I think variety, and from the heart, is what counts.

Our guild sends quilts to "American Heros" . I do not have the address at home, but try googling it. If you can't afford the postage, perhaps finding a local group that would like to be part of such a good cause, and would be willing to pay for the postage.

Do you have a American Legion or a VFW near you? I,too, am in MN and there is a VFW in the city nearest me. I would think you could find info there. Also, isn't there several Veteran's Hospital's in MN? I know what you mean about the Quilts of Valor being very restrictive in their rules. I must confess I was a little put off by the rules that must be adhered to so that a Quilt of Valor would be accepted. Good Luck!

There is a post on here from 2010 that called for 500 quilts to be given out during the Warrior Games, which is basically Olympics for physically and psychologically impaired veterans. I know it's outside of your state, but this event is coming up again in May in Colorado Springs. You might contact them and see if they are giving out quilts again this year. Their site said to email them at [email protected] if the department you were looking for wasn't listed. You could also try to contact CasaManana (who did the 2010 post) but she hasn't posted on here in a long time.

I hope this helps!

Look for the VA hospital in your area. I am sure they will accept them with no restrictions.

Contact your nearest National Guard or American Legion for suggestions. Also call local churches to see if there is a group of sewers/quilters meeting there who are making "soldier quilts".

I found my latest soldier by reading the local news. He has returned from Afghanistan with his service dog who served 4 tours and developed PTSD - yep, dogs get it too - and I contacted the reporter who wrote about them. The reporter put me in touch with the soldier and we will be presenting both of them with quilts during our local guild's quilt show next weekend.

Having taken a stack of quilts to the VA Hospital in Richmond VA 2 years ago, I feel that one of the reasons they are asking for "no more quilts" is because the quilts are piling up in various offices where there are no personnel to properly disperse them and no one cares for them....they are stacked helter-skelter all over the floor. As we left we sort of wished we had just walked up to various men in wheelchairs and handed them a quilt.:rolleyes:

Jan in VA