With Christmas a week away, Richard Westerman wanted to hand out presents to all of the residents at the St. Andrew’s at New Florence nursing home on Dec. 18.

They’re hot pads.

“If somebody wants them for Christmas, I’m going to give them as Christmas presents because I had to do something with them,” the longtime Montgomery County resident said. “I’m glad to give them to somebody. I like to help people out.”

The 84-year-old Westerman made 120 hot pads for the St. Andrew’s residents. They will be used as coasters to set beverages on.

“I think I can make more than one of these a day,” Westerman said. “I think I can make two. I have to be good enough to make two.”

Making hot pads became a hobby for Westerman several months ago.

“I used to color and stuff like that in my room,” Westerman said. “I’m word searching and all of that stuff. I like doing this and it worked out pretty good. I just like doing it. It keeps me busy. At first, it was hard. But the more you do it, the easier it gets. Now it’s easier.”

Westerman got some tips in making hot pads from his sister, Pat Rustige, who makes baskets.

“I showed him how to do it,” Rustige said. “Then, he was having some trouble. So my sister Rachel (Vincent) called. We walked him through it. Ever since then, he’s been making them.”

Westerman lived in Montgomery County for most of his life. He also lived in Lincoln County for six years. He worked on a farm, was employed in the transportation field for many years and served two years in the Army in the early 1960s.
Westerman will celebrate his two-year anniversary as a resident at St. Andrew’s on Jan. 21.

“I made a lot of friends,” Westerman said. “I like it here. I have no complaints about it.”