Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- Nearly twelve hundred abused children will go through the doors of The Children's Justice Center in Utah County this year. The Center relies heavily on fundraising and donations, and one woman from Provo is doing her part to make a difference.
Her hands are tender, and her fingers are gnarled with age. But her severe arthritis doesn't stop 80 year old Renee Thackeray from doing what she loves bet - sewing quilts.
"It is a labor of love but, also the medicine that keeps me going," said Thackeray. "One of my nieces said it's aunt Renee's pain pill."
Her medicine is her sewing, but the labor is also for the love of abused children.
- Center for Women & Children in Crisis (24-hour) 801-377-5500
- Child Find (24-hour) 1-800-426-5678
- Child Protective Services (Daytime): Juab County 435-623-7207 Utah County 801-374-7005 Wasatch County 435-657-4200
- Division of Child and Family Services (after hours): Juab County 435-743-5302 Utah County 801-376-8261 Wasatch County 435-654-1411
- Crisis Line of Utah County/National Life- Line 801-226-4433
- Family Support & Treatment Center (Crisis Respite Nursery) 801-229-1181
- Hope Line-UVRMC (crisis/suicide prevention) 801-375-4673
So Renee made a special sewing room where the retired BYU professor spends her time making quilts - quilts that take hundreds of hours, sometimes years to create, treasures that are auctioned off, with proceeds going to help the Children's Justice Center in Utah County.
Thackeray's quilts have earned thousands of dollars to aid the children.
"We've appreciated how difficult it is for her to create the quilts she has created over the years, which has literally created thousands of dollars into the fund," said Ruth Brasher, a committee member for the Friends of UCCJC.
It's a cause that keeps Renee very busy despite difficult health problems. Along with her arthritis, Renee has stenosis of the spine, and has endured 4 knee replacements. But it's her hands she relies on most.
"These knuckles I need in sewing. I can't hold fabric and sew at the same time, so I've had to learn to do things differently," Thackeray said.
As the years go on, each quilt is taking Renee more time to create, but it's the reasons why she creates them that makes the quilts so special. Renee hopes by working through her pain, the pain of abused children will somehow be eased as well.
"I just know it facilitates all the interviews all the counseling I just hope they can find the children before they're too badly abused."
Thackeray was recently awarded the Center's Healing Hearts award for her contribution to the children. She also donates quilts to Primary Children's Medical Center.
