by FELICIA LEDUFF HARRY

A little bit of fabric, some pieces of lace and a few strands of yarn go a long way in the hands of Different Strokes. This group of nine local women
transforms these materials into dolls, teddy bears and pillowcases that become huggable gifts for abused children in Terrebonne Parish.

The gifts are given to the Terrebonne Children’s Advocacy Center, where they are distributed to abused children who visit the center for interviewing and counseling. After a session, each child gets to choose an item to take home.

“We never see the children who receive our creations,” says Helen
Robichaux, founder of Different Strokes, “but we get more out of it than the children even though we are the ones doing the giving.”

The women only hear the center’s staff and District Attorney Joe Waitz, Jr. tell “heart-touching” stories about how much the children love the gifts. The pillowcase with pillow is the favored item, says Mae Morgan, assistant to the director of the Advocacy Center, because it gives the children something to hold onto, and it’s something that is their own.

Robichaux and the other members of Different Strokes say it’s satisfying not only to make something, but also to know that it can make a difference to a child, especially a child who has been abused.

The pillowcases are made using whimsical patterned fabric and then stuffed with a new pillow. The dolls and teddy bears are completely handcrafted and sewn. The women also make gift bags with toiletries and stockings stuffed with toys. Gingerbread cookies are baked during Christmas.

Different Strokes has been making the dolls, bears and pillowcases for more than six years, Morgan says.

“Every year the ladies make us a new batch,” she adds. “What’s leftover we give out at Christmas.”

The group has already started making the items for this year. Each member has her own role in assembling the items. Patty Herques makes the dresses for the dolls, and Doris Beaudean stuffs them. The women keep their eyes open for special fabrics and laces. The work extends beyond the group to friends who help to cut out and make donations.

“People who sew always seem to have fabric they want to share, and there’s always plenty of scrap lace around,” Robichaux says. “When a
local sewing shop closed, the owner donated all her leftover goods, about 25 bolts of fabric, to the group.”

The sewing projects are just part of the group’s creative activities, which are mainly painting and sculpting. The members of Different Strokes are all retired professionals who have a passion for creating. The original purpose of the group was to get together to share experiences about art. The dolls, bears and pillowcases started as a side project.

Robichaux first made the dolls and other items for the Advocacy Center as a volunteer project, but when her friends found out about her efforts, they quickly joined and brought their sewing machines to the monthly meetings just because they wanted to help.

“We really get together to relax, have fun and to eat,” Robichaux says.
Each member of Different Strokes is an accomplished artist in her own right. Individually and collectively they have held exhibits, won prizes and contributed their works to charitable organizations in the Houma and New Orleans areas. PoV