Pay It Forward

I have recently had a major life change. And whenever I have a major life change I DECLUTTER!

I have found that clearing out the "Stuff" helps create room for good things to come to me. Whatever doesn't serve me or bring me joy has to go. I have been decluttering like crazy and my sewing room is no exception! I have tons of fabrics - from quilting cottons, wools, silks, clothing fabrics and more! I used to own a quilt store and when I closed it, I kept a cut of any of the fabrics I loved. (I now have a room full of fabrics!) When you are still buying fabrics and creating projects it starts to add up and overwhelm not only my storage capacity, but my brain capacity as well!

So with all the decluttering I'm doing - what do I do with the fabric I no longer have use for? There are LOTS of organizations that will take donations of fabric and quilts. There could even be small projects made with extra fabrics to donate. (Good examples are drawstring backpack bags and pillow cases.) Are you overwhelmed by all the stuff in your sewing space? Do you want to see your fabric and quilts go to a good cause? I'm here to help! Here is a list of organizations that can use donations of already created projects or fabrics:

Linus Project: www.projectlinus.org

Project Linus provides handmade blankets to children 0-18 in the United States who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need. These can be quilts, fleece blankets, or crochet/knitted blankets.

Quilts of Valor: www.qovf.org

A Quilt of Valor® (QOV) is a quality, handmade quilt that is machine or hand quilted. It is awarded to a Service Member or Veteran who has been touched by war.  The Quilt says unequivocally, “Thank you for your service and sacrifice in serving our nation.” To use the term Quilt of Valor, Quilts of Valor or QOV, the quilt must be a specific size, must have a label with required information, it must be awarded (it is not a gift) and it must be recorded. 

Serving with Smiles: www.servingwithsmiles.org

Kid-powered humanitarian group serving kids in need around the world

Cases for Smiles: www.caseforsmiles.org

A hospital experience can be terrifying and traumatic for both a child and their family. While others strive to find a cure, Ryan’s Case for Smiles helps with the stress and emotional impact of illness in the here and now. Our whimsical pillowcases give children an emotional boost,

Bags of Love: www.bagsofloveinc.org/sew-or-quilt/

Thanks to our talented sewers and quilters, every Bag of Love given to a child in crisis contains a quilt or fleece blanket. Whether you sew or quilt, knit or crochet, your skills and creativity provide a tangible comfort item to help a vulnerable child through what may be the hardest time in his or her young life.

Local Quilt Guilds:

Check with your local quilt guild - most guilds have a charity that they work with to donate either finished projects or money raised from the sale or raffle of projects. Guilds are great resources for donations. (And they will take kits that you don't have time to make.)

Police and Social Services Departments

These departments deal with children and people who are in traumatic situations and a quilt or blanket are helpful to ease the stress of the situation. Contact your local departments to see what they need or want.

These are only a few of the organizations that would welcome our donations. A quilt to keep comfort a child and keep them warm, fabric to make a pillowcase, a bag or a quilt - these are all acts of love. You have a talent that not everyone shares - you can use it to help others that can be comforted by your kindness and generosity. After all, quilters are special people - they are generous and kind AND TALENTED! So, declutter your stash and good things will come to you!

Quilt with Joy!

-Caroline