by David Flint
Stephentown resident Andrea Beckwith was the winner of the Heavenly Quilters’ annual Quilt Raffle but the community, through the Stephentown Memorial Library, was also a big time winner. The Quilters held their drawing on Tuesday morning at the Federated Church’s Pearce Hall. The beautiful 102 x 106 inch sampler quilt goes to Beckwith and $1,200 in proceeds from the raffle goes to the Library.
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Laurenne Teachout, Library Director, was on hand to receive the check from the Quilters. “This is what the Library is all about,” she said, alluding to this sense of community that she said the Quilters had exhibited, crafting a beautiful object with their own hands to help out their friends and neighbors. On behalf of the Library Teachout thanked the Quilters and also the Friends of the Library who worked so hard to sell raffle tickets over the past months.
The Heavenly Quilters currently have 15 members who meet and do much of their quilting work on Tuesdays at the Stephentown Federated Church. Some are local and some come over from neighboring Massachusetts. Each year they work on a major quilt project for a raffle with the proceeds going to a selected charity or community organization. Those that have benefitted in the past include the Federated Church, the Stephentown Volunteer Fire Department, the Elizabeth Freeman Center for victims of domestic violence and the “To Life” breast cancer education and support group
The Heavenly Quilters also make lap robes for shut-ins and hats and mittens for needy children in the area. Another project they have is “cuddle quilts.” They make and donate at least 300 of these small children’s quilts. Children who have suffered a disaster or are suffering from cancer find some comfort when they receive a cuddle quilt along with a stuffed animal. Recipients beside local shut-ins include the St. Catherine’s Center for Children in Albany and the Albany Hospice Inn at St. Peter’s Hospital. In 2005 the Quilters packed up and sent over 50 sets of hats, mittens and scarves to needy children in a village in Afghanistan.
The Heavenly Quilters meet at the Federated Church on Garfield Road in Stephentown each Tuesday morning from 9 to 11 am. Anyone with an interest in quilting is invited to join the group. For more information, please contact Donna at 518-733-5278 or Susie at 413-243-1071.
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