ASHTABULA – Compassion can come in many forms – a hug, a hand on the shoulder or some kind words.
On Wednesday, Jan. 21, it came in the form of pillows.
Members of the Zonta Club of Ashtabula County presented 56 “comfort care” pillows for breast cancer patients that they made to the ARMC Cancer & Infusion Center on Lake Avenue in Ashtabula.
Working together, the Zonta Club members cut, sewed, stuffed and packaged the pillows.
“We got together over three or four sessions,” Ann Péan, president of the Zonta Club of Ashtabula County, said.
A note accompanying each pillow says they are “a gift from Zonta with love.”
“Our thoughts are with you and we wish you a speedy recovery,” the message reads.
Patients can use the pillows in a variety of ways. For example, they can tuck the pillow under their arm for support while sleeping. In addition, they can use the pillows to protect them from a seatbelt or use them when shopping to protect from bumps. The pillows also can be used by the patients as a neck pillow when traveling.
Péan said she and club Vice President Cheryl Licate got the idea for the pillows when they went to the Zonta International Convention in 2024 in Brisbane, Australia.
“They had displays out, and one of the clubs there had been making these,” Péan recalled. She and Licate got the pattern and the information and decided to do a local project for their own community.
She thought the effort sent a message of kindness and concern.
“It lets them know that we care,” she said.
Importantly, the project aligned with the Zonta’s mission of improving the lives of women and girls through service and advocacy.
Lois Jones of Jefferson enjoyed sewing the pillows.
“It was great,” she said. “It was a nice, easy project.”
She hoped the patients knew that the Zonta Club members are praying for them and want them to have a healthy outcome.
Another person who did some sewing for the project, Barb Oxley of Ashtabula, said making the pillows made her feel good.
Two registered nurses at the cancer center, Wendy Arnold and Kim Hunt, accepted the pillows for the patients.
“This will bring a lot of comfort to them,” Hunt said.
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