Has anyone heard of, or participated in Quilts Of Valor? qovf.org is an organization of people all over the country who make quilt tops, and those longarm quilters who donate their skills, and together they make beautiful quilts for the wounded soldiers returning from Iraq.

My aunt makes a steady stream of these quilt tops when she's not at work in the CICU.

I got her started in quilting, and she has asked me often enough that I am getting ready to start my first quilt for QOV.

I would like to know if anyone else out there is a part of this, or some other quilts for charity type organization?

would like to find out about this org.m...my little bro. is in bagdad right now.God bless him and all the other soliders over there

I have made a quilt for them and also my quilt club has made four or five. My son received one when he was wounded last year. If you want more information, the website is http://www.qovf.org/. Great group of folks.

God Bless America!!

Quiltmaker 101 - I am originally from Robertsdale AL. I will be in town June visiting my folks.

I have not made a quilt for them yet... I made some blocks for a lady who was on a quilt list with me. She collected the blocks from different quilters and then used them to make quilts for QOV. It is on my to do list, but right now I am working on 4 quilts for a shelter for homeless women where a friend's husband is chaplain. Once those are done, I hope to do at least one QOV quilt this year.

Barb

Lynne, when you are in town, we should try to meet up. For dinner or something.

You can email me when you know your plans at [email protected]

Nice to know someone from the board will be close by!

I just sent off my first quilt for this group to a chaplain in northern
California. The website is very inspiring and the director, Catherine, is always very responsive to inquiries and appreciative of all the work from QOV participants. These quilts are made with caring hearts and loving hands and we usually don't hear back from the recipients. You can be very proud to quilt for this group.

Hopefully I will be sending mine off at the end of the week. I still have to make the quilt labels and cases.

EQ - did you make cases for yours?

Lynn, I did make a case for mine because the destination form indicated one was needed. Labels, and now cases, are the two aspects of quiltmaking I like the least. I did request a receipt and enclosed a self-addressed stamped envelope for the chaplain to return to me but after two weeks, I have received nothing. My mail confirmation from the post office confirming their receipt is the only documentation I have for tax purposes, which does not carry the same weight as an official receipt. Maybe I'll still get it.

The Quilting Sisters Guild in Leesburg FL is a very big participant in QOV. They will be happy to give you any info you need. Our President personally delivers quilts to Hailey Veterins hospital in Tampa.

Yes, I am involved and just sent my fifth quilt. The Red Cross Volunteer at Andrews AFB wrote that he was glad we include cases for these quilts as some of the wounded have trouble carrying them. My most recent one also has two straps handles. This same volunteer related that a lad had what remained of his legs covered with a woolen blanket. He said it was itchy and was glad to have a cotton covering.

It is my aim to make one quilt a week or 50 a year. Once I made the commitment, I asked the Lord to give me a design. My quilts are of this design only with different fabrics.

I am so glad several of you are involved also.

Suzanne

Suz, like you I try to make at least two quilts a month for Project Linus or the troops. It is a very serious commitment and not a frivolous hobby, which is so misunderstood by friends who do not understand.

Yes, the list is quite daunting and challenging at first blush. I read, reread and posted questions to the director, who is as nice as can be and very prompt to reply. When I viewed the photo gallery of quilts, I could see the majority of quilts were quick and simple quilts, so I felt much more confident in participating in this worthwhile project. It is so uplifting when you send your quilt off to be a small part of a larger whole.

Here is another way to donate.. you can send blocks or quilt tops or finished quilts... there are guidelines. They make quilts for a lot of different charities. Right now they have 2 main projects.. one creates lap quilts for injured military personnel and the other creates quilts for kid.

Here is the website:
http://heartstringsquiltproject.com/

Be sure to read the guidelines.

Barb C.

Do you live in Leesburgh? My parents are in Fruitland Park every winter. I spent a week at your lovely hospital in Leesburgh in February with my mom.

Hi Dana,

Yes, we live in Leesburg from Nov. 'til early May each year. Although FL is lovely, it is just too hot & humid for us in the summer. We tried it for a few years but my poor husband was so miserable that we decided to come back to WI for the summers.

So sorry that your Mom had to spend a week in the hospital. I've been a patient there several times. If you have to go to the hospital in that area, LRMC is a good place to go. The doctors are good and I have found the staff friendly and very committed to patient care.

I am really new at quilting and joined the quilt guild at the urging of some quilting friends from our community. It is a very large group...approx 150 members. Being so new to quilting, I am kind of "lost" in the crowd and feel a little intimidated by the skillful quilts that the members seem to put out so quickly. I'm working on my skills. I hope to be able to make at least one QOV before I go back in the fall.

Thank you so much for contacting me. It's lovely to hear from someone who knows just where we live. I hope to hear from you again.

Flying, you do not have to request a longarm quilter. You have the option of submitting completed quilts to a designated destination also. I choose to do the latter for all my donated quilts. It is much simpler to work alone and saves the cost of mailing to the longarmer.

I am glad to see so many responses to my topic.

Yes, the list is a little demanding, but they want the receiver to know exactly who was involved and how long it took, so that the value is obvious. The process should be easier after the first one.

After seeing all the vets on the news (the controversy about vet treatment, compensation and the Walter Reed Army hospital) it breaks my heart. Especially when they show rooms full of double amputees.

I may be slow in getting my first donation done, but I know what a nice reminder it will be of my gratitude for their sacrifice for our freedom.

The vets from Viet Nam never got anything - not even thanks - so if anything, my donations to QOV will be for them through the Iraq vets.

I just finished my 6th quilt and will find out tomorrow where it is to sent. Each quilt has a different destination. It will be mailed on Monday.

My third quilt was sent to Andrews AFBase. The Red Cross Volunteer wrote emails all who sent quilts to him (and his wife) for distribution. He said one of the returning military lads had what remained of his legs covered with a woolen blanket. The lad said the wool was scratchy and itchy and was so thankful for the cotton covering.

I enclose a short letter that includes my mailing and email address. I am anxious to hear from one of the recipients, or their family,of my quilts. I'll share this message when it comes.

Regarding the quilting: I am doing my own using clear thread (top and bottom) and although I not real good, my machine quilting is getting better with each quilt. So, if you need to practice machine quilting, this is an opportunity. Once the quilt and the presentation case are washed, the quilting stitches seem to hide.

Regarding the costs: The QOV articles says approximately $120. I believe this figure is a little high and probably includes three mailings (to the longarmer, return to topper, sent to destination). I find each quilt takes about 6 yards of fabric and approximately 3 yards of batting. I also attempt to purchase "on sale" or with coupons. I think mine run between $35-40 each including the shipping.

If any of want to have a really good feeling well up inside, just make one of these quilts, realize who will be receiving same, you cannot help but have anything but a good fuzzy feeling. You will be doing more than a lip service, you are making a difference in someone's life.

Off my box now!! Suzanne

Amen!

This sounds like a reall nice thing to do, I wonder if they would accept a quilt from another country. The mechanics of it could be a bit tricky, would probably be best to do all the work myself because posting it back and forth would not be feasable. Could quilt it on my home machine, Does anyone know if home machine quilting would be acceptable.

I would like to make one, I know I am form a different country but suffering is the same where ever it is. Is a nice thought that something you've made has brought comfort to someone else. Could maybe contact the embassey to see if they cold maybe put into their mail bags to get it over there. Any ideas anyone?

Hi , Look back in this posting . There is a site called Heartstrings. They have a group in Australia that makes quilts for different charities too. This may be a little closer for you to mail to. It sounds like a good organization.
Elaine

I am a tax preparer and have had to deal with IRS audits in the past, usually if you were to take a picture of the quilt, have a list of what went into the quilt and the costs (receipts of the materials if possible, the receipt showing you mailed it to the charitable organization and the cost of shipping, it should be enough to prove your charitable deduction.

You all have motivated me to try my hand at this, also. Bless You All

I just checked out QOV website and if you go there they have a approximate value on the average quilt received.... I will add a copy of that to my other documentation to help validate my tax deductions.

Thanks for the information, Amma, and good luck with your quilting for this wonderful organization.

Hi,
I belong to a group called Quilts for Kids. We make quilts and pillow cases for children who are ill, or hurt. We take ours to Gulf Coast Hospital in Fort Myers, FL.
We also make quilts and pillow cases for the veterans at Walter Reed Hospital.

Our large local guild does a baby quilt for charity workshop every year. They put out about 75 quilts or so each year. Both of our guilds do the QoV, and both guilds are involved in a local effort called Sherrif's Kids Ranch. I can't remember how many quilts and pillowcases have been made for that effort. Tons!! Many of the mini-groups also make quilts for the QoV and for the Sherrif's Kids. My mini-group makes those two, and we also do at least one quilt a year as a raffle quilt for a cause that we all agree on. We stay busy! And we love it. :)

Today I finished QOV #10 which will be mailed on Monday. I use patriotic fabrics and machine quilt on my home machine. I also use red/white/blue thread with a decorative stitch to secure my binding. I can see where my machine quilting quality is improving, an added bonus. So far I am able to make one quilt a week. My plan is to make 50 a year.

Just thought some of you would like to know. I'm not bragging. This is something I must do. Cathy Roberts, founder of the QOV Foundation, says at the end of her newsletter, "Still at war, still quilting" to which I add "until they are all covered".

Suzanne

Hi everyone! I am one of 2 North Dakota Coordinators for Quilts of Valor. We are trying to get the headquarters to change their website a little bit to include where you can contact your own state coordinator. It doesn't really matter where you are; anyone that is involved is a vital part of this great historical adventure. It may sound a bit daunting at first but it really is simple enough. We do like 100% cotton fabrics and we do like a pillow case made. We can find the longarmers and we can even provide batting and backing if necessary. If you would like more information you can go to our Upper Midwest QOV website (www.qovf-um.org) and find patterns for quilts and also for the pillowcase. We also tried to compress the information based on the national website. Again, if you have ANY questions please send me an email at [email protected]. I will answer you or at least head you in the right direction. Keep up the good work. The need is great and is truly appreciated.

I have done a few QOV..but I send them to our Chaplin from the fire house who is over there right now...that way someone is sure to get them and no rules on how to make them!
I also do baby quilts for the pregnancy help center, the womans shelter and I make them for cancer patients and preemies at the hospital...I take turns making them for the different groups...a quilting guild here in town helps me out when they can! :)

I know what you mean about rules! It is just nice to donate where you can and how you can. Quilters seem to be such a generous bunch. I guess the rules come in with the fact that there is a special label that we put on our quilts that shows that it is a Quilt Of Valor. No big deal...almost like designer jeans! The thought and sentiment is always behind any quilt that is given to someone less fortunate. We do like the 100% cotton because it is softer and more breathable for wounds. The fleeces are nice but have a tendency to trap moisture and can irritate wounds with the fuzz. The tying is not advised because of the machine or hand quilting that is done on them to make them last longer and hopefully will be come part of a family's history and will be passed on to another generation to show the Valor of a past relative. Rules have their reasons but in my opinion...it is nice to be able to quilt for whatever reason we can to help another human being. (We already have the fun of making it and it justifys the guilt of pleasure by sharing the finished project!) Keep quilting!