Handmade Quilts Warm Twice

Henry Ford stated “Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.” That observation could be extended to the many local volunteers who created 617 handmade quilts for humanitarian aid, and to the recipients of the quilts.
As a result of several recent weather-related calamities throughout the world, the inventory of quilts at the LDS Humanitarian Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had fallen below target levels. The center stores quilts along with food, water, hygiene kits, cleaning kits, and other emergency items that are sent to victims in the affected areas.

Responding to a challenge from Westminster Stake President Larry Hickman (a stake is similar to a diocese) and Stake Relief Society President LeeAnn Call, each of the six wards (local units) of the stake were asked to each produce “100 quilts in 100 days” to help replenish the supply of quilts.

Each ward assigned a quilting specialist to lead a committee that purchased materials and trained volunteers to cut the fabric and batting, sew edges, and tie the quilts. Experienced quilters helped the novice volunteers. Besides the women of the Church, the effort involved many men, young women, young men and children as well as other volunteers who were not church members but wanted to help with the project. JoAnn Fabric and Craft Store supported the project by supplying materials at a discounted price and providing help and encouragement. One ward recorded over 1000 hours of volunteer time to complete their allotment of 100 quilts.

One of the specialists, Denise Cleverley, commented that it was “a heart warming experience” and “Most of us wished that it could go on.”

Another specialist, Bonnie Christensen, observed “Our three marathon days were a wonderful gathering of ward members, all of us pitching in to get the work done. We helped each other and taught each other. We learned things about each other we did not know before. There was an amazing spirit of “Let’s get it done”...People have come to me and said they miss the socializing and the work. It’s the joy of service and camaraderie with one another that people miss.”

A third specialist, Susan Dunford, remarked “This was such a great project to work on. It was a wonderful opportunity to serve, and united people of all ages and abilities to work together. We created a bit of beauty and comfort and warmth for those in need of it. People from around the world who are affected by disaster and are suffering will hopefully feel the love that went into creating these quilts.”

The project was initiated in June and culminated with the delivery of the last group of quilts to the Humanitarian Center in September. The quilts will be sent to relief areas as needs arise. Those quilts created to warm the recipients in their time of need began by warming the volunteers through their service.