Stockings get stuffed with babies

SHAWANO — Babies born in December at ThedaCare Medical Center-Shawano will again be presented to the parents in a Christmas stocking, created and decorated by members of the hospital auxiliary.

The hospital anticipates 26 births for the month, including the New Year’s baby. That means the auxiliary is busier than it was last year in continuing the tradition that’s at least 15 years old. The jump in births over 2018 is probably due to that big snow the area experienced last March, Helen Raddant said. She’s an auxiliary member who’s in her second year of stocking decorating

The New Year’s baby stocking features a cross-stitch design from Mary Ann Schelk, Gillett, who is Raddant’s sister.

As they added glitter, felt cut-outs and other adornments, they talked about their volunteering experience — in between asking for some glue or an opinion about the use of a particular color.

Karen Fusek, Gresham, said she benefits from the decorating and other volunteering, such as working at the hospital gift shop. “It’s good for me, too,” Fusek said.

Studies conducted by Johns Hopkins University have pointed out the physical and mental benefits for volunteers. Fusek agreed, saying, “This is my socialization. It gets me out in the community.”

Fusek doesn’t know if volunteering lowers her blood pressure or other vital signs, but she observed, “I do think it benefits me physically.”

“Lots of people come in just to kill time while they’re waiting for test results or a surgery to be completed,” said Fusek, of her other volunteer work in the hospital gift shop. “They just need to talk.”

Gift shop volunteers can also be a sounding board, although medical details are never sought. “We can help them sort out what’s going on, and it makes me feel like I’m doing my part,” Fusek said.

“That’s so true,” Carol Kleist, Shawano, added.

Bette Rindt, Shawano, is the designer of the stockings. She said the designs range from classic shapes and phrases to something new for the year, such as a “Joy to the World” theme. Rindt said she finds inspiration from Christmas cards as well as patterns and other items gathered when she taught second grade.

“Glitter just adds a lot,” Raddant said as she held up a completed stocking.

Auxiliary members used to take the stockings home to work on them individually, but now they get together in a hospital meeting room.

“I like this better, working as a group,” said Kleist who is decorating stockings for the first time.

Jennifer Utecht, Gresham, also in her first year of decorating, said she recently relocated to the area from Belgium, Wisconsin.

“I’m a very social person; my job was very social,” Utecht said. “Since I retired, this is a good way to meet people.”