CHARITY PROJECTS

 

Cage Comforters/Pet Toys

 

  Janice Stitt, Project Chairman

      For the last several years the Guild has participated in a program that makes cage comforters that are donated to the Jackson County Animal Shelter. These comforters are used to make the cats and dogs more comfortable while they are staying at the shelter. They are laundered and reused frequently, so they quickly wear out. There is always a need for new comforters to replace those that are retired.

The comforters are made using donated fabrics and battings as well as purchased materials, when donated supplies run low. Being a charitable program recognized by the Guild allows this program to participate in the annual love offering that generates some funding for purchases when needed. Cotton and polyester fabrics as well as batting donations from Guild members are accepted by the program. Using these materials, kits are prepared by the Program Chairperson and made available to Guild members that are interested in sewing the comforters. Guild members often make comforters, using materials from their own stash, and donate finished comforters to the program. Please refer to the article “Making Cage Comforters for the Jackson County Animal Shelter” for instructions on how to make the comforters.
The Program Chairperson collects all completed comforters at Guild meetings and delivers them to the Jackson County Animal Shelter along with a card that says:
A Gift for the Cats and Dogs
at the Jackson County Animal Shelter
These cage comforters have been hand-crafted by members of the Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild of Jackson

The Guild has donated a total of 48 comforters to the shelter during the last 6 months. This program is a worthy endeavor for the Pieces and Patches Quilt Guild because it is a way for members to use their skills and leftover materials to benefit animals in our community and support a local agency. The Guild’s continued participation in this program will definitely be appreciated. Please vote to approve its continuation. Contact the Program Chairperson, Janice Stitt, with any questions. You can call her at (517) 788- 9905 or email her at lilliahcat@aol.com .

                                                               

Directions for Comforters

 

Children’s Advocacy Center


Janet Rochefort, Project Chairperson

 

The Child Advocacy Center in Jackson gives children their choice of a comfort quilt. In Jackson last year the center served 300 children who were victims of sexual abuse or severe physical abuse. Statistics show that 1 out of 4 girls, and 1 out of 6 boys will have this happen to them by the time they are 18. In Jackson these children are able to give their testimony in a safe environment without having to be in the same room as their perpetrator. After this traumatic experience they are offered a quilt that will comfort them. You can go to the site: www.catholiccharitiesjlhc.org/childadvocacycenters; this explains more about what they do and has a wonderful YouTube video telling more about it. The video even shows the comfort quilts on a wall.

When Sister Barb came to the Guild meeting, she talked about it for informational purposes to our group and many have given to this cause. This charity needs your help and I personally know what some of these children have gone through. So how can you help? Carol Metz has put together kits. There will be a sign out sheet if you take some and the expectation is that it will be fully completed. The kits are at the Inn and you can pick them there or we can arrange a meeting place.

I am asking long arm members to help quilt them and there will be names that you can call. We will also schedule workshops at the inn with ten people to make some. (The dates are to be announced due to working around guests at the Inn.) You can also use YOUR stash to make some. These are for children ages 4 years old to 18. The size is a minimum of 45 x 60 for a young child, and up to 50 x 72 for an older child. Remember that this is a comfort quilt to wrap around them. I will be posting on our members FaceBook Page quilts that we have received. You are all talented ladies so please take time to embrace this charity.

IT’S FOR THE KIDS. Any questions you can call or text me at 517-745-8214. Yes, together we can make a difference in a child’s life.

Thank you for your support.

Janet Rochefort
Chairperson

 

 

Veterans Project

While the Veteran’s project is not one of the Guild’s designated charities because the veterans did not want to be considered a charity, Guild members are still welcomed to make completed quilts for local veterans.

 

 

 

 

Together We Can Make A Difference Project

Diane Stevens, Project Chairperson

We make quilts to donate for children. The “Together we can make a difference” charity, headed by Wendy Wight is our contact for distribution. She can be contacted at 517-740-8444. Their website is togetherdifference.org. Any quilt size is accepted from Crib size (36×45) to single bed or greater. The quilts are available all year around for those who need them, but at Christmas, Wendy runs a “Priceless Gifts” program for qualified families who need assistance at Christmas. The new, used and donated items are available to help with parents fill out their Christmas gifts list for their children. This local charity has been in existence for over 10 years and Wendy Wight has been recognized by Jackson as “Citizen of the Year” about 5 years ago. The Guild contact person will be Diane Stevens.