Senior sews 15 handmade quilts for Whisperwood residents after visits put on hold

Islander Annie Boyle surprised the residents of Whisperwood Villa in Charlottetown with the delivery of more than a dozen brightly colouredhandmade lap quilts on Wednesday.

The crafty lady says she typically keeps busy withknitting, crocheting and quilting, so she went right to work when she found some extra time on her hands.

"I just kept cutting material and putting it together and came up with 15 quilts," Boyle said.

Jason Lee, the CEO of P.E.I. Seniors Homes, saidBoyle was afrequent visitor at the privately run community care and nursing home until COVID-19 restrictions were put in place.

When Island card parties were also put on holdas a precautionary measure to protect players from the spread of COVID-19, Boyle's regular form of community recreation came to anend.

She filled some of the time over the last four months or so sewing the lap quilts, she said, instead of going out four or five times a week.

'To see the happiness on their faces'

Whisperwood Villawent through a scare when P.E.I. health officials announced a staff member tested positive for COVID-19 in early July.

A total of 129 residents and 140 staff members, as well as anyone who visited the facility on June 30, were tested twice overthe course of aweek. All the tests came back negative.

Boyle said she wanted to do something to brighten spirits at the home.

"It was really pleasant to see the happiness on their faces when they [saw]the quilts and the colours that [were]in them," she said, adding she made two additional baby-sizequilts for her friends.

The care-home officials say the quiltswill be put to good use, as itsactivities program expands with the easing of more restrictions in early September.

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