Aurora, IL - Countryside Care Centre received an amazing visit on December 26th.  The Waubonese Community College student organization, "One Stitch at a Time", arrived the day after Christmas, bearing hand made gifts for all of the residents.
   The group was created and founded by 18 year old Carissa Winter of Aurora and her sister Lindsey, 25.  The volunteers knit and crochet personal items, such as the classic afghans, shawls and scarves to cell phone cases and, in this case, wheelchair and walker totes.  The group donates the items to local groups who may benefit from the generous gifts, such as patients in hospitals, those in shelters and people living in nursing homes. The girls were taught to knit and crochet by their grandmother when they were younger.  
     Volunteers and Countryside staff  went room to room, handing out the wrapped gifts. Many of the volunteers commented on how excited the residents were to receive the gifts and how much they appreciated the fact that they were all homemade.  A couple of the residents said they also knitted or crocheted and knew how much time and effort went into making the beautiful items. 
  Earlier in the month, Carissa and Lindsey found themselves in the audience of the Oprah show, for her annual Favorite Things holiday give away.  Nominated by their mother, the girls were unaware of the many wonderful gifts they were to receive and the recognition from Oprah herself about their donations to Countryside.
 
Everyone at Countryside Care Centre would like to thank Carrisa, Lindsey and all of the other volunteers for their generosity and hard work.  It is greatly appreciated.  For more information on One Stitch at a Time visit onestitchatatimeclub.blogspot.com

For more information about Countryside Care Centre or to schedule a tour of our community, please call 630-896-4686