REGION: Lutheran quilting circles aid international relief efforts

By LEIGH ANN DEWEY - For the North County Times | Friday, December 26, 2008 12:11 AM PST ∞

Quilting circles at a number of area Lutheran churches are making life a little more comfortable for people in need throughout the world.

The groups meet regularly for about nine months of the year. Piece by piece, they create colorful patchwork quilts that are distributed each October by the Lutheran World Relief organization to people affected by poverty, disease, war and natural disasters in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

"They're sent to some of the hardest-hit places in the world," said Elaine Jaeger, longtime member and leader of The Piece Makers, a quilting group at the Lutheran Church of the Incarnation in Poway. "For some people, (the quilt) is all they really have."

Lutheran World Relief partners with 354 countries to create long-term programs to help people grow food, improve their health, strengthen their communities, end conflict, create jobs and recover from disasters such as the Indian Ocean tsunami that caused massive devastation four years ago.

The quilting project is one of many of the organization's programs supported by Lutheran congregations throughout the United States. Volunteers have banded together to compile health kits, gather financial donations, support fair trade and offer other assistance to Lutheran World Relief's efforts.

The Poway quilting group was founded in 1974, and some of its original members remain active. About 20 women meet twice a month, "and everybody has a different job," Jaeger said, whether it be cutting, sewing, adding the lining, filling the quilt or tying quilts together.

The Piece Makers depend on donations from fabric shops such as Jo-Ann's and individuals. "We've been blessed," she said. "We get a lot of donations." This year, the group completed 139 quilts. "Once we hit 100, we know we're over the hump."

Quilting efforts at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church in Escondido began about 20 years ago, said Ruth Shimansky. She founded the group with fellow member Wanda Williams. The women gathered congregation members who shared the love of quilting, and had a desire to reach out to people in need across the globe.

"The group and number of quilts we made each year grew slowly," said Shimansky, "and now we make about 100 quilts each year." This year, 103 quilts were completed. Other church members help out by taking home "quilt packets," filled with squares, to sew together and return them to be added to the final quilts.

The church holds annual "tying parties," and invites congregation members to drop by on a designated Saturday to tie the quilts together. Quilts are displayed on church pews before they are sent to the international organization, and members have the opportunity to purchase quilts, with proceeds going to buy materials for the next year. Of the 103 quilts created, 10 were purchased at the church.

The rewards are many, said House of Prayer quilter Pat Portis. "We know we are really doing something for people in need," she said. Not only are the quilts used for warmth, Portis said, they have been put up as "walls" in huts to offer people privacy, and have acted as "incubators" to help keep infants alive when hospitals lack the technology.

She said the quilts must be made according to certain guidelines issued by Lutheran World Relief. For example, the squares must be a certain size and cannot display patriotic or religious symbols, since they might be offensive, depending on where they are distributed.

The group also "is just plain fellowship," Portis said. "I've known these gals for years. We're bonded. We're a sisterhood of people who know we are doing something worthwhile together and sharing it."

"These dedicated workers come every week to diligently work on quilts," said the House of Prayer's Rev. Paul Black. "It has been a labor of love for many people for a long time. We need to realize how blessed we are to live in this country. Our worst days are better than most in the world."

At King of Kings Lutheran Church in Oceanside, quilters, also known as The Piece Makers, give a portion of their quilts to Lutheran World Relief and a portion to the Brother Benno's Center, which serves North County's homeless and poor. This year, the group completed about 50 quilts. As at House of Prayer, congregation members have the chance to buy quilts, with proceeds going toward the cost of future materials. Quilts also are given to parents of each baby baptized at the church, said Donna Hartmann, a circle member for 15 years.

The group has between eight and 10 participants at its weekly sessions. "It's good knowing we're helping someone else," Hartmann said, "and we have a good time. We welcome anyone who wants to help. We even have a man who comes to help out."

To donate materials or funds to help quilt-making efforts of these three churches, call The Lutheran Church of the Incarnation at (858) 487-2225, the House of Prayer Lutheran Church at (760) 745-3738, or King of Kings Lutheran Church at (760) 757-2525. For more information about Lutheran World Relief, visit www.lwr.org.