More than 200 quilts – including 65 for babies – are among items destined for a poverty-stricken area of Nicaragua, thanks to the efforts of quilters at Mount Olive Lutheran Church.
“Aren’t they cute?” Edna Elliott said, as she, Katharina Kunz and Lois Voigt looked at one of 48 girls’ dresses that were to be included with the shipment.
The carefully stitched items were all made between September and May, in support of Canadian Lutheran World Relief’s (www.clwr.org) ‘We Care’ initiative, which – sponsored by Lutheran Church-Canada and Iglesia Luterano Sinodo de Nicaragua missions – sends annual humanitarian-aid shipments from Abbotsford to select countries.
The local group meets from 9 a.m. to noon every Tuesday over the nine months to create and assemble the donations. Anywhere from 12 to 18 quilters regularly turn out; some also work at home.
Elliott, who joined the quilting group in 2000 and is one of its longest-serving members, donated 45 baby quilts to the cause. One member, she noted, made 43 of the girls’ dresses, crafting each one from a pillowcase.
Voigt, a member for about 10 years, said she worked on “a lot” of the quilt tops. Kunz, 87, and also a longterm quilt-group member, said eight boxes of bandages made from cotton sheets were also prepared.
The colourful handiwork was on display at the South Surrey church for two weeks prior to being blessed May 8, and then shipped to the Abbotsford Mennonite Centre two days later. There, they were compressed into “bales” for delivery.
In all, 143 large quilts, 65 baby quilts, 73 baby layettes, 48 dresses and 200 rolled bandages were made locally. They will benefit residents of the Chinandega area of Nicaragua.
The seniors noted they welcome anyone wishing to join the quilting group. While currently winding down for this year, the Tuesday-morning sessions will resume in September at the 2350 148 St. church. Those interested may simply show up.
For more info, call 604-536-8527.