Village Kids

Last week on Facebook, I told many people that I was doing a marathon session of working on the Village Kids quilt project. Phil was at work for the weekend and I had my chores done enough to sit and sew. Here is a little about the program and a few pictures of the quilts that we finished.

Village Kids quilt project was started by Bonnie Gallagher, a quilter who lives in the Sandy area. Bonnie has ties to the fire department and just knew there was a need for something that she could help with. Her mother was ailing and in order to keep her active, they began making lap size quilts for the kids of the Village of Sandy who had been involved in an accident, domestic dispute or fire. The police and fire department first responders, carry quilts in their vehicles and if a child/teen are involved, they are given a quilt to wrap up in. They are very upset so the quilt calms them, and in some cases, warms them if they are cold.

Bonnie is having health issues and her mother has since passed on so the members of QFAC (Quilting and Fiber Arts Club) in Sandy, have decided to help with this project. We had a booth at our 2010 Sandy Historical Society Quilt Show and asked the attendees to make a block for us. They could use whatever they wanted, as long as it was something that matched well in putting the block together. Ladies, kids and men alike stop by and created these blocks for us.

After the Quilt Show, I took them all home and did what I do best...organize them into quilts. I put 12 blocks together, some sashing and backing if I had it and put them into kits for the members of Q-FAC to put together. We received backing and batting from members and donations from others to help with this. While I was gone to MI, the members decided that at the first meeting of the month, the members who wanted to, would work on these quilts.

So, in the last four months, we created 26 quilts to give to the first responders. Some were quilted, some tied, but all were done with love.

The one on the left has fairy princesses on it, and the one on the right will be just right for a small toddler or baby.
The one on the left has cats on it and the right one has trucks and cranes. Perfect for small children.
A little boy would love this tractor and bear quilt and the one on the right will be perfect for a tween or teen .
Yep, there are cowboy ones...good for any age group.
This is Bonnie. She is the founder of the Village Kids program and was very excited to have our help in this project.
On Thursday, Oct. 28, we had a presentation of the quilts to Sgt. Burns of the Police Dept; Chief McQueen of the Fire Dept; and Chaplain Karen who goes to many of the calls in the area. Sgt. Burns said that at first they were skeptical of carrying "blankets" around in their vehicles. But once they saw the relief on the faces of the cold child, or traumatized teen, they were happy to carry them.
These are three piles of quilts that we presented to them. They were happy to get the "blankets". Chief McQueen said that the quilts help relax some of the stress of the victims so that the responders can do their job more efficiently. Chaplain Karen was also very appreciative of the quilting project.
We put the finished quilts in the tubs and the men were happy to carry them out to their cars. Thanks, Sgt. Burns and Chief McQueen, for doing your job and sharing a little of quilters to those in need. There will always be a Village Kid quilt made with love and hugs for those who need it in the Sandy area. God Bless you all.