Giving Back

The Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild is proud of the work we do, not only in quilting but supporting our community in various ways.

We love “Making a Difference”.

Here are several other ways we give back.

Community Quilts

Despite Covid-19 our community quilters, under the leadership of Jennifer Dyke, have been prolific in creating and donating quilts for various organizations in the Niagara region. In 2018 approximately 89 quilts were donated, 102 quilts in 2019, 68 quilts in 2020, and 169 quilts in 2021 (this included 48 quilts donated to the YWCA new housing project.) The final figures are not in yet but in 2022, 74 quilts have been donated.

This is very impressive and special thanks to all who made this possible.

Gloria Meyer now leads our giving back initiatives and together with the community quilters team have identified 5 agencies that the NHQG will support. They are also in the process of identifying the needs of each organization so we can effectively concentrate our efforts.

Fire Victims:

Lap size quilts, approximately 50-55” wide by 55-75” long up to bed size quilts 70×90 or 80×90

Kristen French Advocacy Centre:

Desire quilts for children up to 10 years of age, 50-55” wide by 60-65” long and for children up to 18 years of age 50-55” wide by 70-75” long.

I was able to drop off 10 quilts to the Kristen French Advocacy Centre and they were so happy to receive them. They now have 2 quilt ladders on which to display quilts to make it easier for the children to select a quilt. They had just put out the last of the quilts that they had on hand, so the timing was great.

I inquired as to the age and gender of kids that the quilts appeal to and was told the following.

– for this year, the gender of the children currently involved in investigations, are 1/3 guys and 2/3 girls.

– The really young children that are processed through the centre, generally choose a stuffed animal instead of a quilt. It is the older children, ages 10 and up that generally select a quilt.

– The police also will take a quilt with them on occasion when making a home visit.

With this information, I think we can gear the quilts we make for them, fit better. Think featuring sports, sports teams, cartoon characters and such for the boys and yes even some girls. Bright colours and themes are also great.

Hospice:

Lap size quilts, approximately 50-55” wide by 55-75”

YWCA Women’s Shelter:

Lap size quilts, approximately 50-55” wide by 55-75” long up to bed size quilts 70×90 or 80×90

Guillian’s Place:

Lap size quilts, approximately 50-55” wide by 55-75” long up to bed size quilts 70×90 or 80×90

If you have any questions about Community Quilts please e-mail us at : info@niagaraquiltesguild.com

On August 19, 2021 we donated 48 quilts: 10 double, 30 twin, 1 lap size, and 7 baby to the newly built transitional housing unit at 176 Oakdale. The quilts were presented to Laurie Andrews (YWCA Board Member), Arienne Good (YWCA Fundraising and Donor Relations) and Elizabeth Zimmerman (YWCA Executive Director). A reporter from Niagara This Week was also there. Click for Article. We spread some of the quilts out on the grass in front of the building, and everyone was very excited and so thankful for the donation. A few residents happened by while we were there and were also very excited to learn that they would be receiving a quilt. The YWCA staff was so grateful for the donation, and indicated that it means so many of you care about what happens to marginalized people in our community. Thank you so much to all of you who made this possible.

The picture above shows Kathleen O’Flaherty happily presenting 40 baby quilts to FACS Social Worker Tracy Nicole in 2020

This photo was taken July 13, 2020 at the Kristen French Advocacy Centre were we presented them with the actual cheque for the proceeds from the quilt raffle. Mark Doyle is on the left and Frank Parkhouse is on the right. Janet Handy (from the Centre) is flanked by Gloria Meyer and Lynne Wilkinson with Sharree Eidt beside her. We are pleased that despite these unusual times, we were able to raise as much money as we did. We hope to do something like this again in the future. Needless to say, they were thrilled.
For more information on the Kristen French Advocacy Centre visit their social media pages:
@KristenFrnchCACN – Facebook;
@kristenfrenchcacn – Instagram;
@KFCACN – Twitter

HOBBS CHARITY BATTING PROGRAM

Please save your UPC labels from Hobbs batting packages so we can participate in the Hobbs Charity Batting Program. With 5 UPC labels, we can order a roll of Hobbs 80/20 for a drastically reduced cost. This is just another way you can help you community quilters.

Meals On Wheels

Placemats

Meals on Wheels is an organization which provides a hot and nutritious meal once a day from Monday to Friday to the area shut ins and seniors in their own homes. Each year the guild donates placemats to this organization who then distributes them at Christmas. Quite often this is the only present the recipients receive. These placemats are received with great delight and appreciated by everyone..

The following are some suggestions for making the placemats:

1. The finished size should measure about 12 “ x 18 “.
2. Make a crazy quilt design with batting and backing.
3. Make it reversible with Christmas on one side and another season on the other.
4. Applique a cut out from a large print on background fabric and add borders.
5. Use an orphan block or make a log cabin block and add borders.
6. They don’t have to be Christmas themed.
7. Try the quilt as you go placemat pattern in this link. Download Instructions

Soup Bowl Koozie

A client of Meals On Wheels, who is a former quilter, suggested that we might like to makeSoup Bowl Koozies, as putting the meals in the microwave can make them quite hot. Attached, you will find instructions on how to make a Koozie. Download Instructions

All placemats and/or Koozies handed in by the November general meeting will be delivered to Meals on Wheels in time for the Holidays.

Thank you again for your support. Your efforts make such a big difference.

SPECIAL THANK YOU

Hi Lovely Niagara Quilters Guild!!

Once again you have outdone yourselves. We had enough placemats and Koozies for all of our clients in St. Catharines and Thorold.
They are being delivered today and I know we will get many thankful phone calls.
Our clients always appreciate reminders that they are not forgotten. Your artistry brings joy and light into so many lives. We are so Thankful for all that you do.

Take care and have a Wonderful Holiday.

Best Wishes,
Bertha Power
Office Manager
Meals on Wheels Thorold – St. Catharines
905 682 0333

Volunteers are our hands, eyes and ears in the community, and the Heart of Meals on Wheels!

Pictures Provided By Meals on Wheels

NeoNatal Quilts

Every Month we collect Neo-Natal Quilts on behalf of the Special Care Nursery at the St. Catharines General Hospital. In 2022 we have delivered 226 quilts to the Special Care Nursery at the St. Catharines General Hospital. Parents love the personal touch of a bright quilt in the room. This is a great way of giving back.

To make these Quilts here are the requirements:

Neo-Natal Quilts should not be any larger than 22 to 24 inches square
The front or top of the quilt may be made from either cotton or flannelette. You may be as creative with the top as you wish.
The backing must be flannelette, and have no seams (there is not batting put in these quilts).
Simply lay top of quilt and backing fabric right sides together and stitch around the edge leaving an opening.
Turn right side out and top stitch around the edge.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY IN MAKING THESE QUILTS, THEY TOUCH EVERYONE’S HEARTS.

RAFT

RAFT

RAFT – operated by the Niagara Resource Service for Youth contributes to the welfare of our community by helping at-risk youth, families and neighbourhoods become independent and self-sufficient.

Our services strengthen the emotional and social well-being of clients and act as a portal to community resources.

Services are based on the principles of Empowerment, Quality of Life, Dignity and Respect. Services are provided in a supportive and caring environment, which encourages independence and self-reliance.

We believe that helping clients take control of their lives builds self-esteem and confidence while empowering clients to become fuller more involved members of their community.

Every November the Niagara Heritage Quilters Guild collects donations of hats, scarves, socks, mitts and gloves. Personal Hygiene items (shampoo, soap, creams etc.) for both men and women are also collected.

November 2022

The Niagara Heritage Quiters’ Guild has established a Scholarship Valued at $1,000.00 to promote an interest in Fine Arts, Art History, Visual Arts or Design, with an interest in textile/Fibre Arts as a career or lifeskill.

One of the founding members of the Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild, Nina Stahlschmidt, began the idea of the scholarship as a way of involving the guild in the Niagara community. Nina and a group of members organized a silent auction to raise funds during the NHQG Quilt Show at Niagara College
May 18-21, 2011. Members donated items for the auction and we received monetary donations by members of the community. The monies raised are invested in GIC’S. The interest and any additional funds raised each year are kept separate and used to fund the annual scholarship.

Above is a picture of our 2020 recipient, Krystyna Augustyn. She is a graduate of Notre Dame College School and is going to York University to pursue a degree in Design. She has b been a top scholar throughout her high school years and has had numerous positions of leadership. Krystyna is an outstanding student and we wish her great success in her future endeavours at York University and here career.

Qualification Requirements:

The student must be graduating or have graduated last year from a secondary school program in the Niagara Region.
The student may win only once.
The student must be a Canadian citizen.
The student must show personal growth and leadership in school and community activities.
The student must include a typed 350 – 500 word essay on the topic of “Textile/Fibre Arts as a Life Skill and/or Career” with their application.
The application must be signed by the student and student’s Principal or Vice Principal.
The student must provide names and contact information of 2 references. These references should not be immediate family members.
The student must be registered in a Canadian Post-Secondary institution.
The student must indicate which Canadian Post-Secondary institution and program of study they will be attending.

Conditions:

To receive the Scholarship award, the student must obtain 75 merit points or more as outlined on the application form.
If the scholarship recipient does not attend an accredited college or university in the Fall or Spring for any reason, he/she shall forfeit the scholarship to allow another student who has achieved 75 merit points or more, to take advantage of the scholarship. In the event that the successful applicant must forfeit and no other applicant has achieved the requisite 75 merit points, there shall be no scholarship for that year.

Applications must be postmarked by May 31st of each year.

Please send completed application with applicable attachments to:

Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild,
P.O. Box 284, Thorold, ON, L2V 3Y9
Attn: NHQG Scholarship Committee

info@niagaraquiltersguild.com

Subject: NHQG Scholarship

Past Scholarship Recipients

2019
On behalf of the Guild, I was pleased to present our scholarship for this year to Hannah Robertson. She is a graduate of Eden High School and is pursuing her further education at Carleton University for a Bachelor of Architectural studies majoring in design. Hannah is an exemplary student who while maintaining high scholastic marks, also found time to put in over 665 volunteer hours. We wish her well in her future studies.