October 2025 Work Day Recap

 WOW !!! 

October Sew Days were just great in so many ways!  Thank goodness for a very FULL flat of tables because we used every one of them!!  People with machines just kept pouring in.  20 people is not an unusual amount of people showing up, but 20 people actually bringing their machines to sew is another thing!  And there were at least 10 more people stopping by on Friday/Saturday to visit, pick up projects and to come hear Leanna Simpson talk about Agape Pregnancy Center,

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Whatever the reason, it was great to see so many!  

As mentioned, Leanna Simpson, Director of Agape, joined our meeting to speak with us.  This agency is one where we send lots of baby blankets.  The agency is amazing in its approach to helping the unborn child, leading with love, to provide so many things to those women/couples facing a new pregnancy during troubling times.  And thanks to all of you for the 26 quilts we were able to give to Leanna this month!

Leanna shared many stories to give us an idea how sharing love as Jesus would have us do is making such a big difference in people's lives.  Here is a YouTube video about the blankets to give you a sense of how our gifts are used by Agape.  Take a look at some of the other videos produced by the group to get a sense for this important ministry.  

Leanna left with a nice big pile of baby quilts!

It was great to learn about this agency and we plan to have regular speakers at Hope Quilter events so that we can understand more about other agencies that we support.  In November, Leslie Green from Hope Ministries is scheduled to speak on Friday, the 7th, at 10:30.

At our meeting, we discussed a new "objective" for the group:  We are going to work with more intentionality, have a more direct relationship with local agencies to help us make sure we're meeting specific needs in a timely manner.  Learning more about the community we serve is an added bonus.  Communication about needs will come via Facebook and email.  We have established some new relationships and are working out a way to store more of our quilts so that we have them available when a need arises.  A "need" such as "our closets are empty" is one thing.  But we also hope to be able to react to more specific events like a graduation from Hope Ministries 2-year program or having a housewarming gift for Habitat for Humanity recipients. Having lap quilts and walker bags available for prayer partners at each Hope church location is also a goal.  

While some agencies' storage closets are full, our inquiries have found several other groups anxious to receive the quilts that you are making.  Here is the spread of donations that were collected this weekend and where we've designated them to go:

• Agape: 26
• Sleep in Heavenly Peace: 8
• LSI: 5 (they are still working with a manufacturer to give beds away at Christmas.  Our quilts will go with them!)
• Habitat for Humanity housewarming:  6  (more to come on this project)
• Hope Ministries: 27 quilts here and you'll hear more about this need at the November talk with Leslie.
• Care Ministry: 10 lap quilts, 2 wheelchair quilts and 1 walker bag in storage. 
• ChildServe: 11 quilts  (these guys will hopefully speak at the January retreat.)
  
      And yes, that total (96) is AWESOME!  You gals ROCK!
  
  Check out the PHOTOS! 

Thanks to all those who donated fabrics for our 2026 Challenge.  We are looking for dark gray, red, black and yellow.  We've had further clarification on colors.  Having a little white in the mix is okay but the primary color should be one of the above.  And the red we are looking for is pure red.  So stay away from anything muted or in a pinkish tone.  You'll hear more about this project in January and will get a chance to help with the sewing.  We still need more fabric so you haven't missed out if you didn't get a chance to raid your stash yet.

Until November, Happy Sewing!