Patient program threads together skills and confidence
Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Walk into the Vocational Services program room at Oregon State Hospital (OSH) in Junction City and you'll hear the steady, unexpected hum of sewing machines. Inside, patients like Kelly and Keppa use their creativity to brighten the walls, halls and days throughout the hospital.
As part of their paid positions in the Vocational Services program, Kelly and Keppa turn donated fabrics into display quilts that beautify the campus, as well as quilted, zippered bags, embellished cards and reusable grocery bags.
The Vocational Services program offers patients far more than a paycheck. The experience – like other jobs offered through the program – prepares OSH patients to gain skills and confidence as they prepare for life after the hospital.
“I enjoy the time to create and have time to myself away from community living. That's the hardest part for me about being here – living with other clients," said Kelly. “I'm also learning different skills that could help me with a future job. I like the actual action of doing the sewing but also being able to design something. I always wanted to be an interior designer and with this, I'm picking out colors and seeing what design works."
The bags and cards the crew makes are sold to hospital employees and proceeds go into the general fund. The crew is focused on making more quilted, zippered bags in time to sell ahead of Mother's Day in May.
“It's nice to hear the staff brag about what we make," Keppa said. “It helps with your self-esteem to see people like and appreciate something that you've made."
Junction City Treatment Services Supervisor Charlene Turman oversees the production crew.
“I've seen their skills progress so much. They're making designs on their own and their confidence has grown. They take pride in their work and seeing staff take an interest in their work is rewarding," Turman said.
Both patients credited Turman's own skills with making them better sewers and designers.
Turman advocated to add sewing to the Vocational Services program based on her own experiences.
“I wanted to offer a meaningful way for them to contribute and learn skills that could help them," Turman said. “I was a home economics teacher and have been sewing for years. For me, it's a de-stressor, too, and I hoped it could be that for them."
And, it has been. Both patients reside on the secure residential treatment facility (SRTF) units – meaning they no longer require hospital-level care – and are preparing to discharge. They live in community settings 24/7, so time away to create is a welcome break, they said.
“It makes me content," Keppa said about her sewing work. “I don't have any time to think about other things. I'm pouring myself into what I'm doing. It's also nice to be a part of the beautification of the hospital."
She's currently working on a quilt for one of the dining halls. She's selected fabric with retro designs of breakfast items – smiley-faced cereal puffs diving into milk and fried eggs framed by pink and white blocks.
“It's an ode to breakfast," she said.
Last fall, they crafted donated fabric into patriotic-themed lap quilts to give to the small group of patients who are military veterans in observance of Veterans Day.
Their work may soon expand to include clothing alterations. Work is underway to set up a clothing store in Junction City – a smaller version of the one in Salem – where patients can select donated clothing items and shoes for more variety beyond the state's standard-issue items.
The crew's impact is visible in quilts of all sizes that hang throughout the hospital – from patient dining areas, elevator vestibules to hallways. Each offers a vivid surprise of color. One hanging on the way to the campus gym shares stitched words of encouragement: “You can do brave things!" “You are so worth it!" “It's a new day to see new things in a new way." “Just begin."
Kelly and Keppa point out mistakes in some of the quilts they've made – imperfections unnoticeable though stand out to their makers. But, the time spent turning scraps of fabric into something people appreciate brings perspective, too.
"Mistakes make quilts more valuable," Keppa said before returning to her squares of smiling cereal.
Ways to get involved: The production crew uses donations of cotton, quilting fabric.
OSH Volunteer Services facilitates all donations to the hospital – from art supplies and clothing to fabric. All items are screened for safety compliance before being routed to hospital programs. To learn more or donate, please contact Volunteer Services at oshvolunteer.services@odhsoha.oregon.gov.