Community Outreach

The Quilters' Guild of Arlington encourages all members to take part in helping our community. There are a variety of different projects to choose from.  Please check the list below to see if there isn't one or two you would like to be a part of.

Soldiers' Lap Quilts Each month, lap quilts are collected by a guild representative to present to injured service personnel and their families staying at the Brooks Army Hospital in San Antonio.  Lt. col. Grant Olbrich of the US Marine Corp visited our guild in November, 2005 and said these special quilts really reach out and grab the hearts of the men and women receiving them.  He assured us that neither color nor size are important.  If you wish to contribute, please be sure to bring your donation along with you to any guild meeting.   Marlene Baker and Jolene Mershon presented a blue and white, queen size starquilt to Lt. Col Grant Olbrich on July 28, 2006. This was given in appreciation of his efforts in coordinating the donation of quilts for the wounded soldiers at Brooke Army Hospital.  The quilt was made by Marlene Baker and quilted by Sharon Gunnels.  The membership of QGOA donated money to pay for the quilting. Jolene donated the batting and Helga Smith donated the backing. Lt. Col. Olbrich was completely surprised and delighted.  He said no one had ever made a quilt for him before.

Project Linus

Project Linus helps provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer "blanketeers."  The Quilters' Guild of Arlington, Inc. (QGOA) has been actively supporting projects that support children since March, 1991, and has been responsible for supplying over 400 quilts to agencies in the Metroplex that distribute them to affected children.  Click here for helpful guidelines on creating your own quilt top for donation to a child in need.

Safe Haven (The Women's Shelter)

The Women's Shelter in Arlington is a place for battered and abused women and their children to seek refuge and plan for their future. QGOA has chosen this charity to receive cash donations from the annual raffle quilt since 1984.

In addition to the travel size toiletries accepted year-round, the guild would like to focus our support of the Womens' Shelter by donating these particular items each month:

Ronald McDonald House Quilts

The Ronald McDonald Challenge for 2010-2011 is to make a quilt for Ronald McDonald House, incorporating a recognizable amount of two given fabrics, plus any other fabrics needed, to make a quilt measuring at least 50” x 50”. The two fabrics are from Moda's “Funky Monkey” line, and were donated to our guild for this challenge by Lone Star House of Quilts. Lone Star stocked six other fabrics from the same line. The challenge was first issued in September of 2010. A kit containing a piece of each of the required fabrics could be purchased for $5.00 (non-refundable).

The money will be used to purchase awards for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prize winners in the challenge. The quilts will be judged by the QGOA board members at their board meeting on April 5, 2011, and the quilts will be displayed at the QGOA quilt show in May. Following the show, the quilts will be given to Ronald McDonald House in Fort Worth.

 

To donate a quilt, just fill out a form and bring the quilt to any guild meeting.

 

Ronald McDonald House . . . providing a "home-away-from-home" for families with seriously ill children who travel to Fort Worth for pediatric medical care

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

During each of our quilt shows, members donate miniature quilts that are displayed and offered for sale in a silent auction.  All proceeds from these quilts are donated to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.