Stitched with Love
Since she was a young child, Lynette Yates has been sewing. It has been a passion she inherited from her mother, and it inspired her to lead the “Stitched with Love” program at The Salvation Army Citadel in St. John’s, N.L.
“Stitched with Love” aims to help people through knitting and sewing. They meet every Tuesday to work on different projects based on the needs of local and overseas communities. While there are currently nine active members onsite, there are many other members that contribute from home.
The group formally began operating in 2019 thanks to a suggestion by Lynette. Since then, the St. John’s Citadel has been running a sewing evening weekly.
“I have been given a talent and this legacy of giving.”
Lynette’s parents always emphasized the importance of giving back to the community so, from a very young age, she believed that it is better to give than to receive. When Lynette’s mother passed away in 2018, she felt inspired to do good with the sewing equipment and supplies that were passed down, by turning her passion into a ministry.
“After my mom died, I received all this fabric and sewing machines. In her memory, I did this one-time project at the church in the fall of 2018 and felt that there were people who had the same sort of interest as me in this type of ministry,” Lynette said.
In September of 2019, the Tuesday meetings began and the group worked on projects together as they came along.
Since officially becoming “Stitched with Love” the group’s latest initiative has been to repurpose donated wedding dresses and turn them into Christening gowns for boys and girls at Janeway Children’s Hospital.
According to Lynette, one wedding dress can be repurposed into 8 to 12 gowns. Surprisingly, the group has had no shortage of wedding dress donations.
“Some people have had these dresses stored and they want them to go to a good purpose,” she added.
Lynette is grateful to be able to lead this program and feels the experience can be rewarding for everyone involved.
“It is both rewarding and humbling.”
“I’ve discovered that ministry is what you make it. And this is just as much a ministry to the ladies who are doing these projects, as it is to the people we are giving it to. It’s all about inclusiveness and for people to just have a place where they feel they can contribute and give back,” Lynette shared.
In her mind, she never thought that “Stitched with Love” would grow the way it did. Lynette is thankful for all the people that have contributed to it.
“It is both rewarding and humbling,” she added.
Lynette admits the past few years without her mother have been tough, but she believes she would be proud of this ministry.
“Both my parents were long-time givers of their talents back to their local church. She’d be really proud. And if she was still here, she’d have her hands right into it,” Lynette said. “Losing my mom significantly changed my life. I have been given a talent and this legacy of giving from her and many others in my family. I plan to keep going.”
By Juan Romero
