THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 20, 1994 TAG: 9410190153
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
WHEN BRINDA FILBY READ an article in the newspaper concerning the Suffolk Voluntary Action and Information Center and its need for volunteers, she offered her services the next day.
Experienced in handwork, Filby, 53, volunteered to crochet afghans for newborns needed by the Navy-Marine Relief Society in Norfolk.
Doris Perry, executive director of the center, gave her two packages of yarn to begin her first project. However, Filby's fingers worked so swiftly that in two days, she completed not one, but two afghans.
``When I delivered them to the center, I was given five bags of yarn, which included 25 skeins,'' Filby said, laughing.
That was four years ago . . . and Filby is still crocheting warm blankets and layette sets for tiny babies. Perry picks up the pastel blue, pink and yellow yarn from the Navy-Marine Relief Society.
``If a parent of a baby born in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital is an E4 or below, the family is given a hand-knitted or crocheted afghan,'' Filby said. ``It seems to mean a lot to them.''
Although the volunteers remain anonymous, a note of thanks from a new mother often is tucked into a batch of her yarn, Filby said.
At last count, Filby had logged 6,280 hours working on baby afghans alone. That's not counting the larger items, such as sweaters and afghans she has made for herself and her family. And she has numerous colored ribbons and awards to show for her efforts.
Filby recently entered a knitted red afghan in a contest at the Suffolk Peanut Fest and walked away with a first-place award.
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Filby moved to Suffolk from San Diego, Calif., after her husband, Kenneth, retired from the Navy 17 years ago.
``We moved to Suffolk because my daughter, Paris, wanted to move to the country,'' Filby said. ``She was a young teenager at the time.''
Filby has taught knitting for the Senior Citizens Center and the Suffolk Department of Parks and Recreation. She also has exhibited her work in their craft shows.
``People are losing the art of knitting,'' she said. ``In order to knit, they have to really follow directions.''
For the past four years, Eleanor Brinkley, 72, has spent 6,290 hours creating 200 baby afghans for the society. A Suffolk native and an Avon representative for 25 years, Brinkley retired after she suffered an aneurysm 10 years ago.
``I feel real fortunate,'' she said. ``Now, I sit and watch soap operas and crochet. I have difficulty with patterns, so I create my own. It used to take take 30 hours to complete one afghan, but I've gotten faster. I can usually make three a week.''
Brinkley often carries her work to Bingo games for senior citizens at MacDonald's on North Main Street from 9 to 10 a.m. on Tuesdays. Seniors who ``Bingo'' win a free meal.
``On Wednesdays, I play Bingo at Wal-Mart's from 8 to 9 a.m. and then rush over to MacDonald's to play from 9 to 10 a.m.,'' she said, laughing. ``I've been crocheting since my teens. I've also knitted a lot of sweaters. I wish I had kept count of the ones I've made for my children.''
A member of the Liberty Spring Christian Church, Brinkley also furnishes an afghan for the annual church bazaar.
She is married to Leon Brinkley, who is retired from the Thomas J. Lipton Company. They have two daughters, one son, and seven grandchildren.
For their hours of service, both Filby and Brinkley have received tokens of appreciation from the Navy-Marine Relief Society. Brinkley has received a watch, while Filby was presented with a huge duffle bag. Both received a large canvas bag used to transport their handiwork. MEMO: The ``Tender Lipton Care Volunteer Festival,'' sponsored by the
Thomas J. Lipton Co., is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at
Chesapeake Square Mall. It is coordinated by the Suffolk Voluntary
Action and Information Center. Forty volunteer agencies throughout
Hampton Roads will showcase their services, and volunteer needs and
entertainment will be provided throughout the day. Anyone who wishes to
volunteer for community service, should call the Suffolk Voluntary
Action and Information Center, 350 N. Main St., at 539-0316. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Eleanor Brinkley, left, and Brinda Filby crochet afghans for
newborns for the Navy-Marine Relief Society.
by CNB