How do you find a charity group?
 

Is there a website that lists groups that do charity quilts? Seems that I've asked everyone at the local quilt stores and they don't seem to know of any.

Quilts for kids, Project Linus, Home of the Brave, Wounded Warriors, Quilts of Valor or just a few. You can google them. Also if you have a guild in your area, they probably have places that they donate to. Our guild has about a dozen places that quilts go to and we give away over 600 quilts a year. My favorite place thru the guild is to our local NICU.
What part of California are you in?

I'm not sure exactly where you live, but here are a few suggestions:

Project Linus:
http://www.projectlinus.org/voluntee...tateKey=CA#tgt

Project Linus donates quilts to children in crisis, Homeless shelters, Hospitals, etc. The above link lists chapters around the country.

Quilts for Kids:
http://www.quiltsforkids.org/

I don't have any personal experience with this charity.

Here's a list of other possibilities posted by QuiltersWorld magazine:
http://www.quiltersworld.com/makeadifference.php

If you can't find what you're looking for in any of these links, try googling Quilt Guild and the city you live in. You should be able to find out about national or local organizations that collect quilts for charity.

If you just want to do something on your own, you can always contact a local Homeless shelter, Women's shelter, Public Hospital, Head Start program, Police Department, Fire Department, Nursing Homes. I'm sure you can find a worthwhile charity interested in putting your quilts to good use. You can also contact the Band Directors from your area High School to see if they hold any Silent Auctions or Raffles where they might be able to sell a donated quilt as a fund-raiser. I made a t-shirt quilt for my school's band and they sold it for about $550.00.

Ask at your local quilt store about local quilt guilds. The quilt guilds most likely do charity quilts.

Other possibilities for groups that need quilts are your local battered women's shelter, homeless shelter.

Another to add to the list is nursing homes.

Shame on your local quilt shops for not knowing about groups who do charity quilts!:(
They need to be reading the current quilting magazines to keep abreast of the industry and the things that are involved with it. It's unfortunate that too many LQS are just a hobby source for fabric for their owners and employees when they could be SO much more.

Here is a great complete list from Quilting World Magazine.
http://www.quiltersworld.com/makeadifference.php

Jan in VA

All of the above mentioned groups are worthy, but sometimes it is easier, less expensive, or more satisfying, or there are fewer rules to be followed, if you donate locally. All the guilds around here donate quilts to various groups, including abused women and children's shelters, veterans, and active duty military. One of the LQS's organizes sewing sessions using donated fabric (unusual for a quilt store to do this!) to donate quilts to hospice. There is a another group that meets weekly in the senior center to make quilts for veterans. Church groups also make quilts for donations. Your LQS really should be aware of these types of organizations, so shame on them for not having the information. I think your best bet would be to check with the local guilds, senior centers, hospitals, hospice, etc. If they can't give you the name of a local group, at least one of them will probably be thrilled to take your donations.

Shocked that the employees at the stores don't know of any!

Perhaps you can make them a list! :)

Nan

Another choice is your local animal shelter. Mine has several auctions throughout the year and have auctioned off quilts.

I have found my charities that I quilt for thru a church group and a local quilter's guild. If you are in Southern CA, I would contact a LQS called the Calico House located in Yorba Linda CA. They are a Gammill dealership so they quilt lots of charity quilts letting new students practice on those quilts. They probably could refer you to a local charities. One of my friends sent me this information.....

Quilts of Compassion
PO Box 350296
Toledo OH 43635

They provide quilts to people who have suffer thru a natural disaster. PM me and I will give you the lady's in charge e-mail. Just didn't think it would be correct to post it. Good Luck !!

I started at home. I think I've posted before that I give to our local Nursing homes or Hospice. And did I mention how pleased and excited the staff was the first time I arrived with quilts AND wheelchair & walker bags? I wondered if anyone had ever donated the bags before. So now I try to have at least a dozen when I arrive. Such a little thing, but the residents prize their little personal items and want them with their person. I was told one resident had a laptop & no place to keep it except his lap. So I even put pockets for cell phones...and I make them more personal by embroidering cute designs or sayings on them...for instance "I'm TOO cute!", or "Yes, I still flirt!". Just to get a chuckle. So look around you and you'll find your own "charity". It can be very rewarding to the soul. Off my podium, now:)

I can't even conceive of a LQS that doesn't know of local guilds with charity quilting ... or other outlets for our art.

Every guild I know of does something. Even some of the LQS's have charity quilting groups.

I don't want to plug any one group but I'm gonna ... when he was two my son got really sick with a stomach virus and had to be on IV fluids because he couldn't keep anything down. We were given a Project Linus blanket at the hospital and it was the only thing in the room that wasn't medical and scary to him. He still sleeps with his Project Linus blanket every night. They are really a great organization.

You can make quilts for raffles for any charity and then money goes to them to use as needed. I have done that will most of my charity quilts. You can make some really good money doing raffles.

What a great idea. I worked at a nursing home as one of my first jobs, sad how many get no visitors. I really think this is such a good idea. I may have to bring one down and do a free raffle for the residents.

Fantastic ideas! Wow!

I'm a member of Quilters for Comfort. If you go to yahoo groups you can find it. We're from all over the USA and do stuff for different charities thru the year. You only participate in what you want to....

Flying Horse Ranch in Ohio runs a camp for terminally ill children. They collect over 350 quilts either 50X70 or 60 X 80 for the children to take home after the end of the camp. I can think of few things that make me feel better than a quilt for a child. They should be on the web.

Fantastic idea! Would you mind sharing your pattern for the wheelchair and walker bags? Sounds like a great way to bless folks and use up stash in a hurry.

local is good. Our guild supports the women's shelter. They seldom come into shelter with more than the clothes on their backs, and must be fitted out with household goods when they are ready to leave.

I'm taking this year to make several doll quilts that I will send via Operation Christmas Child that is a ministry of Samaritan's Purse. You fill a shoebox with toys, hygiene items, school supplies, hair thingies, socks, mittens, etc (google if interested)

I'm going to buy an 8-10 inch new doll for each doll quilt I finish, and then fill in the box with other little things. I think it will brighten the world of a child ages 2-4. (Operation Christmas Child has you pack a shoebox by gender and age group.)

You can find pattern PDF's of different styles free at:
http://www.sewingsupport.com/sewing-...le-sewing.html and at


http://www.sewing.org/html/charitysew.php
These are two sites I've used. One of the board members posted pix of an easy quick bag for walkers here late last year. I copied her instructions and pictures, but I don't have that info near me right now. I might find it in the notebook of patterns somewhere--if you don't like these, pm me and I'll do a search. You might do a search here in Main. I liked it and made a half dozen quickly for the Xmas donations.

I help with our local chapter of Project Linus, and we give to hospitals but also to health clinics, homeless shelters, pediatric therapy groups, teen mom groups...in other words, under our umbrella we reach out to many places. We also know of others who support senior groups and other types of nonprofits, so contact your local PL chapter and ask questions!

Charity groups.
 

I would check with local churches as many have charity groups that use their buildings and senior citizen centers. Good luck with your search.

Thanks, everyone, for your input. I appreciate the time you took to help me! There are groups around here that donate quilts, but it seems they want you to be a member. Now I have lots of options!

I totally agree with this. I donate all the time to my friend's group of her church "Sew many Blessings" as they need a lot of help because they don't have a lot of support and you know it is going to a good cause where local help is needed instead of spending on shipping and all what you can spend on buying more fabric to help locally. It just makes more sense to me to help locally.

Many good ideas in here. Thank you. It's something I'm interested in and want to do when we're just a bit more financially stable ourselves.
Rodney

Do you have a particular interest closest to your heart? Contact them.

I discovered a lady was making cage inserts for a local animal rescue group. You adopted a critter, you got a cage mat. The mats were even sometimes time of the year themed: Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, 4th of July, etc. Encouraged adoptive people. I discovered the group and this lady at the vet's office.

There are groups everywhere. Find that interest closest to your heart and talk to people who are involved somehow with that interest. They are out there and all it takes is talking to people to find them. Your time and talent will be gratefully appreciated. And you will make some similarly concerned friends.

Good luck and have a good time.

Pat

IT DOESN'T HURT TO KEEP A FEW QUILTS, SET ASIDE, FOR LOCAL CHARITY DINNERS. EXAMPLE, A BUSINESS OWNER WAS SHOT MAKING THE NITE BANK DEPOSIT AND LEFT PARALYZED. sorry about caps. a quilt could be donated to events such as that where they are raising money for medical expenses etc. just another way to keep it local if you like. OUR LOCAL NEWS AND NEWSPAPERS ALWAYS HAVE A STORY. HOUSE FIRES ETC. dang! I keep hitting the cap key. sorry

Let me suggest wraptheminlove.org
It's based in Washington state. The quilts go to children around the world and all are appreciated. Shame on your LQS for not maintaining a list. There is so much need.

I love Project Linus, it's my favorite charity group because their offerings are so varied and widespread within a community as you suggested. Anyone can look up Project Linus online to find info near where they live.

Soldiers Angels Blanket of Hope for wounded warriors who are evacuated from the battlefield with nothing, including the clothes on their backs. These do not have to be elaborate quilts, even no-sew blankets are welcomed! Great service project for kids. It really depends on your heart. http://soldiersangels.org/blankets-of-hope.html

If you prefer not to make quilts but sew garments (dresses and shorts) Nancy's Notions has a site for dresses/shorts for kids. Also check with your local nursery at the hospitals and see if they accept small quilts, hats etc.. Many of the local shelters take quilts also for at risk families. Dog Rescues are always in need of quilts for the dogs to lay on or make their own.
ITs a shame that a shop wouldn't know such information, maybe as suggested; make a list and ask the owner/employees to make it available for people who do want to make a quilt and send it on to a charity.

You might check with some of the local churches in your area. I work with our church's quilting ministry. We make quilts for local shelters, for mission trips to other countries and whenever we hear of a family in need or that has suffered a catastrophic event. Your local quilt guilds, if there are any, might have suggestions for you as well. If not, any local shelter for abused women, homeless families, birthright centers might be able to give you tips to help them.

Another good place is your local hospitals oncology department. Some quilters donate to those undergoing chemo.

Local here. I make dog pillows from scraps and take to the local humane society. I also make items for the local charity that helps young mothers who are in need. Baby items mostly. Occasionaly, I make shoulder wraps for local nursing home resident. Always more charities to donate to than I have time. I would like to do more but I do what time permits. I am sure if you ask around you will find some in your area that would love to have your donations.

Ive also given to sheriff dept and social services for when they remove children from homes, fire depts, sheriff for accident victims there is lots! Ui also give to rehab centers, nursing homes, vets, local hospitals, womens shelters. I try to pick somewhere new every year. Havent run out yet!! :-)

There is a great foundation near you that you may want to visit or check the web site. Making quilts for the MY Stuff Bags is how I got started quilting.
My Stuff Bags foundation
5347 Sterling Center Drive
Westlake Village, CA 91361
www.mystuffbags.org
Phone: 818-865-3860

Ask other quilters! I'm very surprised that your LQS don't know of any charities that accept quilts. After all, the more quilts that are made, the more fabric they sell.

I think that is such a great idea. I quilt/sew on my own, and can only do so much. I am an animal lover and I have always wanted to combine my love of sewing with somehow helping animals in need. I have made dog/pet pillows but recently started making layered blankets that can be folded if a smaller size is needed, and can be laundered easily. Top layer is flannel, with two layers of muslin inside and backing. It is surprising how fast I go through fabric making them. I am making them about 32 inches by 40 inches.

Serita