Ladies involved with the Quilts of Love distribution take a moment to stand with some of the creations.
Children who live in foster homes, homeless shelters or children’s homes don’t always have a feeling of ownership. Many times, they are pulled out of their homes with nothing and often receive nothing at their new homes.
To help rectify that issue, St. David’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church will participate in the 25th anniversary of Quilts of Love distribution at 9:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 14, in the St. David’s Parish Hall, 600 4th St., Cocoa Beach. Approximately 200 kids will benefit from the distribution and come that much closer to owning something.
The Quilts of Love distribution is actually a unified effort. Each year, Riverside Presbyterian Church, St. David’s, and Freedom Seven Senior Community Center make upwards of 125 children’s quilts. Six non-profits that serve children in Brevard County are invited to attend an event and select quilts that will be going to the children they serve.
“The children that are served by these groups usually don’t have anything,” said St. David’s parishioner Ellie Yelle. “The quilt is that child’s to keep. We want them to have that wonderful feeling of pride of ownership.” A total of 199 quilts were made last year.
St. David’s parishioner Polly Atkinson founded the group. “She wanted the children who have been taken from their homes to have something, to have that pride of ownership feeling,” said Yelle. She was assisted in this endeavor by Marilyn Flanigan and Virginia Shear.
Both Atkinson and Flanigan are now deceased, but the event continues with the help of Gerri Ayres, who has been a part of Quilts of Love for 10 years.
This year’s event will bring Devereaux, Family Promise, Serene Harbor, The Salvation Army, Genesis House, and Nana’s House – all of which will be selecting quilts for the children in their care. “No one reveals the quilts before the presentation,” said Ayres. “We arrange the quilts on banquet tables and then call up two groups at a time to pick a quilt. Then the next two, and then the next two. We call them again and again in that manner until all the quilts are gone.
“As each non-profit representative selects a quilt, the quilt is unfolded and shown to the audience to a chorus of ‘oohs and aahs,’” Ayres said. “These quilts are works of art, and it makes for such a wonderful presentation. It makes the quilters feel appreciated.”
In addition to the quilts, the non-profits also will receive more than 1,000 diapers. “At the end of the quilt distribution, we give these organizations the diapers and wipes we have collected in our Mother’s Day Diaper Drive,” Yelle said. “We count each diaper individually.”
Those who would like to help make quilts for the 2020 Quilts of Love event or donate diapers are asked to please contact Yelle at 321-783-3992 or send her an email at eyelle@aol.com
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ST. DAVID’S BY-THE-SEA EPISCOPAL CHURCH