Quilting for Charity or Donations

[Annette R.]

I would like to hear from other quilters about the charities or quilt donations, not only the places but how they chose them. I donate to two causes, both very near and dear to my heart. The first is the Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. My granddaughter had surgery in Philadelphia and her parents stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. Each child who stays there is given a hand made blanket. For anyone who is not familiar with RMH they can be found on the web. I decided that when I could start to give back I would replace the blanket Lucy was given. I have now donated over 100 blankets, knitted, fleece knotted, quilted and crocheted. In addition, 5 other relatives are now making blankets.

My other favorite is Reach for Recovery tote bags. These bags are made and given to the American Cancer Society who in turn gives them to women recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The bag contains a small pillow to be used during chemo and information from the Cancer Society. My sister and I started helping a few hours each sewing session our local shop held. Ginny passed away August 2007 from breast cancer and I've made this my other crusade.

I would love to hear from others, what you do and perhaps you could share where you donate. If you have any questions about the Ronald McDonald blankets or the Reach for Recovery bags please contact me.

[Annette R.]

I primarily donate quilts (and other things) to small charities where I know the people running them or the recipients of the services. Having worked in some large charities in my career, I have seen first hand the things that are done to make it look like the money or other items go to the persons that are supposed to receive them and really end up in the pockets of the managers. Call me a cynic but if I chose to give something as valuable as one of my quilts (the materials to make it and the time and love I put into them have great value to me) I chose to give it where I see the results first hand. (Or at the very least know the people who do see the results). Last year I made a number of blankets for a program that provided cleft palate and lip surgery for children in Peru. I had gotten to know one of the nurses going on this medical mission through TQS and was happy to make them for her to take. I also make things for the fund raiser at our granddaughter's school, the charity sponsored by a group in our seniors park for needy people in our community and for various fundraisers for people who have been in accidents or have illnesses and do not have insurance.

I understand why you support the charities you do and am thankful I have not had that experience.

[Annette R.]

My guild does what we call "PMS" each month at our meetings, which stands for "Please Make Some." A member brings in a block pattern and distributes the directions to all members. Those who choose to participate make one or more blocks and return them the next month. Those who are eligible (by virtue of having finished the most recent PMS blocks that they had won, if any) have their name entered into a drawing once for each block. One name is drawn, and that member wins all the blocks contributed. I have chosen to donate most of the items I have made from PMS blocks I have won to various charities. These have included the Friends of the Fine Arts group in the school district where my DD teaches and directs drama, a fund raiser for my DH's fellow teacher who was severely injured in a car accident, and a group of high schoolers in a neighboring community who were raising money for a mission trip through their church (one of their moms is a member of my guild, and she had brought in the pattern.) Like Ann, I prefer to donate locally wherever possible.

[Sandy F.]

For the last five years I have made a quilt for the Alheizmer Auction we have at work.

[Sandy F.]

A charity I've done work for is found at a web site, www.http://marinecomfortquilts.us/. They provide quilts to families of all branches of armed services that have lost a loved one in Operation Iraqi Freedom. I got involved because one of my husband's cousins was a career Marine, and also a quilter. It seems to be a very worthwhile cause. I brought the project to a retreat I'm involved in as a service project, and we got 3 kits from this group, finishing 3 quilts to donate that weekend. You can also participate by making blocks - your design, but to their dimensions, of course.

[Sandy F.]

Each year "FOOD for Lane County" has an 'Empty Bowl Sale' to raise money for their cause, which is to help feed those who are hungry. 'Local Clay' (of which I used to belong) makes and donates most of the bowls for the sale. About 4 years ago(after back problems forced me to change lifestyles) I joined an art quilt group and realized that it would be possible to make fabric bowls to donate for their sale. I organized a group that we call 'Sew Many Empty Bowls' and once a year, for the last 3 years, we get together and make fabric bowls. This has added to the total income from the sale and this year a small group will make a quilt that will be auctioned off at their annual auction. This has been very rewarding for many of us that are able to help.
http://www.foodforlanecounty.org helps gather and coordinate food distributions with other groups in the county. It is my understanding that Lane County, OR has the highest percentage of hungry people in our country.
Carolyn, thankful that I can help.

[Sandy F.]

Well aside from the one that I just finished this past few months for my son's class to go towards his senior dues. I have made some for various injured peoples benefits. The one I just started on thursday is for one of my best friends little sisters. She was in a horrible accident on saturday. Major frontal lobe damage, it is very sad. My best friend died 7 years ago from a stroke she was 29. Her parents are beside themselves. Please remember them in your prayers tonight. Her name is Valerie. She is very smart and has a lot going for her. She has a masters degree and she has a bright future ahead of her.

[Sandy F.]

Way back in the '90s, I worked with a nice male RN. He was painfully thin, and we all knew that he had AIDS long before he was comfortable telling us. I knew that his partner would make a panel for the AIDS quilt (remember that huge quilt?), but I didn't see any reason Mike should have to croak to get a quilt, so I gave him one of mine. Then I went to my stash and started cutting 4" strips of conversation prints, in light, medium, and dark, and sewed them together in groups of 10 strips. Some groups were light-medium-light-medium, and some were medium-dark-medium-dark. After pressing, I cut them into 4" wide strips, keeping them in separate piles, and when done, I had enough strips to make 10 quilt tops. I quilted them with in-the-ditch quilting and gave them out to people living with AIDS, and got some of my friends to help. I think we gave out around 30 quilts in a few years, and then they came out with the medication cocktails that helped folks live longer. I still make some of these, for our Quilts For Kids project here in Aransas County, for the teenage kids--they measure 70" by 87". Our little quilt guild has given out 1400 quilts in the last few years, mostly to residents of our county, but we did send a few hundred off for Katrina survivors, too. We also make quilts for the folks here that get Habitat for Humanity houses, and for folks whose houses burn down, and as raffle quilts for local charities. We just finished making some wall hangings from quilt blocks that the kids at Camp Aransazu (camp for very sick children) made, that will be raffled off to support the camp. We also donate a quilt for each child that attends the camp each summer. This is some of the most satisfying work I can imagine doing, and all in our community.


If you'd like to see the charity quilt made of the conversation print and other strips, go to http://community.webshots.com/user/pknord and look in the quilt album, it's on the top row.

Pat in Rockport, TX

[Sandy F.]

Pat you do a good job on your quilts. I really like Shoo-fly and the African baby quilt. Keep up the good work. Doing things for charity is a pleasure isn't it?
Carolyn

[Sandy F.]

Our Wednesday night Gathering group makes a quilt to raffle off every year.


First year ... money went to Ammi Simms Alzheimer Quilts for Reasearch.

Second Year... money went to local Soup Kitchens at various churches.

This year we are going to dontate to local hospice... but also there is a charity out of NY that buys trendle sewing machines to donate to widows and mothers so they can work out of thier homes. The women are from a number of countries in Africa, and Middle East. The sewing machines cost about $250 to support.

[Sandy F.]

My guild gives our quilts to the local battered women's shelter, the fire dept. and police dept. We do know that they are very grateful. Knowing that your quilt is going to someone who is in such a great need is so rewarding. Membership in our guild requires that we make at least one quilt for charity each year. Many of us make many more than that.
JoAnne
California

[Judy M.]

I also have donated my time to make children's quilts for charity through my guild, Los Angeles County Quilters Guild. Each July meeting is a "work day" for charity. I also am going to start making blocks for the "Home of the Brave" project. These quilts will be given to wounded service men & women. I've also made this contact through my quilt guild.

[Judy M.]

I am always amazed at the generosity of quilters. I have always told people that ask about owning a quilt shop and the people I deal with, I have the most wonderful customers in the world. When I think of the time and money that goes into all the quilts that are made and given away..boggles the mind.
My guild is making quilts for a local battered womens shelter. We also make soldier quilts for soldiers coming back injured. We have a member that works for a hospital and takes them directly to the soldiers when they arrive. My favorite project is seeing organizations making fabric postcards that they sell and then give the money to their favorite charity. What a great way to use up those scraps!

[Judy M.]

I am frequently given scrap fabric or when I see scrap fabric I take it rather than see it thrown in the garbage. I sort out the fabric into size and who it will go to. I now have a bag that I will take to "Quilts for the Troops" group. I don't sew for this group but they always need red, blue, white and patriotic fabric.
I just learned about a new cause, "Bags of Love" for children 1 to 18 that are taken into foster care because of parental behavior, i.e. taken to jail, etc. They make a bag and fill it with a quilt, toothbrush, soap, other personal items, a stuffed toy and other items that these kids can call their very own. I couldn't believe how many children a month are in need of these bags. I am going to help in our local guild to coordinate projects for this cause.

[Judy M.]

[quote="CarolynArts"]I now have a bag that I will take to "Quilts for the Troops" group. I don't sew for this group but they always need red, blue, white and patriotic fabric."

Might I make a little suggestion regarding quilts for our troops. My nephew, an Army Major, told me that he would never be able to sleep under a red, white and blue quilt because it brought back memories of too many flag draped coffins.

I have made dozens of red, white and blue quilts because I love those colors. I will never again think of them in the same way.

JoAnne