Peckish

I know everyone loves to make quilts for babies, it's easy and fun, but there is a MASSIVE need in my area for quilts for terminally ill patients. There are several hospitals in the metro area, one of which goes through 30-40 quilts a month. The quilts brighten dreary rooms and bring a little humanity into a sterile experience. I read a thank-you letter from one family, the mama was dying of breast cancer. Her 10 year old son picked out a quilt for her that had apples on it, because he liked apples. When the mama passed, the quilt went to the family and gave them a lot of comfort.
PLEASE consider this as an outlet for your quilts. Check with every hospital and pastoral program in your area to see if you can donate quilts, tops, batting, fabric, your time, etc.

tranum

Our local hospital accepts 40x56 quilt tops. They are given batting, backing and tied by a crew of volunteers then offered to patients taking cancer treatments. The work room wall is plastered with thank yous. One family wrote their loved one wanted his quilt over his casket instead of a floral spray. Several requested to have their quilt put in their casket with them. There’s a group that raises money to buy fabric and of course there’s fabric donations from purges and estates.

CanoePam

I have sewn for Quilts for Kids, a licensed 503 non-profit. They do have some rules - size, material, batting, machine sewing only - but they are pretty common sense for items that can be given to children in a hospital setting and washed in harsh hospital laundry systems. They also donate to homeless groups, transitional housing, foster care groups, etc. Kids get to pick their own quilts which helps a lot. Remember to make lots of gender neutral and boy quilts since there are more boys hospitalized or in foster care! They will send you a kit for free, asking for a shipping donation. You complete the quilt using your own batting, and send it back, hopefully with another quilt you have made from your own supplies. Obviously they take quilts you make without using their kits! I have participated in local chapters too, depending on where I live. It is a long time organization, very reputable.

toverly

I know when my son was in diapers, I loved a diaper pad. It was a quilt, like a large placemat. The baby laid on top. It was great for changing on beds, changing units in restrooms, the car. I knew it was clean and would not leave a mess.

sewbizgirl

These days, infants are not recommended to be put to bed under blankets or quilts. Instead, they give newborns "blanket sleepers" that swaddle them and keep them warm without blankets. The baby quilts are still handy for "tummy time" on the floor. I make "stroller quilts" (small size) to tuck in around the baby in a stroller or car seat. Those are useful and are not very big. 24" square is plenty.

Super sad about all the quilts molded and ruined in storage! All that love and work down the drain....

Onebyone

Most of my donated quilts go to assisted living homes. A lot of the residents in most non private homes have nothing just for them. I keep giving to them as the quilts do tend to vanish. Sad but true. I hope the vanished quilts are used and loved at least.

Sandra-P

Our guild was donating to the Sheriff office to have them use the quilts for people in need. We found out that they were using them to cover bodies in accidents then were thrown away. So sad, I would not have minded if the coroner washed them then gave them back to the family. Hopefully some went to kids who were taken to foster homes in disputes where they were removed from their homes.

petthefabric

Some new ideas. Thanks. When my dad was in a care facility, the staff was very helpful getting his quilt back to him.

RedGarnet222

Someone some time ago mentioned that the firemen like to have kids quilts to give the kids when they are displaced.

CanoePam

Sadly those quilts would be considered hazardous medical waste. They would not be returned for that reason. Standard washing isn’t considered adequate to make them safe.I lost a blanket that way once when I used it to assist at a traffic accident outside my house. Luckily it was just an old car blanket, not a quilt. The EMTs were apologetic, but they must be safe.