Spreading love of the season is Knox Quilting Friends’ goal
More than 100 youth and children under the care of the Loudon County-Monroe County Foster Parents Association will be wrapped in a layer of handmade love this Christmas, thanks to a local volunteer quilting group’s concern and generosity.
Knoxville Area Quilting Friends presented 115 hand-made quilts to Martha Hodge from the organization Saturday, Oct. 6, in the Cedar Bluff branch of Knox County Public Library.
The Rev. Chris Caldwell of Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Farragut blessed the quilts before they were presented to Hodge and her family, including husband, Russell, and children, Abby, Meghan, Adam, Gracie and Samuel.
In addition to the quilts, many of which were hand-stitched, an assortment of pillowcases also were completed as part of the donation.
“We made quilts for teens, school-age children and infants,” said Debbie Anders, who heads up the 2-year-old group.
It had elected earlier this year to begin the project and had been working on it since February, Anders added.
“To have this many quilts made in such a short time frame is a blessing from God,” she said, noting most quilts were completed in individual homes.
While blessing the quilts, Caldwell said the ladies were “living examples of being the hands and feet of Jesus.
“It also shows that when we try to do the right thing, God is always there with us.”
Anders said large donations from Mid-South Sewing and Gina’s Fabrics helped make the large-scale project possible.
She said the group itself is comprised of “a wonderful group of ladies. There is never any criticism of anyone, and if anyone wants to learn how to quilt they are here to teach them.”
The KAQF has about 130 members and host meetings monthly at the centrally-located Cedar Bluff library.
The group also has a Facebook page, which offers more information on membership.
She said the group still is
contemplating what its 2019 project should be and have several ideas to consider, including continuing foster care quilts or perhaps providing quilts for shut-ins, nursing home patients among others.
It’s next meeting will begin at noon, Saturday, Nov. 10.
