Charity Work

The Guild prides itself in being a strong supporter of the community and achieves this through numerous activities. The first group quilt made by the Guild members was donated to the Goulbourn Museum’s quilt collection as part of the history of quilting in the area. Over the years full size bed quilts have been given to Operation Go Home, Habitat for Humanity, The Humane Society, and to Breast Cancer Support Services for fund raising purposes. There have been 39 quilts donated to The Richmond Lodge for use of the residents

Today, the Guild has a number of members involved in several charity projects. On-going projects include:

1. Quest for a Cure

The Guild has adopted THE QUILT, a breast cancer support project, as the charity of choice, as breast cancer touches us all in some way. Please support this event. Ann will be happy to answer questions or to take your donations. In September 2005, 52 members quilted in the Quest for a Cure Marathon held at The Country Quilter. This marathon raised $18,050 which was donated to breast cancer support projects. At Quest for A Cure Quilt Maraton September 29th and 30th 2006, quilters raised over $32,000!! In 2007 we raised $42,000.

2008 Marathon: $35,000 and still counting!

Visit our special “Pink Corner” page on the Quest for a Cure Marathon.

2. Quilties.

This is a charity project to make 24 x 24 inch quilties for the special needs babies at the Queensway Carleton hospital and CHEO. You can decide where your quilt will go. CHEO also needs quilts for children up to 12 years.
Use this as an opportunity to practice a pattern or technique, babies don’t mind that you’re practicing. If you don’t have time to make a full quiltie, bring in a top, or donate some fabric for someone who may have a little more time. There are lots of ways to participate.

3. Summer Challenge Blocks

4. Friday Country Quilter Charity group.

Once a month, you are invited and encouraged to join this small and friendly group for a day of fun, food, and quilting! This group makes lap size quilts, and some smaller child-size lap quilts that are donated to local women’s shelters. Throughout the year  lap quilts will be donated to Chrysalis House and Harmony House , first stage emergency shelters for women and children who are in violent and abusive situations. Quilts will also be donated to dementia patients at the Richmond Hospice day program.
Please note that this group relies on donated materials to make the quilts. If you have any scrap fabric, even strips of fabric, we welcome your discards! Also needed is larger heavy fleece or flannel pieces that are used for the backings. If you have an extra 8″ square ruler, rotary cutters, threads, or mats, donations of these items are also welcome. To donate, please leave items with Ann at the Country Quilter. If you are available to come out and quilt for a day, please let Ann at the Country Quilter know. There is a nominal fee to cover for space rental and lunch and snacks. Come out and have some fun, great food, fellowship and all for a worthy cause!

5.Harmony House

We will again support Harmony House ( home for abused women and their children). Egg cartons and laundry soap can be left at the sign in table at any meeting. At the November and May meetings, we have a food drive for the shelter and in December there is a stocking contest, so that all residents can receive a gift.
We collect toiletries, chocolate and other small items to fill the stockings. Winter coats and jackets are always useful in the fall. If you are a newer member you may not know that we have donated quilts to Harmony House so that each bed has a cheery quilt. There are Eye-Spy quilts for the children’s corner as well. In 2005, Fifteen quilts were donated to the woman’s shelter, brightening up the rooms. In November 2005 there was a food collection for the shelter. It took 2 vans to transport all the donations. This was the third year that we have made this contribution. A food collection was done again in May 2006 to help stock the shelter’s shelves for the summer.

6. Christmas Stockings

At the December meeting members donate hand made stockings, so that each woman and child at Harmony House might receive one. Gifts are also donated for filling the stockings. We hope this will be an on-going project.