It was with great appreciation that Community Service Chair, Judy Putnam, honored a remarkable woman who has served in her capacity of “Chief Quilter” of the Scrappy Quilts group. Under her leadership, Eadie McDougald has overseen this group of about 50-60 women to provide quilts to various hospice groups. “She is organized, efficient, respectful, knowledgeable, amusing, and good-hearted,” reports Tami Blaj, Volunteer Program Manager for Hospice of the East Bay.

Since 1993, Eadie makes sure that everyone stays on task and on the mission of the group. In addition to the quilts being made, she is often contacted by other service agencies to provide special needs items, such as knitted hats for a hospital’s preemie care unit, warming arm covers for hospice patients, hats for cancer treatment centers, lap fidget quilts, comfort pillows, wheelchair bags, shawls, and many other items.

During the pandemic shutdown, Eadie continued with this operation out of her home. Her home was the depository of supplies and finished quilts. Every month or two it was the distribution center for the finished quilts to the various hospices. The number of distributed quilts did not diminish during the pandemic, nor did the need.

Total donations exceed 30,000 items as of 2021.

Judy reports that “Mrs. Eadie McDougald is 92 years young! She is active, vibrant, and an inspiration to all in her group and a blessing to her community and those organizations she works with.”

Photo L to R: Anne Loucks chapter regent, Kathy Nielsen, Community Service Chair, Judy Putnam, and honored guest Eadie McDougald.