Residents at 305 8th Street were elated with their refurbished porch swing, thanks to Mary Martha Circle members from Asbury United Methodist Church. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – A women’s group at Asbury United Methodist Church shared their skills to brighten summer days for a residential facility.

Mary Martha Circle sewed bright cushions and butterfly pillows for an outdoor swing at 305 8th Street, a home for high-functioning adults with disabilities. The home is named for its Huntsville street address.

“Our focus is on missions that involve women, children and adolescents,” Mary Martha Circle leader Sally Benton said. Organized about 20 years ago, the 20-member group pursues numerous mission efforts, locally and overseas.

“Asbury has been a mission partner with 305 8th Street for quite some time,” Benton said. Circle members recently took lunch there and visited with residents. “What an amazing experience! We were so blessed by these precious people and their sweet spirits. Andrea Williams, the executive director, is an angel.”

During that visit, they discovered the damaged swing and how important it was to residents. “We stepped into the back porch and saw this tattered and torn swing mattress. God put it on our hearts that we had to do something to help these people,” Carleen Cowles said.

Williams had attempted to discard the swing, but residents loved it so much that they retrieved it from the curb. “I asked if we could get measurements. Andrea readily got a tape measure,” Cowles said.

Cowles led the project and collected enough donations at Asbury also to buy cleaning supplies and other items.

One resident wanted “blue cushions with flowers because their backyard was so pretty. He also said ‘Granny,’ an 80-year-old woman would love those cushions,” Cowles said. “When I delivered the cushions and pillows, the residents were overjoyed.”

Residents took turns sitting on their refurbished swing and admiring their new cushions and pillows. “When I came back to visit, Granny was sitting on the porch. She looked at me and said, ‘I love my new swing.’ Those few words just warmed my heart,” Cowles said.

Mary Martha Circle is open to adult women. For information, email to rrbenton@knology.net. For information about 305 8th Street, visit 3058thstreet.org.