A group of volunteers in Myrtle Beach has spent the past several years doing something quietly remarkable: sewing handmade pillowcases for children in the hospital. The local chapter of Ryan’s Case For Smiles, started in 2020 by coordinator Linda Dunn, delivered more than 1,000 pillowcases last year to McLeod Medical Center, McLeod Children’s Hospital, MUSC Children’s Hospital, and Prisma Children’s Hospital. Most volunteers sew from home, though they also gather at Quilting at the Beach, one of two local host sites.
The nonprofit takes its name from Ryan Kerr, a teenager who died of cancer. During his hospital stays, Ryan gave away bright pillowcases to other young patients. That simple gesture became a national movement. Volunteer Janette Rhoades says a cheerful pillowcase brings a smile and reminds a child that someone is cheering for them. For families facing the worst outcome, those pillowcases become keepsakes the parents hold onto forever.
If you sew, quilt, or simply have fabric sitting unused, this is the kind of effort where a few hours of your time turns into something a child treasures. Want to get involved, or know someone who’d love to help? Let us know in the comments.
