DUNCAN — Thanks to the efforts of some Stephens County residents, victims of fatal accidents in the area covered by Troop G of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol can be treated with greater dignity at the scene of the crash.

Members of the five Oklahoma Home and Community Education (OHCE) groups held their annual Sew-In on April 22 at the Stephens County Fair & Expo Center, and chose to spend part of the day making “privacy covers” for use by troopers to cover bodies from view by families on the scene or by curious passers-by. The covers, two in each sealed plastic bag, were presented at the end of the day to Capt. Mike McClelland of Lawton, commander of OHP Troop G, and Trooper Thomas Winton, who is assigned to the Duncan area.

The men expressed their thanks for the gesture, telling the group that often troopers must improvise with whatever is available at an accident scene, even to taking off their own coats to cover victims.

The 196 covers constructed during the Sew-In were to be divided among the 28 OHP units that serve the six counties in Troop G. While that is not many covers, considering there were 47 fatalities in Troop G during 2007, OHCE plans to continue making the drapes, both as individual group projects and at future Sew-Ins. Instructions are also available from the OSU Extension Center for individuals who would like to make some of the simple projects, two of which can be made from a full-size bed sheet. Call 580-255-0510 for information.

The day wasn’t totally somber, however. The stitchers also made 110 colorful drawstring bags for children and teens displaced from their homes by abuse or neglect.

Lisa Harper and Teresa Biffle from Women’s Haven, Barbra Davis of the Stephens County Youth Services Shelter, and Tracie Sears of the Department of Human Services Child Welfare Division had fun “shopping” the stacks of tote bags, choosing the ones they thought most appropriate for the ages of children with whom they work.

“This is great,” Davis said. “So often, we get items made of print fabrics suitable for girls. These are designs that will appeal to the boys, too. We really appreciate OHCE and the things it does for us.”

Patterns for the bags are also available by calling the OSU Extension Center. Anyone who would like to donate fabrics or sheets for future Sew-Ins can call the same number.

This past week was OHCE Week in Oklahoma. Although no major countywide activities were planned, the five individual clubs in Stephens County: Gleaners, Sunshine, Rock Creek, Oak College and Comanche Homemakers, celebrated individually and several entertained their sister groups, said Brenda Gandy, OSU Extension educator. The annual “mystery trip” was rained out and will be rescheduled, she said.

There are about 75 OHCE members throughout the county.

Through the years, the groups have been known as “farm wives,” “Home Demonstration ladies,” “Extension Homemakers,” “FCE” and now “Oklahoma Home and Community Education” groups, but through it all, members of the county’s OHCE groups have maintained their tradition of service to the community. The organization is no longer just for women, and there are men who attend some of the groups’ meetings, too.

Instead of spending their days cooking and canning and working in the garden, today’s OHCE members are active in a wide variety of community projects. They still like to cook and garden, but much of their time is spent outside the home in activities that make the entire county a better place in which to live.

Each of the groups has individual service projects to benefit its community. All of the groups participate in county projects. After the devastating grass fires of 2006, the groups pulled together and dedicated that year’s Sew-In to making quilts for presentation to people who lost their homes in the fires. Fifty-one quilts were completed during the Sew-In and on a follow-up day that was scheduled to finish up the project.

Local OHCE groups also collect pull tabs from soft drink cans to benefit the 4-H Club; boxtops, coupons and soup labels for education; personal-care items for veterans centers; medicine bottles and other items for the Compassion Center; teddy bears for the emergency room at Duncan Regional Hospital and for law enforcement officers who deal with children in crisis; and provide toys and volunteers for the annual Department of Human Services foster children’s Christmas party. They also sew hundreds of Ouchie dolls for the Stephens County Health Department to give to children who receive immunizations. The little dolls are just scraps of fabric filled with polyester batting, but the kids love the comforting little characters.

And, of course, all of the groups participate in the Stephens County Free Fair each fall. In addition to individual entries, each group has its own informational booth and other displays, and takes pride in the ribbons it earns for its efforts.