MEXICO — Brenda May Aleck Austin sewed and donated 25 table runners in Christmas theme patterns for Rumford Hospital’s oncology unit during the Christmas season.

The table runners were given to patients to use as gifts for their loved ones, or keep for themselves.

As a patient with chronic Lyme disease, Austin recuperated in the oncology unit and her stay at the hospital inspired her to start the Rumford Quilters.

She also sews fabric composition book covers — think journals — in fun, folksy prints, plaid-flannel infinity scarves, and tote bags.

“The tote bags can be used for patients to carry their medications or supplies, as grocery bags, or even as beach bags,” Austin said.

She describes herself as a “hands-on person. I’m not very good at looking at sewing patterns and deciphering them.” She prefers looking at craft items and figuring out how to create them herself or having someone show her how to make them.

When she was 16 she learned to sew on the sewing machine her parents bought her. Her aunt was an excellent sewer and she taught her a lot. They took sewing classes together and made blazers, polo shirts, dresses, blouses and bell-bottom pants.

She’s sewed and donated 350 pillowcases for cancer patients at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland. She’s crafted numerous quilts and blankets, donating them all to hospitals, antique auctions and a health care company. She also started a program called Kids with No Backpacks, decorating a box for the staff and the clients of the health care company to put school supply donations in the box.

She also volunteers at the Mexico Historical Society and keeps records of obituaries for the organization.

Austin said Rumford Quilters will “do a bake sale, do a chowder, do whatever we can” to get income for supplies.

She always has a quilt, a tote bag, or a table runner if someone needs a donation.

“If someone tells me what they are looking for, just give me the theme and I can usually find the material for it,” she said.

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