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94 Year Old Lady Gives up Her Time to Sew for Children

Lola Switzer, a mother of four, used to make clothes for her children, her husband and herself. Now, she makes clothes for disadvantaged children. Switzer, who is 94 on Tuesday, said, “I do this for the joy I get out of making them. I like to sew, and it makes me feel good that a child will have at least one new dress or pants a year.”

She started making the donated clothes 14 years ago, when a neighbour adopted a family over Christmas, and needed help with clothing. Three outfits were made for the children, and she has continued donating annually ever since.

She makes the clothes in the sewing room of her trailer park home, and the many items she makes include dresses, T-Shirts, Jeans, pyjamas, vests and Sweaters. She makes them in various sizes, from infant to 10 years. Switzer has 9 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren, and says that she prefers making children’s clothing.

This past Christmas, she donated 30 outfits to the Salvation Army’s Christmas Angel campaign. Switzer is a retired nurse, and says she does not know what she would do if she could not sew. She will be starting next year’s donations in February. Many pieces of donated material go into making her clothes, and any items she cannot use are donated elsewhere.

Friends and neighbours all think very highly of her selfless work. “I just really admire her,” said Ruth Kalkowski, a friend. “I have gotten store-bought clothes that are nowhere near well made as she does. The quality is just impeccable. I do a little sewing myself, but I tell you what, it doesn’t stack up against hers.”