Let's Do This

I hope my American friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  We all have many things for which to be grateful, and as I sat with my family over the long weekend, I did some reflecting.  Yes, we are very blessed: in our families, our quilting activities, the roofs over our heads.  However, we have some quilting sisters who have not had the greatest past couple of weeks.  

Many of you have probably heard of the devastating fire, called the Butte County Camp Fire, which completely destroyed the town of Paradise, California.  It is wiped off the map.  Nothing left.  No homes, no stores, no churches.  Who knows if they can even rebuild at this point.  85 people killed, over 200 still missing.  It has officially been labeled the deadliest wildfire in California history.

Paradise was a community largely made up of retirees, who moved there thinking the bucolic setting was the final destination for their senior years.  Paradise is (was) located near the town of Chico in Northern California.  The Paradise Ridge Quilt Guild had around 100 members, mostly ladies over the age of 60.  Of those 100 women, 98 of them lost their homes, their sewing machines, their projects past and present, and their quilts.

How can we help?  Honey Run Quilt Shop in Chico, CA and Annie's Star Quilt Guild of Chico are organizing a drive to collect hand work projects for these displaced women in their quilt guild.  The idea is, since they have lost everything, that it could be a good idea to get them working on some hand projects.  Appliqué, embroidery, wool work, knitting, crochet, making hexagons.  Can you imagine what a comfort it would be to at least have something to do with your hands to distract you just a bit from your incomprehensible loss?

I went through my stash and was surprised at how many (largely abandoned or not even begun) hand projects I have.  In about 15 minutes of rummaging through my stash, I found wool for wool projects

yarn and knitting needles

lots of embroidery supplies

applique supplies

Will you help?  I have been in touch with Ronda Menshing at Honey Run, and they are so in hope they can do something that will make a difference, no matter how small.  These women will be so grateful for anything, as I know we would be if in their situation.  The address to send any type of materials that could work for hand projects is:

Honey Run Quilters

Attention Ronda - Camp Fire

2418 Cohasset Road

Chico, CA 95926

 

If you have any questions or want to do more, you can call the shop at:  530-342-5464.

 

Alternatively, if you would like to help the Camp Fire victims, but would prefer to direct your aid to a different organization, here is a link to other agencies that are providing assistance to the victims.

 

Comments

[Mary Kastner]

What a great idea Nicole. I will definitely dig out some supplies. It is such a tragedy. We sent money through the Red Cross but this is more personal to share with a fellow quilter. Thank you for doing all the upfront work to make this happen.

Mary

[Robby H.]

I was thinking about this over the weekend. Thanks for sharing the information to make it happen. I also read another blogger who heard from a gal she has had contact with before and she is willing to receive and distribute donated quilts. I see a lot of handmade love heading to California in the near future.

[Barbara Anne]

Since I don't knit, crochet, or do much handwork, I'll have to think of what might be stashed where that someone could use.

Thanks!

Hugs!

[Pam Bush]

Nicole thank you so much for this outreach! It is so important and will be used to heal and make life a bit easier! The guild who lost so much is called Ridge Quilters of Paradise. The Chico Guild who is helping along with Honey Run Quilt shop is cammed Annie’s Star Quilt Guild. It will all be shared with those who lost so much. We are having our holiday guild meeting December 6th and are inviting and bringing Paradise quilters to join us and shop! It will be amazing. If people din’t have stuff to donate they can call honey run Quilters and purchase a gift certificate. We can send receipts as we have it all set up! Again thank you all! Xoxo Pam

[Jan]

I've sent an email to our local fiber arts group asking anyone who has things to donate to bring them to our meeting next Monday. I'll get a package in the mail right away! What a wonderful, generous project for quilters who have lost so much. ❤️

[Sharon Tucker]

I packed a box up immediately and sent it off to an IG/blogger buddy who lost everything. She was stitching in 2 days and has mentioned several times how stitching has helped calm her amidst all this devastation. Thanks for posting this shout out!

[Loris Mills]

Thanks for the links and address. I found an organization on the list that is helping the pets from victims of the fire that I sent off to. That and the Red Cross. I think I have the perfect wooly project to send off.

[Barbara Anne]

I found a few things to send including a n extra (and new!) pair of fabric shears. I appreciate your bring this to our attention and I wish I could do more.

Hugs!

[Linda]

Thanks for telling us about this. I couldn't believe how many items I had that I could send off with prayers that they help someone in need.