Posted 2:24 am Sunday, February 12, 2012
Quilters Work Nonstop For Good Cause
By KELLY GOOCH
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
Church members and volunteers set out on a marathon this weekend, not to run toward a finish line, but to make quilts for a good cause.
Participants gathered inside Our Saviour's Lutheran Church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday for the Second Annual Quilting Marathon, done in memory of Liz Troxeil and Carol Pattings. Groups worked diligently at different tables, some tying knots and others turning corners or completing other tasks. They seemed to enjoy the fellowship as much as the quilt-making.
Sharon Hubbard said she learned a lot from the more experienced quilters, and she decided to come for the fellowship and to support church projects.
It was the first time to quilt for Tammy Carpenter.
"It's been easier than I thought it would be," she said as she worked next to Ms. Hubbard. "It's for everybody."
The church's quilting ministry, which meets one Tuesday a month, completed about 90 quilts this year, 35 of which went to the Tyler Fire Department and 13 of which went to Refuge of Light, a Tyler nonprofit fighting to end human trafficking. Saturday's goal was to make 80 additional quilts for Lutheran World Relief and also possibly Shriners Hospitals.
"We get our materials strictly from donations," said Nancy Cox, member of the church's publicity committee. "These ladies use gently used sheets for quilts."
Mary Bymers, founder of the quilting ministry, said organizers also wanted to bring the community together by inviting volunteers to lend a hand.
"It's fellowship for us. Anyone who wants to tie a knot can," she said.
In the end, Ms. Bymers said she hopes participants enjoyed their day of fellowship, knowing the knots tied in the quilts are going to benefit someone else.
Tyler Fire Department District Chief Cordell Parker, who tied knots himself and learned how to prep quilts, said the department is honored to receive the donation.
He said the quilts will be distributed to all the engines and trucks in the city and will be used on a case-by-case basis, possibly to comfort or warm accident and fire victims.
"We're just glad there are people in the community (doing this) ... This is something we can provide if people need them," Parker said.
Refuge of Light Assistant Director Missy Zivney echoed Parker, saying she is grateful for the quilts.
She said girls now have the opportunity to have something that was made with hands of compassion and gentleness, which is something most haven't experienced.
"It's a symbol of the beginning of a new start for them," Ms. Zivney said. "It (also) means awareness of the community and that others want to be involved in the process of that healing."
