Quilts for Survivors

My house has been a bit of a wreck this past month because I've been totally consumed with Quilts for Survivors. Begun in June 2021 by Vanessa Grenier from Missianabie Cree First Nation near Timmins, ON, they hope to send a comfort quilt to any residential school survivor that requests one or that one is requested for, as a symbol of support, respect and love. 

Vanessa and a quilt recipient (photo: Quilts for Survivors)

Quilters and guilds from across the country and around the world have responded in great numbers and almost 3,000 quilts have been sent out to date - not bad for an idea that started around Vanessa's kitchen table with the hopes of sending out possibly a dozen quilts. 

Vanessa regularly shares donations and updates on Facebook and it is extremely touching to see the response of those who receive their quilts. It's also been amazing to see people wanting to be involved. Recently, this post was shared about students from Mount Allison University in Sackville, NB, who have made a quilt which will be going to a survivor in the Maritimes. They were learning to quilt and decided to donate it to a survivor. Love it! (photo: Quilts for Survivors)

Quilts for Survivors are totally supported by donations (they are in the process of becoming a registered charity so that they can issue tax receipts for monetary donations). Additionally, a very generous landlord in Timmins has provided a studio space and a local quilt shop has donated a longarm machine, providing them with the ability to accept quilt tops for completion. How great is that?

To help achieve their goal, they are requesting:

•  16” quilt blocks (16.5” unfinished)

• lap-sized tops (approx. 48” x 64”)

• 2.5” quilt binding, any colour

• completed quilts, any size

• financial donations to offset the cost of materials (thread, backing, batting) and shipping.

Note: we are asked not to include travel or school related fabrics or fabrics with a religious theme. 

Since late January, the quilters at my church have been getting together again for two mornings a week. I brought up the idea of donating the quilt that we were working on (the Lemoyne Star in the last two posts) and it has morphed into so much more. In addition to donating that quilt as part of our Truth and Reconciliation efforts, we will  contribute quilt blocks and tops, quilts and bindings, and encourage quilters from across the parish to do so as well. We plan is to have a shipment ready by early October. 

We've also set a goal to raise $600 through free will offerings donated during our Sunday Coffee Hours to assist with their shipping costs. I'm keen to see that our shipment is as generous as possible so I've been busy, busy, busy sewing and this is the first of three quilt tops that I'll be contributing. Hopefully there will be one or two more by the time we get to October, or maybe just blocks and binding. I'm also encouraging anyone who will listen to help out 😊. Check our their website for more info on how you can help if you are interested.

We are in the midst of a miserable ice storm here today so instead of going quilting I'm heading downstairs to do some sewing....M