Crafting at Clearview

On Mondays a number of women gather at Clearview CRC in Oakville, Ont., to put their creative talents to good use. Calling themselves the “Creative Sisters,” the women work together to bless local and global communities with their sewing and needlework skills. This initiative not only involves Christians from the congregation but also collaborates with women in the community who love crafting but don’t necessarily feel a connection to the church. 

One significant endeavor that the Creative Sisters work on together involves piecing together components and purchasing necessary items to create sanitary kits for girls in need. In many countries, young girls may miss school for several days each month because they don’t have access to feminine hygiene supplies. Kits, such as those sewn at Clearview CRC, can remedy the situation and keep girls in school. 

The Clearview kits have made their way to South American countries through the congregation’s youth group spring break service trips. The kits have also been sent, via an international charity, to girls in Bolivia and Zambia – and on May 27 the group sent 100 kits to a Christian school in Niger.

Another group of Creative Sisters focuses on quilting. They create beautiful bedtop quilts for a local charity that has facilities in Port Credit, Streetsville, and London, Ont. These quilts also find their way to community members who are homebound or going through challenging times, offering warmth and comfort. 

In addition, a knitting and crocheting group of Creative Sisters contributes by making baby hats, sweaters, and receiving blankets. As a result of other recent projects, 200 hats were sent to a local cancer center to support patients undergoing radiation therapy, and knitted lap blankets were donated to the local community hospital.

Thanks to both their creativity in supporting their community and their collaboration within the local area, the Creative Sisters received a small “Creativity and Collaboration” grant from the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The funding is made possible through ministry shares and has been given to Canadian congregations aiming to try something innovative and collaborative in their local communities. Clearview CRC used the grant to purchase specific materials such as waterproof fabric for the hygiene kits, as well as batting, fleece, and thread.

To learn more about Creativity and Collaboration grants in Canada, email [email protected].