A sewing guild with no officers, no committees, and no dues has been meeting twice a month for 28 years. The women volunteers spend their time sewing pads for the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Free Cancer Home.

“It’s inspiring to know that we have a group of people who are never telephoned. They just come in on sewing day and we always look forward to this day,” said Mrs. Cecilia McLaughlin. When the guild was organized in 1940, she was asked to be chairman, and is chairman today.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Free Cancer Home was dedicated and opened in March, 1939, to care for and nurse incurable cancer patients. It is open to all people, regardless of race, creed, or color. The home is operated by the Servants of Relief for Incurable Cancer, Sisters of St. Dominic, Congregation of St. Rose of Lima.

There were only four Catholic parishes in Atlanta at that time, but when word spread to the women that the nuns needed pads to help them with their work and make the patients more comfortable, three groups of women volunteered to meet in private homes and sew for the patients.

Father Joseph Smith, O.F.M., offered the parish hall of the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception as a central meeting place for the groups in 1940. Since that time, the women have met in the hall on the last two Wednesdays of every month.

On a recent rainy Wednesday, 37 women from Protestant and Catholic churches worked in the newly-redecorated hall. Some were sewing, cutting, or rolling cotton. They visited quietly at the long tables, but didn’t waste time. “We never waste materials either,” said Mrs. Lillian Barnwell, who was busy cutting old sheets. Even the salvage from the sheets is used to tie the completed pads into bundles.

Mrs. McLaughlin, who is known to the women as “Mrs. Mac,” keeps an account of all expenses and donations, and records of guild members who have attended the meetings. She said, “We have women from all churches in Atlanta working with us. Sometimes we’ve had as many as 105 ladies working here. I am very proud of them, and know them all by name.”

A group of women from the Decatur First Baptist Church has worked once a month for 21 years with the guild. Mrs. Estelle McDonald said, “We are known as the McLaine class, named for our teacher, Elizabeth McLaine. We first heard about the guild from a woman whose husband was a member of this church.”

Mrs. Florine Tucker was stitching material although her thumb was bandaged. She said, “I burned my thumb, but I’m here today because I wanted so much to come. As you get older, you learn that whatever you have to do, you can somehow always do it.”

Mrs. Hilda Johann and Mrs. Bertha Young took time off from their sewing to prepare coffee for the group. The women bring their lunches, or buy the lunch provided for a small fee. They work from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The funds for the guild’s operating expenses come from contributions of friends and benefactors of the Cancer Home and from guild members. These contributions are used to defray the cost of materials and other expenses. Mrs. McLaughlin said, “I keep all these records and send a statement to the members at the end of the year. I guess they don’t mean much to anyone but me,” she laughed.

The guild also supports the Free Cancer Home Auxiliary throughout the year and especially with the Annual Champagne Luncheon-Fashion Show. “We salute the Immaculate Conception Sewing Guild for their outstanding devotion and contribution to the Free Cancer Home and to the community,” said Mrs. Paul Soper, auxiliary publicity chairman.

Members of the auxiliary have been busy since last spring planning for the annual benefit. This year, the 12th Annual Champagne Luncheon-Fashion Show will be held in the grand ballroom of the Marriott Motor Hotel, Wednesday, Oct. 9, at 11:30 a.m. Leon Froshin will present a collection of fall fashions. Citizen Jewelry will display a collection of rare jewelry creations. The entire proceeds from the luncheon will purchase medical supplies for the Home. Donations are $10. Tickets are by reservation only and will be closed Oct. 4. For reservations, call Mrs. Edgar V. Carter, Jr., 355-6496.

Working with the auxiliary president, Mrs. Allen M. Casey to plan the benefit are chairmen: Mrs. John Oberg, general chairman; Mrs. Edgar V. Carter, Jr., reservations; Mrs. Italo Lamar, special project; Mrs. W. F. Applegarth, prizes and favors; Mrs. George C. Garner, table decorations; Mrs. Thomas R. May, fashion show; Mrs. Paul J. Soper, publicity.