South Point woman honored for her service to the sick in the community

 

SOUTH POINT — The lap throws were laid on tables at the head of the South Point Community Center Saturday, their colorful blocks and stripes bearing get well wishes.

One lap throw belonged to Dianne Thompson, of Ironton, a lung cancer survivor, another the possession of Sue Davis of South Point, who also battled serious illness.

The lap throws are warm and cheerful but the expressions of caring and concern written on them by people throughout the community have a warmth and glow all their own.

“It was amazing to find out how many people cared,” Thompson said of the words of encouragement she read when she got her quilt.

“I think it’s an awesome blessing,” Davis agreed.

The second annual The Cause, Inc., awareness event was Saturday at the community center. The purpose of the event was to raise awareness of the kinds of help available for people who are seriously ill and for their families.

The woman who made the quilts, Rena Tomblin, was honored at the event for making quilts for sick people.

“I love to sew and I love to make people happy,” Tomblin said as The Cause, Inc., Organizer Stacey Murray-Medcalf handed her a small plaque and gave her a hug. Murray Medcalf explained Tomblin makes the lap throws but until today may not have known who got the lap throws and how much they can mean to someone who is sick.

Murray-Medcalf’s point with the awareness event was this: To help patients and their families find resources and strength through local organizations that they may not even know exist.

Family Heritage Insurance Company offered supplemental cancer insurance. State Farm Insurance, and the South Point and Fayette volunteer fire departments also took part.

Elaine Payne of the Lawrence County Domestic Violence Task Force had a table of material and other resources from her agency as did The American Cancer Society; Slack and Wallace Funeral Home, Cabell-Huntington Hospital and King’s Daughters Medical Center also had information booths.