I, too, recommend joining a quilt guild. There's a lot you would be exposed to in terms of ideas, sewing friends, and smaller sub-groups that could be very helpful to you. In any guild I've belonged to, there is a group that makes and donates quilts for those in need. They give you a fabric kit and will be happy to accept the top only. They have people who volunteer to bind the quilt, and others who will quilt it.
Good luck and welcome to our quilting world!