It wasn’t easy, and Margaret Cole almost gave up on it, but is now finding strength in sewing alterations into clothing for wounded soldiers.
Cole, who lives in Clay, got started with the national Sew Much Comfort program several months ago. She said she first became interested in the program while looking for information about altered clothing for herself, after having undergone a surgical amputation of her leg.
She decided to sign up to help sew clothes.
“When I first started, I got so discouraged,” she said. “I almost quit. Then I got to thinking, those guys and girls can’t quit.”
The organization sends kits to each volunteer with instructions on what alterations are needed. The clothing can include boxers, shorts, khaki pants, or sweat pants.
Cole said the process of alteration usually involves resewing the seam line with velcro to make it easier for military patients to dress themselves.
“This gives them clothing where they don’t have to wear hospital gowns,” she said.
Since she began sewing, Cole has altered 14 different clothing items, and is in the process of finishing up the latest shipment she received.
When finished, the altered clothes are sterilized and then sent back to the organization for distribution to the wounded soldiers who need them.
Cole said performing the alterations has helped her make adjustments to her own clothes to better fit her prosthetic leg. She said she also has found “healing” in doing the volunteer work.
“It’s healing to me to know I’m helping somebody,” she said.
Her biggest challenge, she said, involved athletic shorts.
“They’re silky,” she said. “I had trouble keeping them on the table. I finally got through those, but it was challenging.”
When an order is placed, the kit usually arrives within five days, Cole said, and need to be returned within 30 days.
“I’ve never had them that long,” she added.
Cole is one of approximately 1,700 seamstresses involved in the organization, according to the organization’s website. Cole said she is the only one in Kentucky that she knows of.
“I’m just trying to get the word out,” she said. “Even if you cannot sew, they need donations.”
According to information on the organization’s website (www.sewmuchcomfort.org), “Sew Much Comfort is a nationally recognized non-profit which provides adaptive clothing to support the unique needs of our wounded service members from all branches of the military and national guard. The need for adaptive clothing continues to grow as American military members continue to be injured serving in our current conflicts; OEF/OIF. Each week, many wounded military members arrive in the States from Germany for extensive medical treatment for bullet wounds, burns, head and limb injuries and amputations. (The organization) also supports many previously injured service members as their needs change during the recovery process. These injuries require large fixator, prosthetics and casts that are too bulky to fit under ordinary clothing and underwear. Without adaptive clothing the only option for them is a hospital gown. Sew Much Comfort is the only organization providing adaptive clothing at no cost to... wounded service members.”
