Pillows for Pete Gross House

Soaring Heart volunteer team makes and donates natural wool pillows to housing complex for patients and their families

October 10, 2011 • By Christi Ball Loso

Le Nguyen, Nguyet Nguyen,Dave Ford, Mark Ostrowski, and Mike Schaefer. — From left: Soaring Heart employees Le Nguyen, Nguyet Nguyen, Dave Ford, Mark Ostrowski work on their hand-sewn pillows with owner Mike Schaefer. Photo by Dean Forbes

Employees of Soaring Heart Natural Bed Company in Seattle spent an afternoon making 70 pillows and then delivering them to cancer patients and families at Pete Gross House.

The project, part of the Sept. 16 United Way Day of Caring, was the brainchild of Soaring Heart owner and Hutchinson Center supporter Mike Schaefer. At Soaring Heart’s production facility, Schaefer set up an assembly line where his employees and students visiting from Hutch School stuffed pillowcases—hand-sewn earlier by employees—with natural wool.

Pete Gross House managers had advised Schaefer that wool-stuffed pillows would be unlikely to cause or contribute to health problems for residents, many of whom are undergoing cancer treatment at Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

Thanking Soaring Heart for the pillows—from left, Hutch School students Elizabeth, Oregon; Ivan, Alaska; Fraser, Saskatchewan High School; Gavin, Oregon; Lyndell, Saskatchewan; Lynsie, Washington; with, Christie Brown, Hutch School teacher and administrator; Darla Eastman, Development Photo by Dean Forbes

The volunteers hand-delivered the pillows that day to Pete Gross House, where patients and families had the opportunity to select a favorite to take to their apartment.

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