Sew Quilt Share Year in Review - 2020

The year 2020, began as previous years had for our group...

In January, we had a good turnout of participants and were able to donate 26 baby quilts to the 

Women's Resource Center of Hancock County. 

In February, we began sewing receiving blankets and washcloths for This is Hope, an organization that supports women in the rural areas of Uganda. 

We started strong, those months of January and February and then the lockdowns began...

After much discussion, our group began sewing face masks since commercial production was limited and health care providers were in short supply. During the months of March, April, May, and June our group sewed and donated over 2,800 masks to our local hospital, two hospitals in Toledo, several nursing homes, various healthcare workers, local non-profits, and an outreach ministry in Detroit.

It was an exhausting period of time since most fabric stores were closed and our group was unable to gather together to organize and distribute materials. During this period of time a special box at the church where items could be picked up and dropped off "contact free". Many of us used fabric we had on hand and worked long hours sewing masks for family and friends... trying to do what we could to stop the spread of the "unknown". 

In June a small group of us began cutting Christmas stockings for the Stockings of Joy outreach sponsored by Elder Orphan Care. Fabrics and instructions were placed into kits that could be picked up and later dropped off to the contact free box by group members. 

In July, 23 baby quilts were delivered to the Women's Resource Center of Hancock County!

In August, our group donated 209 Christmas stockings to Stockings of Joy!

As items continued to be dropped off to the contact free box at the church, additional donations arrived by mail since others in lockdown had more time to sew. Throughout the Fall, it was truly amazing to witness the amount of boxes that arrived! A small group of us spent countless hours sorting and processing boxes! But then we had a new opportunity...so many, many boxes of items that storage at the church was becoming a problem!

Since most organizations we support were unable to travel and the primary method of delivery was through luggage, most organizations were sitting on inventory with no way to deliver! Then in September we received word that an organization called Haitian Christian Outreach was in need of feminine hygiene kits. They were planning to pack a shipping container and were interested in enough supplies for 400 students. 

Several days were spent sorting and packing boxes. Group members responded by creating additional items to fulfill the order. It was amazing watching all the details come together!

Each hygiene kit contained 12 washable reusable sanitary pads, 1 flannel washcloth, 3 pair of cotton underwear, and 5 safety pins which were delivered inside a colorful drawstring bag. In the end, we were able to fulfill the order for 400 students. Without the support of our online partners this would never have been possible. We are so thankful for each one who is willing to support our efforts to help students in third world countries stay in school!

By mid-December, the order was complete and ready for delivery. It really is incredible how much was accomplished even though our group was unable to gather together in person for most of the year. To God be all the glory!!

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