Conference & Anniversary Celebration Held in Central

By Lisa Magee

The Greenwell Springs Baptist Church chapter of the Threads of Love organization hosted the group’s bi-annual conference and 20^th birthday celebration from April 9 – 12, 2014.

The conference was an opportunity for attendees to participate in classes on a variety of subjects ranging from heirloom sewing techniques, smocking, and tatting, as well as demonstrations on cooking jambalaya, cake decorating and making fishing bates. 

Guest speakers at the conference included a physician, two registered nurses, a representative from Seal Funeral Home in Denham Springs, and a mother and father who were recipients of items made by Threads of Love volunteers.  Each speaker provided insight on how the organization’s handmade items provide hope and memories to families in crisis from their individual perspective. 

Rachel Houseman, M.D. spoke to the group about the call she made in 1993 to a Baton Rouge church asking for someone to sew dresses for the tiny babies she cared for who were stillborn or died shortly after birth and the response from Sissy Davis which started what is now known as Threads of Love.   After Dr. Houseman’s call, Sissy and others from her church group began drafting patterns and sewing for infants in the Earl K. Long hospital.  From the response to Dr. Houseman’s 1993 call, Threads of Love was born and has grown to an international organization.

Through publicity from an article written by the Associated Press in 1994, an article by the Baton Rouge State Times in 1995, a CNN segment in 1995, and articles in magazines such as Family Circle, Reader’s Digest, Butterick magazine, the National Catholic Register, The Catholic Register, and Sew Beautiful from 1998 – 2002, the group’s mission was spread throughout the world.  The organization currently has 114 chapters in the United States, Canada, Newfoundland, England, Panama and South Africa.  Approximately 1.8 million items have been donated since the group began tracking their donations in 1997.  Sissy Davis has continued to direct the organization’s efforts since its inception.

Threads of Love is the recipient of various awards including: The Golden Rule Award (1996), The Golden Heart Award (2002 and 2003), and the Jefferson Award (2011).

Threads of Love is a Christ-centered sewing ministry whose volunteers provide clothing, blankets and other handmade articles for tiny premature and sick infants.  For additional information, visit the website at www.threadsoflove.org.