I often find those who don't quilt sometimes think those who do will use any kind of fabric. Back a few years ago one of our local churches used to use polyester to make quilts to send to those in need in poorer countries. Our guild meets at our senior center once a week to make quilts for hospitals and the like and quite often someone, especially a man, will bring in boxes of his wife's fabrics to give to us. We thank them knowing they do not know what to do with it. (Sometimes they have a difficult time parting with it.) Then it gets sorted and dispersed so that very little actually gets tossed. Your neighbor means well. And upholstery fabric does make great bags for carrying your groceries in -- reduce & reuse.