Prayer Shawl Ministry donates to Sleep in Heavenly Peace
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworker Rhoda Miller, (left) made this twin sized knotted quilt that was donated to Laura Orndorf of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, center. Pastor Susan Champion of the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall is shown at right.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Laura Orndorf, the director of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, is shown during her presentation to the Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers on Oct. 7, 2026, at Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall.
PHOTO PROVIDED Bikers from Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcyle Club deliver comfort dolls to the security guards and staff at Lock Haven Hospital’s Emergency Room during their annual Knit N’Run on Oct. 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED During their annual Knit N’Run, Susquehanna Big Twins motorcyclists and their young helpers deliver lap afghans to a staff member of Haven Place.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworker Rhoda Miller, (left) made this twin sized knotted quilt that was donated to Laura Orndorf of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, center. Pastor Susan Champion of the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall is shown at right.
TAMMY COAKLEY/THE EXPRESS Laura Orndorf, the director of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, is shown during her presentation to the Prayer Shawl Ministry needleworkers on Oct. 7, 2026, at Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church in Mill Hall.
PHOTO PROVIDED Bikers from Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcyle Club deliver comfort dolls to the security guards and staff at Lock Haven Hospital’s Emergency Room during their annual Knit N’Run on Oct. 3.
PHOTO PROVIDED During their annual Knit N’Run, Susquehanna Big Twins motorcyclists and their young helpers deliver lap afghans to a staff member of Haven Place.
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MILL HALL -- The Prayer Shawl Ministry at the Bald Eagle United Presbyterian Church, 111 Main St., Mill Hall, met on Oct. 7. There were 31 in attendance at the meeting.
Wonderful reports were mentioned about the Knit N' Run that was held on Saturday, Oct. 3. Bikers from the Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club came to the church to have brunch with the PSM needleworkers and then set off on their cycles to deliver lap robes, lap afghans and prayer shawls to the local personal care and nursing homes. The cyclists also visited the Lock Haven and Jersey Shore hospital emergency rooms to deliver comfort dolls and small animals to cheer youngsters when they have to visit the ER's.
A special guest at the October PSM meeting was Laura Orndorf, Director of the Sleep in Heavenly Peace program in Clinton County. Laura briefed the needleworkers of her mission to make sure that "no child sleeps on the floor." Laura came with her props, a scaled-down sized set of bunk beds that has a small pillow and a small "quilt" on each bed for display purposes.
Laura also thanked the needleworkers for partnering with SIHP to help fulfill her mission.
Throughout the year, the Prayer Shawl Ministry provides twin sized bed quilts for children who are receiving a bed from SIHP. Rhoda Miller, one of the needleworkers, makes colorful knotted quilts for the PSM to provide to SIHP.
The Susquehanna Valley Big Twins Motorcycle Club also plays a role in providing the quilts to SIHP. The club provides funds that are used to purchase the batting that is used for warmth in the center layer of the quilts.
Fittingly enough, another of the PSM needleworkers, Rebecca Muthler, crochets small "comfort" dolls, and Rebecca had brought a couple of the dolls that would normally be given to emergency rooms or to police stations to help ease the fears of children if they are involved in police situations (like car accidents, domestic violence situations, etc.). Two of the dolls were given to Laura for her to lay in the small bunk beds for her presentations with SIHP. It made for the cutest sight, and Laura assured Rebecca and the needleworkers that she will take good care of the dolls from now on!
The PSM is now focusing on making hats for school children. Students in classrooms at Robb Elementary and at the elementary school in Centre Hall have colored a picture of a hat and now the needleworkers will make a hat matching the colored picture. The hats will then be presented to the students during an assembly scheduled in January, after they have returned from their holiday break.
Those not making hats for the school students will focus on making patriotic lap afghans and lap robes for military veterans that will be handed out by the Clinton County Veterans Affairs in November in celebration of Veterans Day. Needleworkers will also be working on restocking all the handwarmers (for dementia and dialysis patients), comfort dolls, prayer shawls and blankets that were handed out during the Knit N' Run so that donations can continue to be made when local organizations request them.
The PSM provides the items to 27 different organizations throughout the year, and more requests for items are coming in to Pastor Susan each month.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry relies on monetary donations as well as yarn donations. Back in August, needleworkers had entered items in the Clinton County Fair that won ribbons and a total of $555 in prize money. Most of the needleworkers donated their checks back to the PSM to be able to buy more yarn. Whether it be new skeins of yarn or partially used skeins, it can be used by the needleworkers as long as it is clean and smoke-free. Yarn donations can be left under the ramp at the rear of the building and checks or gift card donations can be dropped off at the church by calling Pastor Susan at the church office at 570-726-4112.