|
I belong to a small group called Westminster Comforters. 8 of us meet at the church once a month and learn new techniques to make quilts for needy children and adults. We learned that a local hospital had a wing designated for children who had been abused and were in situations where they were not safe at home. We decided to bring 20 quilts and thought we were just dropping them off. To our surprise, we were introduced to the 15 teenagers (!) who were temporarily residing there. Our quilts had been made with babies in mind. We were so upset until we placed all the quilts on a table and the young adults came in. They oohed and they aahed at all the quilts and took the one that was their favorite. One young girl loved the quilt with the little yellow rubber duckies on it. All these polite (and smiling) youngsters then cuddled into their quilts or wrapped themselves up in them. We explained that not one of the quilts was like any other in the world, unique just as they were and that the quilts were made with love for them. We've received so many thank yous from the hospital, the foundation sponsoring this endeavor and from the happy recipients. We were truly blessed. Don't know what to do with all the quilts you make? Start making MORE and start giving them away--there is someone out there who will cherish your talent.
|
your story brings tears of happiness to my eyes. . . . ;-)
|
Originally Posted by Grama Lehr
your story brings tears of happiness to my eyes. . . . ;-)
|
Nice to hear of such a positive experience. Sometimes teenagers are left out because they are expected to understand situations, but they need to know that they are loved and that life will get better.
|
Thank you for sharing. I have not had the opportunity to give like this. I will seek it out.
|
Amen, amen, amen!!!
You know the Word that you can't outgive a giver; but less is emphasized that the giver usually gets the greater blessing. I've aways said, when you're down the most: when you are sad, lonely, depressed, or even worn out......do something really nice for someone else. I can't even express how coordinating this Military Barracks Quilt Project, for instance, has blessed me beyond imagining! And every time I receive a top or ship a box of quilts (one going today to Afghanistan) I pray that the makers of these quilts -- members of this board -- will be wonderfully blessed as well. Your project sounds so nice and has inspired me to look into the same thing here in my area. Happy dance for you all! Jan in VA |
Thank you for sharing this with us! You really made a difference in these teens lives (((HUGS)))
|
Thank you for sharing!
|
That is awesome! Thanks.
|
It warms my heart to hear stories like this. Thank you for sharing.
God bless you abundantly! Kim |
Thanks for sharing and reminding! Blessings from the land of Aus.
|
your story is so touching. Reminds us that teenagers are children. thanks for sharing this, and yourself with these children in need of love. xoxo
|
Does my heart good to hear stories like this.
|
How wonderful that you got to meet the teenagers there! Blessings to all of you for "giving" of yourselves, your time, and talents! :)
|
Warms the cockles of my heart.
|
What a great story to hear at this time of year!
|
That is a great story.
|
Aw, what a GREAT story!
|
Who would have known that a teenager wanted something so precious as a quilt. Maybe they knew there was some love in each one for them.
|
Thanks for your wonderful story - I think we often forget what little things mean to others.
|
Queendaria, thank you for sharing this story! I taught high school science for 29 years until my recent retirement... and teenagers are just big kids who want (and many desperately NEED) love... lots of it! You have inspired me to seek out a local avenue for giving to these souls. I know there is a youth shelter in our community and I suspect they would more-than-welcome some "quilt-love." Again, thank you for sharing this experience with us!
|
I didn't do a lot of donating until my granddaughter was born. She was two months earlier and in the NICU. I made her a quilt and it was put over her incubator. Thus, I started making quilts for all the babies in her unit! After she was home, I continued to make them and she with her parents would go back and donate them! Now, I belong to a Guild and make Hospice quilts. My uncle and my husband's cousin both died at Hospice units.
|
God Bless all of you! You are an inspiration to me! :)
|
That is SO heartwarming. Thank you and your friends for doing this, and thanks to everyone else who gives of themselves to brighten someoneone else's life.
I've hesitated to the point of not saying anything about what my husband and I are doing for the 41yr old single mom who works res.hab. therapy 30 hours a week with our daughter. My husband was able, with two partners, to acquire 8 trailers for $1.00 each. So far, they have completely gutted 4 of them, are in the process of drywalling, installing cabinets, carpet, vinyl, cleaning up the yards, putting in new steps/patios, roofs. We are taking the profits that we would have made from selling, and giving Missie one of the trailers for her son and her. She will have to pay the monthly park rent/utilities, but will have a place to call her own. She was speechless (amazingly!!) when Hubs told her what we were going to do. She goes by every day to check out her new home, and her 8 year old with ADHD is ecstatic about his new digs and the tree in the yard he can climb! Although we really could have used the $ to pay our own bills, the joy in her far outweighs having to scrimp even more to get our stuff paid. |
We had our quilt guild meeting last night. A young woman there was asking for help with the Project Linus sewing youth group at her church. She needed adults to help the young people sew and unsew. But she also said the last time the did this there were 12 youth attending and they made 20 quilts, all had tied on fleece, 2 yards long. To get to the point of my story she said the people at the drop off place were so excited about the bigger quilts, because the usually only got baby quilts and they have so many older children and youth that are also in need. These longer quilts would help in that area.
|
The intended result exceeded your expectations. God is like that. He blesses us for giving & doing more than we expect and He blesses the recipient too! Ain't God good?
|
Originally Posted by queendaria
I belong to a small group called Westminster Comforters. 8 of us meet at the church once a month and learn new techniques to make quilts for needy children and adults. We learned that a local hospital had a wing designated for children who had been abused and were in situations where they were not safe at home. We decided to bring 20 quilts and thought we were just dropping them off. To our surprise, we were introduced to the 15 teenagers (!) who were temporarily residing there. Our quilts had been made with babies in mind. We were so upset until we placed all the quilts on a table and the young adults came in. They oohed and they aahed at all the quilts and took the one that was their favorite. One young girl loved the quilt with the little yellow rubber duckies on it. All these polite (and smiling) youngsters then cuddled into their quilts or wrapped themselves up in them. We explained that not one of the quilts was like any other in the world, unique just as they were and that the quilts were made with love for them. We've received so many thank yous from the hospital, the foundation sponsoring this endeavor and from the happy recipients. We were truly blessed. Don't know what to do with all the quilts you make? Start making MORE and start giving them away--there is someone out there who will cherish your talent.
|
Originally Posted by MS quilter
The intended result exceeded your expectations. God is like that. He blesses us for giving & doing more than we expect and He blesses the recipient too! Ain't God good?
|
Originally Posted by Grama Lehr
your story brings tears of happiness to my eyes. . . . ;-)
|
When I was still teaching, I use to get my ninth graders (15 year olds) to color maps or design a unit cover. They loved the activity. The community I worked in was lower socio-economically and I think they weren't exposed too much to crayons. They would sit so quietly. I always had a big box of colors for them to choose from.
|
Thank you for sharing your story. It's so wonderful to make someone in need feel loved through quilting.
If anyone on the board is looking for organizations which need quilts, just try googling "charities that need quilts" and you will see a number of web sites with very comprehensive lists. if you have stash to share, it is a great way to use those fabrics that may not meet up with your current tastes. |
Originally Posted by Woodster
That is SO heartwarming. Thank you and your friends for doing this, and thanks to everyone else who gives of themselves to brighten someoneone else's life.
I've hesitated to the point of not saying anything about what my husband and I are doing for the 41yr old single mom who works res.hab. therapy 30 hours a week with our daughter. My husband was able, with two partners, to acquire 8 trailers for $1.00 each. So far, they have completely gutted 4 of them, are in the process of drywalling, installing cabinets, carpet, vinyl, cleaning up the yards, putting in new steps/patios, roofs. We are taking the profits that we would have made from selling, and giving Missie one of the trailers for her son and her. She will have to pay the monthly park rent/utilities, but will have a place to call her own. She was speechless (amazingly!!) when Hubs told her what we were going to do. She goes by every day to check out her new home, and her 8 year old with ADHD is ecstatic about his new digs and the tree in the yard he can climb! Although we really could have used the $ to pay our own bills, the joy in her far outweighs having to scrimp even more to get our stuff paid. Thank you for taking care of that family God will reward you. |
(sniffle) what a rewarding experience!
|
Me too! Thank you for sharing.
|
You are God's angels on earth. Wouldn't it be a wonderful world if everyone loved their neighbor the way you do.
|
That is wonderful. I would love to have seen their sweet faces.
I make lap quilts for our service men & women. I do enjoy making them. |
Originally Posted by lass
When I was still teaching, I use to get my ninth graders (15 year olds) to color maps or design a unit cover. They loved the activity. The community I worked in was lower socio-economically and I think they weren't exposed too much to crayons. They would sit so quietly. I always had a big box of colors for them to choose from.
|
My Quilt Guild has been making what we call "Kids Quilts" for several years. We give them to organizations who take care of abused children, to a home for unwed mothers, and to the children's hospital, and in the trauma section when a baby or small child dies, we give the parents a quilt to wrap the baby in to take it out, and hope that keeping the quilt will bring them comfort. We usually have one meeting when everyone brings supplies and sews on these quilts. One member of our Guild has made over 400 herself--and beautifully done!
|
great story, thanks for sharing with us
|
over the last 20+ years, I've probably made 200 charity quilts for children; from premie-twin size. It started as a way for me to deal with many miscarriages. I figured that someone else's child needed a quilt. I'm still making them. Everyone in my family has at least 2-3 quilts, so they don't need anymore. It gives me a good excuse to make lots of quilts
in the bright colors and wild fabrics that I love working with. Sharon W. |
| All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:21 AM. |