WEST PALM BEACH, FL--Joan Eltonhead has celebrated many birthdays...but her 80th was extra special.
Her friends at the Parent Child Center at St. Mary's threw Joan a surprise party to not only say Happy Birthday... but to also say thank you to a woman who does so much.
Joan has been sewing all her life; not only for her 5 children but she has also produced a line of fashions for Barbie.
4 years ago she moved into colorful pillowcases now distributed to children at St Mary's Medical Center.
Children like 5 year old Jake. Chellie Dering, Jake's mom says, "It really brightened Jake up...he would ask for different ones. He has frogs and skeletons for Halloween and Mickey mouse. He has them to keep and we have them at the Quantum House where we are staying. It's really really nice."
From trains and clouds, to FSU and SpongeBob....each pillowcase is made with love. Amazingly, Joan sews 35 to 50 of them each week!!
Eltonhead says, "If there's something that's bothering me it doesn't bother me if I'm sitting at the sewing machine!"
Clearly sewing comes naturally to Joan...and so does helping others.
Joan says, "They're just wonderful people and the children are wonderful..it makes you feel so good when you know you're making the kids happy."
Joan's pillowcases are also being used in the neonatal intensive case unit. They fit perfectly over the infant mattresses.
If you would like to help keep Joan sewing, she is always in need of fabric and other sewing accessories, gift cards or cash would help offset some of her costs.
Call the Child Life Center at 561-882-6336 or log onto
parent-child center.org.
