CROMWEL, CT (June 1, 2009) – Combining their love for sewing with a passion to help their neighbors, Margaret Sinclair and Lorraine Bergstrom formed ‘FunBags’ – quite literally a cottage business.
Operating from Margaret’s cottage on the campus of Covenant Village of Cromwell, FunBags produces and sells quilted handbags with the net proceeds going to the Benevolent Care Fund at the village.
The business was formed, Lorraine says, because “we wanted to do something for benevolent care and at the same time, do something we loved. Making the handbags was a perfect fit.” The accompanying photo shows Lorraine with one of their creations.
Margaret and Lorraine initially made quilted handbags using their own designs and choices of fabric. As word of FunBags spread, however, individuals brought fabric from around the world to the women for custom handbags. More than 200 bags have been made and sold.
Benevolent care funds are established at each of the Covenant Retirement Communities. The goal of the funds is to assist residents in paying their monthly housing costs when their income and savings no longer can meet the monthly expenses. With residents of retirement communities living longer and given an uncertain economic climate, the need for benevolent care continues to grow.
Other residents like Margaret and Lorraine have fund-raising events to benefit their local benevolent funds. Dinners and picnics are held, Saturday tag sales are organized and concerts with musicians or comedians are sponsored, all to support retirement community funds. These efforts help keep this key ‘safety-net’ in place for the residents of Covenant retirement communities.
For more information about FunBags, email Margaret and Lorraine.
Editor’s note: Roger L. Turner is a financial services representative for Covenant Trust Company and lives in Bedford, New Hampshire.
