From time to time, I hear the lament that a sense of the common good, a concept important to American democracy, is little in evidence these days. But laments often are filtered through individual perception, which may or may not have a basis in fact. However, in the four years I have been writing this column, I have come to understand that a sense of the common good is alive and well and embodied by the needlework so many people do for charitable purposes.

We can start with Project Linus, which makes comfort blankets for children ranging in age from infants to young adults who are facing life crises such as illness or family disruption. Since 1995, Project Linus has spread around the United States and the world.

Many quilt groups in Maine craft beautiful coverlets to raffle to raise funds for worthy causes in their communities and, in some cases, throughout the world.

Those involved in the Afghans for Afghans Project knit or crochet coverings for people in Afghanistan who have become refugees in the wake of war that tears their country apart.

Needleworkers use their talents to provide the March of Dimes with tiny garments and blankets for premature newborns, working love and concern into every stitch, and in the process raising awareness of the problem.

Church groups such as Hope Lutheran Church on Union Street in Bangor offer aspiring seamstresses the opportunity to learn to sew and participate in making quilts to aid those around the world who are trying to begin life again after natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes.

Some church groups, such as that of the Trinitarian Congregational Parish in Castine, knit shawls, bless them with prayers and loving thoughts, and bestow them on those who are facing a health problem or who are marking a milestone such as giving birth or celebrating an important birthday.

Some stitching groups focus on making warm and beautiful caps for those undergoing chemotherapy.

Ladies who lunch at Meals for Me sometimes knit mittens to be distributed to schools in their towns so any child who loses a mitten or forgets to wear a pair will have something warm to put on when it’s time for recess.

Those who like to knit scarves create red ones for the Scarves for Hearts project, which helps those dealing with heart disease, or for the National Red Scarf Project of the Orphan Foundation of America, which sends care packages every Valentine’s Day to foster youth who are attending college.

These are just a few of the organized efforts that illustrate the sense of the common good that prevails among those who knit, crochet and sew.

Then there are individual efforts – the unsung needlework heroes who on their own knit mittens, put together blankets and quilts, knit caps, make potholders or craft tree ornaments by the dozen. Then they ask around town to find out what organization devoted to the common good – be it a shelter for the homeless or a church bazaar – needs what they have crafted by hand.

Most of us have heard the saying, “Love is an active verb.” Neighborly love, I believe, is the underlying force beneath a sense of the common good that is so essential to the national psyche. When we wield our needles to create an element of comfort for others, no matter how small, we are carrying out one of the many duties of citizenship. For we all belong to the common pool of humanity, no matter how much or how little we have. Each of us is an integral part of the common good.

Therefore, I salute all of you who knit one, purl two, feather stitch, sew a straight seam or make a shell stitch in a line of crochet. Knowing you are out there creating beautiful things to send out into communities that need them makes the world far less terrifying.

Snippets

Crocheters will fall in love with the fingerless silk mitts pattern done up in Irish crochet. Visit www.piecework.com where the pattern is posted.

Christy Coombs, who organized Bangor Public Library’s recent Fiber Arts Exhibit, reports that approximately 1,300 people attended.

The Brewer Stitchers Club is a group of women whose expertise includes quilting, knitting, counted cross-stitch embroidery, crocheting, tatting, wearing apparel sewing and Teneriffe embroidery. The group also stitches for a variety of local charities. To learn more about the group, call Dot Clark at 989-4130.

Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153, or e-mail ahamlin@bangordailynews.net.