Canada Comforts Society - May 2025 Newsletter
In May and June, we sent two containers to Ghana, stuffed with our love, work and good-wishes. I was admiring some of the lovely quilts that have come in for a hospital, three orphanages, and a seniors disability home there, and my mind took a trip down memory lane.
Back in the days when we were only making bears and bags, a police officer came to visit our Tuesday morning workshop. She was a tall, very friendly lady named Paula. She had heard about us and came to see what we were all about. After her first visit, Paula would drop in from time to time on her days off. There was an event at the Centre that all the groups had to provide some entertainment, and Paula joined in and was part of our group for that.
One time Paula said that she wished we made warm, cozy quilts. When asked why, Paula explained how when a violent home situation requires the RCMP to remove the children at night, they use the quilts to wrap them in. Unfortunately, these are not isolated cases. In fact, the police station had just used its last quilt. 
I’m afraid I have forgotten the lady's name who came and directed the workshop for simple quilting bees. The sewers sewed like fairy-tale elves and the all-important tying was done by the tables for bears and bag-threading. And you know, within a month we had made enough for a year’s supply. The police officers were very pleased and we were very proud of ourselves!!
Two other groups heard about our project and took over the quilt making from us. We were elated to have started the programme but very pleased to hear that we could get back to our bears and bags on a regular basis. Eventually the lady who helped us also started the first quilting classes at the Juan de Fuca Senior Centre.
After all this time I am still surprised - and moved - by this sequence of events, which came back to me when I saw the quilts for Ghana.
Many of our team members and satellite groups are involved with local projects as well as supporting us, so Canada Comforts focus is to keep up with the global and Northern Canada requests that we receive.
My deepest thanks to all who make quilts and afghans for us to send. Every single one is going to bring, not just warmth, but comfort and hope to someone who sorely needs it.
Love Sylvia
We can walk far when we walk together…..African proverb
Container shipments from Compassionate Resource Warehouse 2025
- Kiev, Ukraine January 2025
Cargo: hospital beds and medical supplies and equipment
- Kudjip, Papua New Guinea March 2025
Cargo: hospital beds and medical supplies and equipment
- Manzini, Eswatini March, 2025
Cargo: Educational supplies and equipment.
- Manzini, Eswatini April, 2025
Cargo: Educational supplies and equipment. Medical supplies and equipment, sewing machines
5. Banjul, The Gambia May, 2025
Cargo: Household and educational supplies, bikes and tools.
In June there are two containers planned for Ghana:
Container 1: Youth For Christ mission, setting up skill development centers for sewing, carpentry, mechanical and catering, a dormitory for students and a single mom home
Container 2: Bearing Fruits charity: assisting 2 larger orphanages, seniors and those with disabilities, single mom homes
Canada Comforts contributes many things to every CRW container and will be sending the following items with these two shipments in June:
aprons, menstrual kits, incontinence kits, dresses, skirts, shorts, bibs (baby to adult), blankets, diapers, arm slings, receiving blankets, hats, sweaters, baby tops, and washcloths.
HOUSEKEEPING
- If you are knitting bears, and mailing them via Canada Post, you can leave them unstuffed, to save on size and cost of Canada Post shipping. The workshop ladies will stuff them for you.
- Soap, panties (teen and adult sizes) and small towels are needed for the menstrual and incontinence kits.
- Bright coloured flannelette for pad tops is also needed (new or gently used).
We always value the dedication and talents of our faithful knitters, crocheters and sewers, but we also very much appreciate our hunters and gatherers, people who comb through thrift stores, are alert to valuable items being discarded, and find wonderful things in unusual places.
We have received may lovely things, such as sheets for arm slings and for lining dresses and skirts, fabric for many projects, yarn and sewing supplies, nylotex for stringing teddy bags, towels and soap for the hygiene kits and underwear to put in the dress pockets and hygiene kits.
When Canada Comforts receives gently used children’s clothing and toys, or things like school and medical supplies, we give those to the warehouse for sorting and packing.
Photos of past destinations of CRW containers with Canada Comforts donations
Oh Canada!
Our Canadian flag is sewn or stamped onto many garments that we send: dresses, shorts, aprons, arm slings, skirts, bags and hospital bibs. It is an important symbol, now more than ever, to let people know that we will continue to support international aid and compassion. It shows our pride in our country’s giving spirit as well as our belief that we must all work toward global equality.
Dr. Keith Martin, former MP for Esquimalt-Juan de Fuca, used to drop in on the Tuesday morning workshop quite often. He was so pleased to see that we were putting the Canadian flag on some of our items and encouraged us to keep sewing on those flags!! He also kept suggesting that Sylvia should apply for charity status for Canada Comforts, which would allow giving charitable donation receipts. It was during the time of Mr. Harper’s government- when it was felt that Canada had too many charities - so it was very difficult to receive charitable status. When we finally applied for charitable status, Dr. Martin wrote the following letter, which we felt helped us greatly in receiving our status in a few months:
I am writing this letter in support of Canada Comforts’ charitable status application. My experience with this organization has been very positive as they do wonderful work making necessary items such as bandages, bags and clothing for individuals in impoverished countries. Canada Comforts is truly unique due to its ability to involve young Canadians, assisted living people and service groups in its work. In doing so, it offers Canadians who might otherwise feel undervalued and opportunity to contribute and to feel a sense of purpose.
I would urge you to grant Canada Comforts its charitable status without delay. They are truly improving the lives of individuals here in Canada and around the world through the work that they do.
Canada Comforts Society is a registered Canadian charity run by volunteers.
Website: http://canadacomfortssociety.ca/
Roberta Graham, President 250 595 9902 canadacomfortssociety@shaw.ca
Sara Hatfield, Secretary/Treasurer 250 474 4614 cancoms@shaw.ca
Betty Guiney: Workshop Leader 250 478 3040 abguiney@yahoo.com
Sylvia Hatfield, Founder 250 474 4614 canadacomforts@shaw.ca