Quilters’ recording-setting 208 pieces to be dedicated Sunday
The handiwork of a creative and close-knit group will be on display Sunday as congregants step foot into First Lutheran Church, 208 W. Sandusky Ave. The sanctuary is currently overflowing with colorful quilts – 208 to be exact – that will be dedicated during the service before they are shipped overseas for humanitarian aid through Lutheran World Relief.
While the quilt effort has been ongoing for about nine years, this year’s quilt total of more than 200 is the most that the participants have ever pulled together. Last year, approximately 150 mission quilts were completed.
It’s only through “God’s work, our hands” that this has been possible, the 16 members who meet weekly shared.
“It’s been such a blessed ministry; everything just falls into place,” Cindy Weikart said.
“We have been able to keep our costs very low through the many donations of fabric and sheets received from the community and church members.
“The only item we’ve had to buy is the batting (filling for the quilts), which costs about $4 per quilt, and also the cardboard boxes for shipping.”
Sunday during the church service, attendees will be invited to place their hands on the quilts as prayers are lifted that the handmade pieces would touch their future recipients. Donations will be accepted toward the $2.25 shipping cost per quilt.
Last year, the local quilts benefited individuals in the countries of Georgia and Lebanon, and in years past, have gone to refugees in Syria and other locations through Lutheran World Relief, which invites congregations around the country to create these mission quilts.
Additionally, the First Lutheran Church quilters have recently donated quilts to hurricane victims in Florida, shut-ins in the area and Venezuelans who have moved to Logan County for employment.
The participants also note that technically, the pieces are comforters. The three layers of the comforter — the top, batting and a bed sheet (used for the back) — are tied together with crochet thread, instead of being quilted together, resulting in a faster process to complete each piece.
Determining how to continue this mission during the pandemic was a challenge that the dedicated group members were happy to overcome. While for a time they did not gather in person and worked on the comforters from home, the members said they learned they could accommodate a number of people at the church by practicing social distancing when needed.
“We feel so blessed that the many quilts will bring comfort to people around the world, and at the same time, all of us being together during the pandemic has brought a lot of comfort to us as well,” said Margie Bixler, whose friend, the late Mary Glett, spurred the original idea that jump-started this quilting mission.
In addition to Bixler and Weikart, other members who assisted with the record-setting number of quilts this year included Jinny Fergus, Anita Stanley, Linda Goff, Jay Hunt, Eileen Latimer, Jane Bialecki, Eleanor Kirkbride, Jan Canaday, Rosalee Horn, Vickki Bixler, Sarah Stump, Diana Small, Gloria Anderson and Mary Beth Stoltz.
New participants are welcome to join the quilt group anytime, which meets at 9 a.m. Tuesdays at the church to cut squares, assemble and/or sew the quilts. Individuals do not have to be a member of the church or have sewing skills to participate – “we have something for everyone to do,” the group members said.
“It’s a real joy to be together,” Goff said. “We’ve started to celebrate birthdays, and enjoy breaking for coffee and fellowship.”
“It has provided us with good coping skills during COVID; we get to use our creativity and enjoy each other’s company,” Bixler agreed.
The quilters also are accepting donations of fabric, cotton sheets and monetary donations at the church at any time for their mission quilts.