Love the term 'comfort quilt'! It's exactly what I hope all of my quilts will become...
I've read this whole thread and was surprised at how the topic elicits an emotional response in me:
1) In Hebrew, we use the word 'Tsadaka' for 'charity', but it actually means 'justice' - sharing what we have is just and right, a way to make the world a little bit better, as we are commanded to do;
2) Who knows if the hand outstretched towards us is not that of an angel?
3) I really believe that the things we make and give (a meal, a quilt, whatever...) are full of the energies we put into them. We can put smiles, happiness, love, caring, hope, excitement, prayers, blessings and joy into a cuddle quilt and it will transmit those energies to the person snuggled into it.
Plus a lot of other thoughts running around in my head... I've come away convinced that my goal is for every quilt that leaves my home to be filled with as much love and happiness and caring as I can give it, whoever the recipient is.