MISSION:

To provide comfort through the gift of quilts to women undergoing chemotherapy and children facing hardship.

How the quilts are created:

Quilts are made by members of the church, by members of the Rhododendron Needlers Quilt Guild of Walpole and by friends of The Power of the Quilt Project. The UUAC and RNQG provide some of the funds required to finance the project. The free use of Unity Hall, located at and donated by the UUAC is used to host three Quilt-a-thons a year. Additional Quilt-a-thons are held at the Parker Terrace Community Center in N. Easton, MA and St. Mary's Church in Mansfield, MA. A Quilt-a-thon is an assembly line method of making multiple quilts on the same day. Many of PQP's quilts are made or finished at home by volunteers. This creates a regular supply of quilts for distribution throughout the year. 

How the quilts are distributed:

Finished quilts are distributed to their recipients in several ways. Anyone may request a quilt for a friend, loved one, family member or even themselves, by contacting Gwyned Trefethen, coordinator of The Power of the Quilt Project. Gwyned will work with the requestor to select the best method of getting the quilt to its intended recipient. Quilts may be hand delivered by the person making the request, or shipped if hand delivery is not wanted or possible. Quilts are also distributed anonymously. The nurses at the Cancer Treatment Centers at Brockton Hospital, the Commonwealth Hematology and Oncology Center in Weymouth and UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester pass out quilts to people undergoing chemotherapy. The Norfolk/Bristol Country representative for Project Linus distributes children's quilts. The representative makes sure that local hospitals, shelters, Department of Social Services, and police and fire stations have a supply of quilts on hand for children who may be in need of comfort. 

UU PRINCIPLES:

The Power of the Quilt Project addresses the following UU priniciples:

1989 AIDS/HIV " calls upon individual Unitarian Universalists to work with compassion, energy and imagination to care for HIV infected...children."

1990 Youth in Crisis states the importance of "recognizing our commitment and responsibility to provide youth with basic nurturing support, encouragement and protection."

1996 Speak Out for Children includes the statement that "in the US a child is reported abused or neglected every eleven seconds."

2003 AIW6 Women's Rights focuses on women and their right to make decisions concerning their medical treatment. It reminds us to have "compassion in human relations."

PARTICIPATION:

There are numerous ways to participate in The Power of the Quilt Project. Volunteers are needed to create and finish quilts. Go to FAQ ON MAKING A QUILT for guidelines about creating a quilt for this project. Quilts may be made at home or at a Quilt-a-thon. No sewing experience is needed to help at the Quilt-a-thon. The assembly line method of creating quilts allows all volunteers to work in an area best suited to their talents. The many experienced quilters gladly share their skills with inexperienced and beginning quilters resulting in a positive camaraderie for everyone involved.

If you would like to support the project without attending a Quilt-a-thon you can. There are numerous opportunities to write for the project. Articles need to be submitted to Crossroads, the Laurel Wreath (RNQG's newsletter), QuiltFun (on-line newsletter) and to local papers promoting the project and seeking volunteers. The funding from UUAC and RNQG is insufficient to pay for the fabric requirements during each year. Volunteers are needed to solicit goods and write grants. There is an ongoing need for DONATIONS of funds and fabric.

SCHEDULE:

A Quilt-a-thon is scheduled for the following date:

• Saturday, October 17, 2009, in Sherborn
• Saturday, November 28, 2009, in Easton
• Saturday, December 26, 2009, in Easton
• Monday, Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010, in Sherborn
• Saturday, March 20, 2010, in Sherborn

All Quilt-a-thons are held from 9 am to 4 pm. UUAC Quilt-a-thons are held in Unity Hall, located in the basement of the Unitarian Universalist Area Church in Sherborn, MA. Easton Quilt-a-thons are held in the Parker Terrace Community Center on Parker Terrace in N. Easton. St. Mary's address is 330 Pratt Street in Mansfield, MA. No matter the location there are free refreshments provided through out the day and a light luncheon is served midday. If you are new to Quilt-a-thons please review FAQ for first-time quilters.

GOAL:

The Power of the Quilt Project's goal is to create 300 quilts during the UUAC's fiscal year. Completed quilts must be turned in no later than the third Wednesday of June to be included in the current year's count. The UUAC's Social Action Committee has agreed to give the PQP $5 for every quilt received after the first 100 quilts made in fiscal year 2009 - 10 up to a maximum of $500.  Quilts made for the Power of the Quilt Project: 2009 - 2010 29 2008 - 2009 201 2007 - 2008 228 2006 - 2007 161 2005 - 2006 131 2004 - 2005 87 2003 - 2004 84 Total quilts to date: 921

Snail Mail by Gwyned Trefethen - Sherborn, MA

DONATIONS:

General cash donations are used to purchase items used at the Quilt-a-thons such as fabric, flannel for backings, batting, thread, bias binding, nickel plated safety pins and computer printable fabric for making labels. 100% of the funds donated are used to make the quilts. Cash donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to UUAC. Be sure to write "QUILT" in the memo line. Send checks to:

Gwyned Trefethen,
Coordinator of The Power of the Quilt Project
c/o UUAC
P. O. Box 158
Sherborn, MA 01770

Three Gifts in One is a way to make a cash donation to The Power of the Quilt Project and honor someone special at the same time. The first gift is the donation to the Project. The second gift is the card sent to the honored person letting them know of the donation made in their name. The third gift is the quilt made from the proceeds which is given to someone facing a difficult time. Contact Gwyned Trefethen to arrange for a Three Gifts in One card.

There is an ongoing need for the following Quilt-a-thon supplies:

Fanciful, bright, cheery lengths of 100% quilt weight cotton. Fabric should be the width of the bolt and 1/2 yard or greater in length.

Soft, comfy, flannel lengths of 100% cotton. Flannel should be the width of the bolt and is best donated in 5 and 1/2 yard lengths which can be cut to make 3 quilt backs.

#2 Nickel plated safety pins. These are the safety pins used by dry cleaners. Ask your dry cleaner if she will donate a box of safety pins to this worthy cause.

Crib sized (45" x 60") quilt batts either low loft or traditional loft.

Please NO fabric SCRAPS. Quilts for The Power of the Quilt Project are cut starting with 44" strips of fabric. Scraps are not used.

Click here in order to obtain a CONTRIBUTED GOODS RECEIPT form.

BENEFITS:

A quilt is a tangible connection from the giver to the recipient which says she/he is a person worth caring for. The power of the caring provides hope during a scary and lonely time. Even quilt recipients who are part of a large community of friends and family members find peace and comfort snuggled up with a quilt. Not surprisingly many of the volunteers who have worked on The Power of the Quilt Project are cancer survivors, friends or family members of loved ones who have faced cancer or have been involved with children who have faced hardship. Volunteers find strength, compassion and understanding from others who have walked where they have walked and friendships are rapidly forged.