One of the community’s clubs is calling for women this week to help support those facing breast cancer.

The General Federation of Women’s Club of Tellico Village is inviting women in the community to help create pillows for breast cancer patients 1-4 p.m. Thursday in room A at Chota Recreation Center.

The pillows will be for several cancer centers in the area, including the Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center, Thompson Cancer Survival Center, Tennessee Cancer Specialists and the University of Tennessee Medical Center.


The club needs volunteers for non-sewing tasks such as cutting fabric, stuffing pillows and stitching to close the pillow. If volunteers sew, they are welcome to bring their machines, but sewing skills are not required to participate.

Martha Velez, event chair, said in addition to the GFWC’s main fundraiser — a home tour that raises funds donated to several area organizations — the club tries to conduct at least one volunteer service project with community impact.

She said the event is a good opportunity for others in the community to see what the GFWC does.

“The project that we’re working on is by women for women,” Velez said. “It is a community service project to help women that have cancer in just a small way. However, if you were to say that one in eight is the statistic for women who have breast cancer, then you can probably say that most women in our club, if they haven’t had breast cancer, most women know of someone that has had breast cancer. … It’s kind of at the heart and soul of our organization and women in general.”

Velez said she already has 150 pillows ready to be cut and stuffed. She emphasized those who would like to participate don’t need to know how to sew.

At the start of the event a couple of years ago, Velez said 50-100 pillows were donated. She said at the last event in January, 40-50 women made about 200 pillows.

She said the hope is to complete 300 pillows this week since more participants can be accommodated by the larger room at Chota.

“It requires minimal work from each person, but when we’re all working together for a common goal, it’s kind of a fun afternoon,” she said. “I’m real proud of the project, and I’m so pleased. I guess my emphasis would be the General Federation of Women’s Club came up to the table and said we’ll support this project, and it’s kind of near and dear to my heart, so it’s a win-win.”

The pillows are designed to go underneath a woman’s arm, breast or seat belt to protect her. A card with the inscription, “a strong woman knows she has strength enough for the journey, but a woman of strength knows it is on the journey she will become strong,” goes with each pillow.

After packaging the pillows at the event, Velez said a woman will be responsible for delivery to each of the cancer centers.

Velez said some fabric has been donated by a sustainable fabric exchange in Knoxville, community members and Knoxville Comprehensive Breast Center.

The current plan is for the club to hold another pillow event on Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Jan. 15.

For more information about the club, visit online at https://gfwctellico.org.