Kris Simon Noel, of Grove City, arranges afghans she made for newborns on Wednesday, March 22, at Butler Memorial Hospital. Her work is given to new mothers and their babies when they leave the hospital. Justin Guido/Butler Eagle

A longtime friendship is generating more than warm feelings between the two pals. It’s keeping newborns warm also.

Kris Simon Noel, of Grove City, has known Sarah Burton, of Harrisville, for more than 23 years, since they both worked in the med surge/telemetry department of Grove City Hospital. Noel was a secretary and Burton was a nurse.

“Our kids were about the same age,” Burton said. “We were friends because we got along really well.”

“We’re both kind of strange,” Noel said.

The friendship continued even after Burton left Grove City Hospital and became a maternity ward nurse at Butler Memorial Hospital.

“I’ve done maternity since 2000. Their (Grove City’s) OB department closed down, not enough deliveries or revenue to keep the department open,” Burton said.

Burton said people who want to donate blankets, afghans or hats to the maternity ward should call the main desk at the hospital at 724-283-6666.