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A group of volunteers using needles and their skills as seamstresses are making it easier for injured servicemembers to dress themselves.
The program, called Sew Much Comfort, was founded by three ladies from Minnesota. As one was living in Washington D.C., she saw a Soldier go to a Purple Heart ceremony wearing nothing but a hospital gown and the idea was sparked. The idea was to create and adapt clothes with modifications like Velcro and elastic to fit over casts and external fixators. And it’s all free, running on the generosity of donations.
“It is amazing how this has taken off,” said Michele Cuppy, SMC president. “We started in December of 2005 with 20 ladies thinking we would be doing this for a few months. Now we have over 800 seamstresses across the country. And the sad thing is, we still can’t keep up.”
Thus far, at least at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, the program has been warmly received by injured troops. LRMC Chaplain’s Assistant Spc. Ben Reehl said he gets plenty of requests from patient wards as well as walk-ins to the Chaplain’s Clothing Closet.
“A lot of our patients can’t squeeze in to sweats without tearing them,” said Specialist Reehl, about patients with external fixators mounted to their casts. “So these items go pretty fast. Adaptable clothes don’t tend to stick around very long.”
Private 1st Class Justin Whitmer, 21st Military Police Company who injured his left arm and leg, got his first piece of the clothing April 10 at LRMC. He previously had struggled mightily to put on some basketball warm-up pants, which featured snap-on buttons along both legs.
“These are much more comfortable than the hospital gowns and easier to put on than those other pants,” said Private Whitmer. “It’s nice to be covered and warm and not walk around with everything exposed to the world.”
Being exposed can happen when wearing a gown during a rehab session. Giving the servicemember something loose fitting and easy to put on will make the rigorous therapy session a little more tolerable.
“I just received the clothes and don’t have experience with rehab, but I can see how they would help in physical therapy,” he said. “It’s also good for the nurses. They can get to the wound quicker.”
The Sew Much Comfort group designs generic items, meant to fit anyone, regardless of injury. From boxer shorts to gloves to footies to pants and shirts, almost anything an injured servicemember could need can be made.
“I think it’s a very cool thing,” said Private Whitmer. “To have some random people making these clothes out of the goodness of their hearts – instead of some big corporation – is just impressive. To know that people out there are thinking about us and what we need just makes me feel good.”
Anyone interested in volunteering should check out the Web site www.sewmuchcomfort.org.
