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COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS The Gems of the Prairie Quilters have two primary goals---Education and Community Service. Gems member increase their skills and knowledge of quilting by attending workshops, lectures, classes and demonstrations throughout the year. Gems members also contribute their time and talents to make quilts for infants in the NICU at OSF Medical Center, children who are patients at the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate, and to families in need at the Center for Prevention of Abuse in Peoria. Gems members are very proud to lend their time and talents doing what they love to do---make quilts--to comfort those in need. From the tiniest infant born too soon, to a senior citizen in a helpless situation. The majority of the fabric used to make the quilts, is donated by Gems members. Gems funds are used to buy good-quality batting and Gems members volunteer to machine quilt the quilts. Soon after the Gems of the Prairie Quilters formed the guild in 1990, the Tiny Gems Service Project began. A dozen or so little quilts were taken to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at OSF Medical Center. Over the years that quantity has grown to almost 300 a year. In 1995, members created the Little Gems group to make quilts for St. Jude kids. Every child is given a colorful quilt to take home to help comfort them during their treatment and recovery. Project Linus, a nationwide program to make quilt for children who are ill or in hospitals, was our role model for Little Gems. In 2004, The Gems added The Center for Prevention of Abuse as another recipient of our community service projects. The Center provides counseling services and housing to victims of domestic violence and assault. The Center believes that everyone deserves peace everyday, everywhere. Each day, 15 new people turn to the Center for Prevention of Abuse for safety and support. The Center serves Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford Counties and all services are free. The quilts donated to the center offer comfort and warmth to the women, children and families who seek shelter during a domestic disturbance. In 2008, over 100 quilts will have been donated to St. Jude and the Center for Prevention of Abuse. These quilts range in size from baby quilts to twin size bed quilts. Each year, the Gems hold a Saturday Workshop to construct quilts for the service projects. The Tiny Gems Workshop is usually held in February and the Little Gems Workshop is held in the Fall. Check out the Gems Calendar and attend one or both of these workshops for food, fun, fellowship and a very good cause. You may also donate a quilt you have made or stop by the Service Project table at the monthly Gems meetings and check out a quilt kit to be sewn.
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Gems
of the Prairie Quilters • NQA Chapter #486 • |
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