Laura Kate Zaichkin, Herald staff writer

Turn over a comfort pillow for surgical patients at Kadlec Medical Center or examine a heart-shaped cushion for people who have undergone open-heart surgery and you'll find a Kadlec Auxiliary stamp.

That stamp can be traced to a room on the first floor of the hospital where the walls are lined with sewing machines, the shelves are filled with boxes of donated materials and every Tuesday morning more than a dozen auxiliary members are chatting, drinking coffee and sewing.

Sewing a lot.

And the auxiliary's sewing group does a lot more than the special projects like making the pillows, which are meant to comfort those who recently have had surgery, or contributing to the mastectomy kits the hospital distributes.

These women do it all. From the small room that hums with the sound of 18 sewing machines comes everything from hospital bed sheets to gowns to potholders used in the cafeteria kitchen.

"They save the hospital about $100,000 a year in outsourcing," said Meg Fallows, Kadlec's volunteer coordinator. "I don't know of any other hospital in Washington state that has a group like this."

Nearly 40 comfort pillows, 10 potholders and up to 80 pom-poms to top newborns' hats are produced each week, said Jan Jacobs, the group's chairwoman, ticking items off on her fingers.

That doesn't include other items that are produced as needed, such as hospital sheets, crib sheets for the nursery and storage bags to hang from wheelchairs and walkers to name a few.

And there's a few unusual items. "A couple years ago, they did cadaver covers," Fallows said.

"If you can imagine it, we can do it or have done it at some point," Jacobs said. "If you've lost a button and you need a button sewn on, you can wander in here.

"It's a good group of gals. They just say, 'Give me something to do.' "

Members of the group, which just celebrated its 50th anniversary, all echo each other when explaining why for years they've volunteered their sewing skills.

"The companionship for one thing, and feeling like I can contribute some," said Lee Koehler of Richland, who has sewn for the group for 18 years.

Becky Rulon of Richland recently began volunteering with the group and is its newest member. She's carrying on a family tradition. Her mother, Virginia Rulon, also was in the group.

"I love to sew. I've sewed my whole life," Rulon said. "I didn't realize how much money they saved the hospital. It's a nice feeling to know you're a part of that."

The Tuesday sewing group isn't the only one that gives back to the hospital. The nearly 10 members of the Thursday sewing group, which is called Kadlec Kreations, sew items like quilts, baby blankets and sock monkey toys for the hospital gift shop.

The Thursday group raises nearly $3,000 a year for the hospital through its gift shop sales and annual Christmas bazaar.

"We enjoy the social gathering of people with like interest and we enjoy making things people can use," said Rae Baker of Richland, chairwoman of the Thursday group.

Both groups mostly use donated materials and the Tuesday group often turns damaged items that would be thrown away into something new. For example, torn adult hospital gowns are turned into gowns for pediatric patients.

"It's a lot of waste," Rulon said. "So (the recycling is) a good thing."

Liz Wiley of West Richland said she gets a feeling of satisfaction from volunteering. "You feel like you're contributing to society."