In her Whitehorse residence, Myra Iles arranged vibrant fabrics and bags of cotton on her kitchen table. Armed with a large sewing needle and scissors, she embarked on creating her next set of feelie hearts.

Iles initiated the feelie hearts crafting six years ago, utilizing fabrics inherited from her late mother. Over time, she estimates having sewn close to 3,000 of these heartfelt creations.

Reflecting on the sentimental value attached to each piece of material, Iles shared, “There’s a bit of emotion attached to it, and so I was waiting for a special project to come along.”

The special project arrived in the form of the Hospice Yukon Society’s feelie hearts initiative. The hospice distributes volunteer-made, pocket-sized fabric hearts to visitors undergoing grief or challenging times. Presently, the hospice faces a dwindling supply of these comforting tokens.

Deb Higgins, the hospice’s program coordinator, mentioned the fluctuating availability of feelie hearts, stating, “Sometimes our stash is full and we’ve got lots of feelie hearts. Other times we’re running low.” She encouraged anyone interested in learning more or contributing to reach out and participate in sewing a feelie heart.

Originally introduced by the Bridges Center for Grieving Children in the United States in 1988, feelie hearts serve as a source of solace for young individuals sharing their stories during times of grief. For two decades, the Yukon hospice has been distributing its personalized versions of these heartwarming tokens.

Higgins emphasized the significance of feelie hearts, stating, “It’s a tangible reminder that they’re not alone. That they can grieve in their own way.” She highlighted the simplicity of offering these tokens as a means of support for those struggling to find words in comforting a grieving individual.

Within the hospice on Jarvis Street, colorful hearts adorn the surroundings, with a basket of assorted patterns available for visitors to choose from, including reds, plaids, snowflakes, and rainbows. Despite an estimated stock of around 200 feelie hearts, the hospice gives out thousands annually, with some visitors taking up to 30 hearts at a time.

Art therapist Janis Timm-Bottos described feelie hearts as a form of art therapy, emphasizing the importance of creating meaning through imaginative expression using available materials. Timm-Bottos, who personally experienced grief following her husband’s passing, highlighted the therapeutic benefits of feelie hearts, noting that holding a small token in one’s hand can foster a deeper self-connection.

Despite grappling with arthritis in her hands, Myra Iles endeavors to craft 30 hearts monthly, a process involving cutting fabric, stitching shapes, and filling them with cotton, taking approximately 10 minutes per heart. While she continues to create feelie hearts for the hospice, Iles expressed the need for additional volunteers to support this initiative.

Imagining the impact of her creations on recipients, Iles expressed her hope that the hearts bring peace and evoke cherished memories, offering solace and relief from the intense pain of grief.