Louisa Janbazian
Armenian Missionary Association of America
PR/Communications Coordinator
31 West Century Road
Paramus, NJ 07652
AMAA’s “Stitched With Love” Program
Provides Hats and Blankets for Newborns in Armenia
Late in 2013, Betty Cherkezian and Nancy Burdman of New Jersey,
came up with the idea of Stitched with Love, a program to provide
newborn children in Armenia with much needed hats and blankets. The
Armenian Missionary Association of America (AMAA) liked the idea and
adopted the program as part of its relief efforts in Armenia.
Over 40,000 babies are born in Armenia each year, yet few Armenian
hospitals distribute hats and blankets to newborns and none are
distributed in small towns and villages.
Recognizing this need, Stitched with Love strives to provide
knitted or crocheted hats and baby blankets to newborns in maternity
hospitals throughout Armenia. To achieve this goal, Stitched with
Love has reached out to Armenian communities in the United States and
has received growing support from donors and knitters who wish to
participate in this cause.
Patterns and designs are also welcome. Blankets should be a
minimum of 30″ x 30″ in size. Newborn hats should be between 9″ to
14″ in diameter. If needed, a basic pattern is provided on the AMAA
website. It is required that only acrylic worsted weight yarn is
used.
The support provided from individuals, community organizations and
church groups has been very encouraging and is making a real
contribution to the infants in Armenia. A lady from North Carolina who
recently participated in this Program writes: “My maternal grandmother
was the sole survivor in her family of the Genocide. It is through her
and my mother that I was passed the talent of sewing and handwork. I
am grateful to God and to them for this gift and try to use that gift
in service to others. Thanks for your work in making this dream of
helping Armenian babies and children a reality.”
During this Christmas and New Year season, with the cooperation of
the Head of the Malatya-Sebastya Administrative District of Yerevan, a
special event was organized at AMAA’s Khoren and Shooshanig Avedisian
School and Community Center for all expectant teacher-mothers of the
neighborhood. The expectant teacher-mothers were welcomed in the
school hall by the school principal Melanya Geghamyan, AMAA Armenian
representative Harout Nersessian and the head of the Education
Department of Malatia-Sebastia district. During the gathering special
film was presented devoted to maternity. It was a joyous occasion at
which time each expectant teacher-mother received hats, blankets and
other clothing Stitched with Love for their soon to be born babies, as
well as 2015 calendars, greeting cards and booklets about AMAA. The
event was highlighted in the Malatya-Sebastya local press.
It is the hope of the ladies of Stitched with Love program, that
there will come a time, when all the newborn babies in Armenia will go
home with their mothers, swaddled in a blanket and hat made by caring
individuals like you!
For more information on how to participate and help in this
effort, please contact the AMAA office at 201-265-2607, or visit
and click on the Stitched with Love tab.