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CHARLOTTE N.C. Last week, the first recipient of a Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care prayer shawl met the "Knit Wits," a volunteer church group who anonymously creates handmade shawls for patients and their families.

Lessie Richardson unexpectedly received a knitted prayer shawl at her home several days before her mother's death. Hospital workers referred Richardson and her mom, Irene Sanders, to the hospital's hospice and palliative care program during Sander's stay at Presbyterian.

"My mother and I were very close," Richardson said. "This beautiful prayer shawl is the last thing that we shared before her passing."

The Knit Wits, members of Mulberry Presbyterian Church, recently chose Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care to be recipients of the prayer shawls. Accordingly, hospice nurses and volunteers present the one-of-a-kind shawls to patients and their loved ones as a gesture of comfort and support.

To thank the "Knit Wits," Richardson, her son and daughter-in-law attended a "Wrap Yourself in Love Luncheon" in honor of the knitters. During the gathering, Richardson expressed her appreciation and presented a gift bag of knitting supplies to the volunteer who crafted her mother's shawl.

The shawls can benefit anyone in need. "Prayer shawls are a symbol of love," said Kim Darden, Presbyterian Hospice & Palliative Care director. "The holidays can be a difficult time for so many people; we wanted to share this inspirational story of how 'the labor of love truly becomes the gift of love' for not only this season, but throughout the year."

Presbyterian's Hospice & Palliative Care program provides care for patients facing end-of-life illnesses so that they may live as comfortably as possible. "Our clinical team approach - supported by our volunteer organizations and individuals - all contributes to meeting the needs of the patients and their families during this sacred time," explained Christine Snipes, community relations coordinator for Hospice & Palliative Care.

For more information about the program, please call (704) 384-6478.