By JESSA PEASE / Staff Writer

PELHAM— Each Monday from 1-3 p.m. about 10-16 women gather together for Crafty Chicks at First Baptist Church of Pelham. It’s a free form group where the ladies can work on their own projects, but there’s always an ongoing service project for them to contribute to as well.

Barbara Moore created Crafty Chicks about six years ago as a way for the seniors to get together more often than once a month. What started as the ladies playing games and learning to crochet and sew evolved into a group with a long list of accomplishments.

“We had a need for companionship that was not a part of (the monthly senior meetings), so we decided we would meet once a week,” Moore said. “I never thought it would go as far as it’s gone.”

The ladies are currently working on Project Linus. Each of the women has agreed to create a blanket to donate to children in hospitals. The blankets must be made by hand or with the help of a machine.

In the past, the groups’ hands have been busy creating dresses for third world countries, eight baptismal robes for the church, crocheted Bible mark crosses, hats for pre-mature babies, Christmas stockings and blanket throws for the nursing home and blankets, booties and caps for Save a Life.

“Whoever has a need, if they let us know, we try to meet the need,” Moore said. “We do for others all the time. Now we do for ourselves as well, but there is always an ongoing mission project going on.”

Crafty Chicks also makes quilts. One king-sized quilt was created for an auction for the church’s Christmas offering, and it sold for about $1,100. When their pastor retired last year, the ladies made him a quilt wall hanging and two pillows.

In addition to helping others, Crafty Chicks also brought the members closer together. Janice McCowan said the ladies have become sisters through their work.

“The fellowship is what I really enjoy,” McCowan said. “Usually I’m crocheting…but we talk and we’ll have prayer for different things when we need to. It’s just something to do that gives us a way of helping others, but it helps us too. It’s good therapy.”

Crafty Chicks helped Gwin Helms through a difficult time in her life. Right after Crafty Chicks was formed, Helms’ husband passed away. She didn’t go to grief counseling and didn’t know how to crochet, but her friends talked her into going.

Two weeks after her husband’s passing, Helms attended her first meeting. Weeks later she bought crochet hooks and some yarn, and the next thing she knew she was making hats, blankets and scarves.

“It’s really helped me to give me something to look forward to every Monday,” Helms said. “It helped me to get through my grieving.”

For more information, visit Wordpress.fbcpelham.org.