Elise Notzon, a senior at TMI – The Episcopal School of Texas enlisted the help of members of the Dominion Rotary Club in making special “lovie” dolls that help parents of premature infants bond with their children while the babies are still in hospital neonatal intensive care units (NICU). At the club’s Sept. 30 meeting, Notzon showed the Rotarians how to make the dolls, a project of the Threads of Love needlework ministry.

Parents of babies in intensive care hold the dolls close to transfer their scent to into the materials; when the dolls are placed beside the infants, the babies can sense the parents’ presence, beginning the bonding process.

At the Rotary meeting, Notzon demonstrated how to make the simple dolls from white socks, stuffing, yarn and ribbon. Members produced finished dolls to be given to a Threads of Love group for distribution to area hospitals.

Notzon is executive director of community outreach and new initiatives for TMI’s Interact chapter – a Rotary-sponsored youth community-service organization – and will lead other Interact members in making more “lovie” dolls later this month to present to Threads of Love.