News

Shiawassee Quilters come together to aid veterans

By MICHAEL PETERSON, Argus-Press Staff Writer

Friday, November 20, 2009 10:03 AM EST

Members of the Shiawassee Quilters clap as they count the last quilt made for the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Argus-Press Photo by Michael Peterson

OWOSSO - As the cold weather begins its slow descent upon the state, the women of the Shiawassee Quilters have continued their annual tradition of keeping veterans in Grand Rapids snug.

For the past four to five years, members of the group have been knitting quilts, which they donate to the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.

Treasurer Helen Cole said the group met last month to work together on the project - setting up something akin to a quilt-making assembly line.

“We've always done a donation project a year and this group really seems to like doing these veterans home quilts,” Shiawassee Quilters President Kathy Allen said.

However, most of the approximately 40 members work on quilts in their spare time as well. The members counted how many they made at their Monday meeting, at the Shiawassee Council On Aging building at 300 N. Washington St. in Owosso. Members discovered that this year they completed 63 quilts.

Their all-time record, however, was 71 in 2008.

Secretary Gerry Van Agen said the group has been doing charity quilt donations for at least 15 years - previously making quilts for Relief After Violent Encounters (RAVE) and the Shiawassee County Baby Pantry.

Van Agen said she believes the project helps bring the group closer.

“We have quilts with helicopters, some with a Navy motif and some with animals,” she said, while listing off the variety of quilts they made this year. “They keep you warm, especially in this Michigan climate. And we just like to sew.”

Cole said she enjoys the camaraderie the group project brings every year.

“It just energizes us and gets us excited,” Cole said. “And everybody pitches in.”

Members of the Byron's Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 5822 attended the meeting, and they are the ones who yearly transport the quilts to Grand Rapids.

Auxiliary member Betty Thompson said the Quilters' hard work does not go unappreciated by the veterans who receive them.

“The women don't realize how much their gift means to the veterans,” Thompson said. “These are like a touch of home. They are home-made and they are made by people who care, and they can see that.”

Allen said the Shiawassee Quilters are always looking for new members and the group meets on the third Monday of every month.

- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpeterson@argus-press.com. Post comments about this story online at www.argus-press.com.

Comment on this Story

Ron Powell wrote on Nov 21, 2009 8:47 AM:

" My mother is the one pictured on the right. She has been actively sewing quilts for years. My parent's house is almost wall to wall sewing stuff and a day does not go by when mom isn't sewing a quilt. These ladies pour their heart and souls into these quilts because they understand the importance of the contributions our veterans have made for God and Country over the years. They are not appreciated as much as they should be. Keep up the good work ladies!! "

Amy M. wrote on Nov 18, 2009 8:07 PM:

" "knitting quilts"? You "sew" a quilt and you "knit" an afghan. "

Hiram A. wrote on Nov 18, 2009 3:49 PM:

" BLESS YOU LADIES, AND ALL THAT HAVE BEEN A PART OF THIS PROJECT. "