Community Service Projects

Members of the Charlottesville Area Quilt Guild share their love of quilting in many projects which benefit our community. In 2004, guild members donated 120 quilts to local causes! Some of these were distributed to clients of the Salvation Army and CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates).

Quilts also went to Albemarle County Social Services, SHE (Shelter for Help in Emergency), and a special day-care program. Fifteen more quilts made by CAQG members went to projects coordinated by others. Five went to veterans at the Salem VA Hospital, part of a project at Rachel's Quilt Patch in Staunton. Another 10 were made for Rainbow Village, a Northern Virginia adoption complex supported by the Church of Christ (where we hold so many of our meetings and workshops).

A recent project completed by the members of the Tuesday Morning chapter was a quilt made for the new Hospice House. Members of the chapter contributed the feature blocks. The quilt was assembled by Linda Powley, who also made the borders. It was machine quilted by Gail C. Auen, and finishing work was done by Mary Riggin.

These are some of the other projects we've been involved in.

• COMMUNITY QUILTS Since 1998, CAQG members have contributed quilts to children in foster care with the City of Charlottesville, the Shelter for Help, Emmaus with Child, the Ronald MacDonald House, and to the police in Charlottesville and Albemarle County for officers to keep in their patrol cars. We are currently working with the Department of Social Services in the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle.

  CAQG members have contributed over 100 blankets to this effort. Other community members have sewn, knitted, and crocheted blankets as well. There is a great need for these blankets, from lap/crib size to bed size. Strong, primary colors and patterns interesting to boys are especially in demand.

  We are proud to touch the lives of so many children in so many ways, and only regret that our community continues to have so many children in need.
  
  

• HOSPITAL QUILTS Over the last five years, we have been an important part of the educational program in the adolescent in-patient unit at the University of Virginia Medical Center. Teens being treated at UVa may have the opportunity to make a quilt top as part of their educational program. Quilters from CAQG complete the magic that turns a quilt top into a quilt. The 150 quilts we have finished have ranged in size from small wall hangings and banners to life-size portraits and bed-size quilts.

  The finished quilts have been displayed at CAQG quilt shows in 1995 and 1997, at medical conferences and art museums. More important, they have helped the children develop intellectually and artistically and have become treasured family quilts. Some provide a link between family and home for children who return for frequent treatment, some have helped children adjust to and understand their chronic illnesses, and a few, sadly, provide comfort to the families of children who created them in their final months.
  
  

• LIBRARY UNITY QUILTS Children in the Charlottesville 1997 Summer Reading Program made quilt blocks representing themselves. CAQG quilters and members of the community assembled these blocks into four large quilts and a small wall hanging, using fabric donated by Cottonwood Quilt Shop in Palmyra, Virginia.  The finished quilts hang in the Charlottesville City Hall, Tonsler Park Recreation Area, The Jefferson-Madison Public Library, and Carver Recreation Center.

• FREE CLINIC Shortly after the Free Clinic opened, members of CAQG made a quilt for them to display. Each contributor made one or more blocks using the theme "Hearts and Hands" and the resulting blocks were assembled into a stunning quilt by members Adrienne Marshall and Betty Lu Brydges. It was then hand quilted by CAQG members.

  The guild has also made several cash donations to the clinic, donating a portion of the proceeds of our biennial raffle quilts. Our most recent quilt, Splendor of Jefferson's Country, was raffled off April 2003, at Jefferson's Country VII Quilt Show.
  
  

• SALVATION ARMY DOLL QUILTS Each year, the Salvation Army distributes toys to children who otherwise would receive few Christmas presents. Each child gets a doll or a stuffed bear, who comes with clothing and accessories supplied by community groups. For several years, the quilt guild has donated quilts to give away with these dolls and bears. We gather these quilts in December and bring them to the Salvation Army after they have been duly admired by all.

  In 1997, we displayed about 40 of our doll quilts at the Northside Library, where they were a big hit. In all, we delivered 60 doll quilts to the Salvation Army in 1998, helping to make the holidays just a little brighter for 60 children in the area.
  
  

• CommuniTies Several CAGQ quilters created wall hangings which were auctioned off to help support FOCUS programs, in a project called "CommuniTies." The quilts were made using discarded men's ties, which had been collected through the FOCUS Flea Market. Ties were turned into fish, flowers, books, angels, buildings, stars and more by 10 talented quilters. These quilts were auctioned off in March, 1997, raising over $1200. A second group of quilts, FOCUS on the Seasons, was auctioned off in November, 1998. Abstract and realistic representations of all four seasons and several holidays by CAQG quilters brought $700 into the FOCUS general fund. Click to see a selection of these quilts.

If you would like to help with these efforts, contact our Community Service Coordinator, Mary Beth Bellah, at mb4q AT virginia DOT edu.

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