Sangre de Cristo Community Care partners with Correctional Facility to launch volunteer program for hospice patients

PUEBLO, CO. (KRDO) - Sangre de Cristo Community Care has partnered up with La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo, to establish a volunteer program focused on crafting one-of-a-kind projects for hospice patients.

Captain Deanne Winegardner of the La Vista Correctional Facility will deliver handmade projects, made by a group of 25 offenders, to Sangre de Cristo Community Care. The initial donation includes blankets, scarves, and even detail-oriented articles for dolls, for the children and family of patients.

This initiative created by La Vista Correctional Facility Chaplain, Chelle Firebaugh.

"I brought some yarn in and several of the offenders already knew how to crochet and with COVID they were scrambling to find anything to do," said Firebaugh.

Offenders at the correctional facility are keeping themselves busy using loads of yarn weekly to make blankets and even doll clothes for hospice patients.

"As you can imagine with women, sometimes they don't get along so well and this has created a common good thing to do together, so it really has calmed the environment in there," added Firebaugh.

This initiative was also inspired by her pain.

"My sister-in-law got ill and ended up in hospice and passed away, and so I think God helped me come with a plan to marry hospice with La Vista and it is very, very rewarding for me."

Sangre de Cristo Community Care serves up to 250 patients across Southern Colorado on a daily basis, but Pueblo is going to get the first batch of donations.

"We got an in-patient unit here at the Joni Fair Hospice House and those are ten of our most in need patients and that is where we are going to bring these immediate donations," said Trysten Garcia with Sangre De Cristo Community Care Center. This is a project where both parties need each-other in a time of difficulty.

"For us to be able give a handmade project to any of these patients at any given time is really a stellar impact that goes beyond words," said Garcia.

The women at vista correctional facility take about a week to make these blankets. Sangre de Cristo Community Care has received 75 hand crafted pieces so far. The initiative looks to continue throughout the year.

For more on how you can get involved contact the community center.