I am breaking from my exciting adventure at the Vermont Quilt Festival to pass on to you some very important information – and hopefully many of you will be able to help.
I received an email earlier today, and I wanted to share it with you.
Michelle writes:
HELP - Calling All Quilters
As some of you may know I live in the Colorado Springs area. I am on the other side of town from the Waldo Canyon Fire and not in any way in harms way.
Sitting here through the last 5 days watching the 24 hours news coverage is heart breaking. So I am trying to help in the only way I know how.
We know that many homes have been lost and many people have been evacuated because of this fire.
Anyone who is willing to donate a completed quilt, a quilt top, backing or batting to please contact me and I will collect and disburse the quilts that are received.
Please pass this information on so that the word is spread and maybe we can bring some light to these victims of the fire.
Michelle
you can reach me by email at justforthepieceofit@gmail.com
I’ve seen the photos. I’ve been horrified watching the flames destroy so many homes on the news. This could be YOUR home. It could be MY home. Each and every one of us can only imagine what it is like to lose not only your home, but the photos, the momentos the bits of everyday living that are such a part of us.
I’m hoping that we can help. Please contact Michelle at the address above and see what you can do to help.
Pass this info, or link back in your own blog posts to get the word out to quilters everywhere --
Together we can make a difference!
Thank you Bonnie! I have been so concerned watching the coverage, it really is heartbreaking. You reach so many more people than most of us can, thanks for doing your little bit to help!
ReplyDeleteThank you Bonnie! As the chapter coordinator for Boulder/Adams counties of Project Linus, we were asked to hold all material donations until the crisis is over. Its good to have a plan for when the fires are out and the true needs of the families are known. There are Project Linus coordinators in Fort Collins and Colo Springs, and I know they will love help!
ReplyDeleteMichelle
michelle.troch@comcast.net
Maybe down the road we could do something like they did for quilters in Texas who lost all their quilting supplies in the fires? My heart goes out to all these folks. Praying for safety for firefighters and for rain.
ReplyDeleteMy DD#2 lives in Colorado Springs, her DH is a Paramedic and working long hours while these fires rage. I thought of asking her if she took her quilts when her neighborhood was evacuated. She left to get out of the smoke with my two Grandsons, the most important thing to get out at a time like this. I'll try send something when the fires are out.
ReplyDeleteI've already sent off a quilt to Julie from http://havingfunquilting.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteThis is so devastating. I was happy to donate.
Thanks for passing on another place to send quilts. I love how the quilting community comes out in full force when help is needed. I've posted a couple of places to send quilts as well on my blog.
ReplyDeletehttp://northhillsquilter.blogspot.com
Marilyn
As soon as I saw your blog, I emailed Michelle. I, too, live in Colo. Spgs but am fortunate to not be affected. I am offering her my help in a small way. Thank you, all. Please pray for rain. We are not out of danger yet. I grew up in the community in eastern Colo. that had 45,000 acre prairie fire Mon. night.
ReplyDeleteHeartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteDoes Michelle have a blog?
Happy Sewing
I'll see what I can put together this weekend. I know I have a top done, so may get that layered and quilted.
ReplyDeleteAnna in IL
Thanks Bonnie. You can get the word out so much faster than we can. Do you remember teaching at Woodland Park a few years ago (Quilter's Above the Clouds guild)? No houses lost in Woodland Park but some evacuations and the rest of the town is in pre-evac status. Heartbreaking losses in Colorado Springs. I shared your Facebook entry
ReplyDeleteMichelles blog is justforthepieceofit.blogspot.com.
ReplyDelete346 homes as of tonight lost to this fire as of today.
I know her personally and she's got a heart as big as Colorado.
Way to go Baby Girl. Momma B
Michelle's blog is: justforthepieceofit.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteAs of tonight, 346 homes in Colorado Springs lost to Waldo Canyon fire. Please remember that there are several other fires burning in the state. High Park Fire up near Ft Collins, a few further south of here, Colorado Springs and several up north close to the Wyoming border and East in the flat lands near Limon. Our total moisture for Colorado from last winter to current date was about 5%. Far below the state average.
There's a reason Southern Colorado is called "High Prairie". There's also a quilt shop up in Parker called "High Prairie!".
I know Michelle personally and this Baby Girl has a heart the size of Colorado. Momma B
Sorry for the double entry, I've no clue what I'm doing! HA! Momma B
DeleteLiving in AZ where we have wild fires every year, I have a lot of compassion for everyone affected by fires. I will gladly pass the word of the request for quilts and will get at least one off myself.
ReplyDeleteMay I please make a suggestion. Please wait a while for donations of not only quilts but sewing supplies. Six months is a much better time frame for these folks. I live just 15 miles from the biggest fire in Texas last summer. Many of those folks had to live in such cramped spaces for a fairly long time. There is not space in a motel room or camper or faimly's house for storage of something even as nice as a quilt.
ReplyDeleteNext fall when the weather gets cold and folks will need them for warmth is much better time.
We had one lady in our Bee who 6 months after the fire got a home delivered and our Bee had a house warming shower for her. Useful things and all the things like soap to broom and spices etc. were the items we gave her. She continues to tell us how much this ment to her when she was putting the things away.
For right now gift card are the things people need for clothing and food.
Dorothy just north of Bastrop Texas
Just a small update. I will be collecting quilts for Colorado and if we have an overabundance I will be sending them to the other fires in CO.. I will not be dispersing them until at least a month or longer down the road so that the "craziness" can settle down. I figure this way if only tops come in I can get them quilted and ready to go. I would like to have plenty of time to get as many as possible but want to wait until it is more appropriate to disburse them. More info will follow on my blog.
ReplyDeleteMichelle in CO
We have a good friend in Fort Collins who is safe, but I will contact whomever needs quilts, tops and batting and pack a box for them. This is so sad.
ReplyDeleteThanks for getting the word out, Bonnie! Like Michelle, I am also collecting quilts for those affected by these terrible fires! I'll be sending you an e-mail shortly, but please also direct your followers to havingfunquilting.blogspot.com to read the latest on what we're doing to help and another way, in addition to Michelle's, that they can help! If I figured it out correctly, there are approximately 656 homes (as of last night (6/28/12) so far that have been affected by these fires. They need some quilty love from all of us! Thank you!!! :o)
ReplyDeleteI also live in Colorado Springs and was just thinking of some way I could help. I am a fairly new quilter but would love to help in away I can. It is so hearthbreaking. I know others that would like to help as well. My family was affected by the Hayman Fire in 2002 and again just a week before the Waldo Fire by the Springer fire.
ReplyDeleteJessie
Gallop93@gmail.com
My heart goes out for those affected families. I wonder where the homeless take their refuge temporarily. This incident made me realize the importance of home insurance providers.
ReplyDelete