Sharing the Love of Quilts with children

On February 1, Choo Choo Quilters shared their love of quilting with children at the Children's Home/Chambliss Shelter with a donation of 63 lap-size Cuddle Quilts. These 63 quilts were in addition to the bed-size quilts that were donated in December 2010 for the teenage residents of the Center.

Choo Choo Quilters, Deb Horn (far left) and Veronica Hofman-Ortega (far right),
along with members of the Chambliss Shelter staff, hold the colorful Cuddle Quilts.

Cindy Hancock, Assistant Director of Volunteer Services,
rolls in the cart piled high with the Cuddle Quilts.

"The guild has been supporting the Chambliss Shelter through our Cuddle Quilt program for many years," said Deb Horn, "but this is our largest donation of quilts so far."

Paulette Acord (left), Director of Volunteer Services, admires the cheerful prints and flannel fabrics of the quilts.

Some of the quilts were immediately distributed to the children in the nursery rooms.

Whether they are awake or asleep, the Choo Choo Quilters hope these Cuddle Quilts will keep the children warm, snugly and comforted. "Sweet dreams, little ones."

Look for an upcoming article by staff reporter, Rebecca Miller, in the Chattanooga Times Free Press Community News for more coverage on this community service project.

Great Cuddle Quilt Quest: a raving success

42... 59... 69... 73!
The final count for the Choo Choo Quilters' Great Cuddle Quilt Quest is 73 quilts—a huge and generous accomplishment over the initial, previously-set total of 50 quilts! This number includes 10 bed size quilts, of which 9 were delivered to the Children's Home/Chambliss Shelter in December.

In April 2010, guild members Deb Horn and Veronica Hofman-Ortega conceived the idea of the Great Cuddle Quilt Quest and began the program in May with the distribution of a monthly 12" block pattern for members to follow to make cuddle quilt blocks. The Choo Choo Quilters, a guild of about 20 members, raided their fabric stashes and pitched in to make blocks according to specified color schemes. The color-coordinated blocks were then gathered and bundled together for members to create the quilt tops and ultimately, finished quilts.

In September, several guild members attended a weekend Cuddle Quilt Workshop to assemble, baste and quilt pre-cut quilt kits. The Quest continued through December of 2010 with the resulting tabulation of 73 completed quilts at the January 2011 guild meeting. The quilts are donated to the Chambliss Shelter and will be delivered soon.

Well done, Choo Choo Team! That's a lotta quilts!

Bed Quilts go to Chambliss Shelter

We did it! Nine bed-sized quilts were delivered to the Children's Home/Chambliss Shelter today!

From left: Nancy Allen (Choo Choo Quilters), Cindy Hancock, Assistant Director of Volunteer Services (Chambliss), Christy Finley, Administrative Assistant (Chambliss), Veronica Hofman-Ortega (Choo Choo Quilters) and Ginny Minninger (Choo Choo Quilters).

The request for twin-size bed quilts for teenage residents came to the Choo Choo Quilters quilt guild this summer. The guild has been a long-time supporter to this Chattanooga community organization through the guild's Cuddle Quilt program, an outreach program in which lap-size children's quilts are made and donated by guild members.

A twin size bed quilt made with a crazy 9-patch pattern.

"When we became aware of the older residents, guild members embraced the challenge, dipped into their fabric stashes, and stepped up to meet the need," said Ginny Minninger, who championed this special request for bed quilts for the teenagers.

Nine twin size quilts, approximately 65" x 90" in size, were delivered today for immediate distribution to the teenage residents. The Assistant Director of Volunteer Services said that the quilts are so appreciated and are very much in need. With the prediction of very cold weather in the forecast, this delivery was most timely.

Twin bed quilts needed for Chambliss Center

The Children's Home/Chambliss Shelter is in need of twin bed size quilts for longer-term teenage residents and is seeking support from the quilting community. The Center is asking for quilts made with fabrics and colors appropriate for teenage boys. The Choo Choo Quilters are championing this effort and would like to drop off completed quilts in November before the cold winds blow through Chattanooga. (Twin size quilts are approximately 65" x 90".)

For anyone who has a twin-size quilt completed, please bring it to the next guild meeting, November 15. If you have a quilt in progress or quilt blocks that can be assembled into tops and quilts, please contact Ginny via e-mail at artminninger@msn.com for assistance.

Due to circumstances beyond their control, these teenagers are brought to the Chambliss Center to distance and protect them from unfortunate circumstances. They arrive at the Center with very little, and "... having a quilt of their own would mean so much to each boy," said the Center's Director.

Quilters have big hearts. Please help the Choo Choo Quilters with this endeavor!

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Here's food for thought if you have not yet committed to helping. It comes from a feature in the October 2010 issue of "American Patchwork and Quilting" magazine.

Interior designer Terry Grahl was asked to volunteer her services to furnish a local women's shelter. Hesitantly, she got involved and was overwhelmed by the need and greatly impacted by the response of residents/guests at the shelter. "I hear women say that knowing a person took the time to make them something reinforces that they do matter and that someone does care about them," Terry says. "A lot of these women and girls haven't had that in their lives."

Upon completion of the project, Terry closed her interior decorating business and started Enchanted Makeovers, a nonprofit organization that makes over shelters and sponsors uplifting events for at-risk women and children. "Our mission is to transform shelters into places that really inspire and ignite spirit," said Terry. At the very least, hand-made pillowcases are given along with a card and token gift. "When you go to bed at night, you lay your head down on a pillowcase and that's when you start dreaming," Terry said. While the pillowcases provide comfort and hope during the residents' stays, they also may function as suitcases when the residents leave.