Pillowcase Hero

Last weekend, a special group gathered for sewing day at Heartfelt Quilting in Winter Haven.

Eight-year-old Libby Putnam was there to take part in the event.

"I am making pillowcases for kids with cancer," she said.

When her 9-year-old sister Abbie was asked what she was making, she had a similar answer.

"We're making pillowcases for kids with cancer," said Abbie.

And, the same response from her brother Alex. "I'm making pillowcases for kids who have cancer," said Alex.

These pillowcases are all part of the mission of ConKerr Cancer - A case for smiles. The group provides pillowcases to kids around the country hospitalized with chronic illness.

Carol Deloney started a chapter in the Tampa Bay area. "It just seemed like the right thing to do," Carol said.

She gathered a group of core people to help in her mission including owner of Heartfelt Quilting, Patricia Roberts. Roberts says she's happy to open her business to help Carol in her mission.

"She's amazing. She puts so much of her own time, her own effort, her own finances to this," Roberts said. "I'm overwhelmed. I can't come close to doing what she's doing for these kids."

Deloney says making pillowcases is appealing because anyone can do it and they take only a few minutes.

"It's a great feeling of satisfaction," Deloney said. "It does make me smile at the end of the day."

In just over 14 months, the Tampa Bay chapter of ConKerr Cancer has delivered more than 8,000 pillowcases to seriously ill children.

Some of the recipients have been at All Children's Hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital,Shriner's Children's Hospital and Tampa General.