Jackie Hardern
by Christiane Cote
“Every abandoned project deserves to be completed and find its forever home” Jackie Hardern, SCHA Thrift Store volunteer
The Sunshine Coast community benefits greatly and often anonymously from the work of hundreds of volunteers. Some of these volunteers are looking for something useful to do. Others are passionate about an issue and want to support it while many see it as a fun way to meet new people. Jackie Hardern brings a more specific area of interest and skills as a volunteer at the Sunshine Coast Health Auxiliary’s Thrift Store (SCHA) in Sechelt. A long-time quilter she discovered she loves the challenge of restoring unfinished, damaged or soiled quilt projects then have them sold at market value for the benefit of the SCHA. She feels strongly that such discarded projects deserve a second chance of a life in a good home.
Jackie started volunteering at the Thrift Store as a fun thing to do after going through a difficult medical period and during COVID. Two of her friends who were volunteers at the store suggested that she would enjoy joining the Thrift Store’s family. They were right!
Volunteering is not new to Jackie and her family. She and her husband are already involved with the Book Giving Charity (through Tailwinds Books) and Bellies and Babies program, but the prospect of working with two of her friends was appealing so she joined the Thrift Store family. She ended up working with one of her friends in the donation receiving/sorting room, forming new friendships and having a lot of good times with “her ladies” on the floor.
Soon she discovered a passion for “rescuing” unsellable donated quilting projects that typically arrive at the thrift store as a pile of quilted squares in a bag. As a long-time quilter herself (40+ years) she grabs any opportunity to use her extensive skills to restore unfinished, soiled or damaged quilts that otherwise would be thrown into the reject container. After lovingly restoring and completing them she sells them at below market value through her Etsy site or at any of the SCHA fundraising events with all the proceeds going to the auxiliary. “I especially love the challenge of rescuing somebody’s once upon a time unfinished project because every project deserves to be completed and find its forever home” she says proudly.
Her passion for quilting doesn’t stop there. She recently completed 128 quilted Xmas stockings (see picture) for the residents of a long-term care residence. She also regularly contributes quilted bed covers and small throws (even cushions) for the various fundraising campaigns of the SCHA.
This is the sort of selfless contribution from volunteers that make a behind-the-scene impact on our community by helping social and health organisations of the Sunshine Coast and contribute to the hospital’s budget for acquiring up-to-date medical equipment.
As General Jimmy Doolittle said, “There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”
Would like to support the SCHA by buying a “completed and embellished” quilt product? Contact Jackie Hardern at j.hardern@hotmail.com
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- Jackie recently made 128 Christmas stockings to be distributed to long-term care facility residents.
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- Two more completed quilted throws that came as separate pieces in a bag until patiently assembled and refreshed by Jackie.
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- Unfinished projects typically arrive at the thrift store as a pile of quilted squares in a bag. Jackie assembles the squares, add a border and backing and even refreshes the embroidery if necessary.
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- As often the case, this unfinished project came as a pile of “just squares” in a bag, along with a rough design drawn on a piece of paper. Jackie used her expertise to assemble the squares, add a border, a batting (back) piece and a middle layer for extra comfort. The result is something she’s proud of.
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- As often the case, this unfinished project came as a pile of “just squares” in a bag, along with a rough design drawn on a piece of paper. Jackie used her expertise to assemble the squares, add a border, a batting (back) piece and a middle layer for extra comfort. The result is something she’s proud of.
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- This bed cover came in smelling very musty and worn and was destined for the reject bag. Jackie spent hours and hours cleaning it, restoring it and completing this hand appliqué bed cover. The result was beautiful, and the formerly “smelly” quilt fetched around two hundred dollars at a fundraising sale held by the SCHA.
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- Unfinished projects typically arrive at the thrift store as a pile of quilted squares in a bag. Jackie assembles the squares, add a border and backing and even refreshes the embroidery if necessary.