Sharing Quilts with Agatha Victims in Guatemala

(instructions are at the bottom of this post, last update June 2, 2010)

You may or may not have heard about the recent events in Guatemala. To recap...

• Thursday, May 27,
• a little before 3 pm, there was a rumbling tremor!
• a little after 7 pm, there was a volcano eruption!
• There was off/on rain, more than normal
• The eruption spewed Volcanic ash/sand all over villages and the capital, closing the major int'l airport
• Friday, May 28,
• more eruptions and ash over the city/villages
• an alert for a 'Pacific Cyclone' and solid rain started around 7pm
• airport closed until further notice
• Saturday, May 29,
• solid raining all morning and storm was named Agatha
• Volcano still erupting
• Airport still closed
• Sunday/Monday
• Volcano is less erupting but still a risk
• MUCHO Clean up In many parts of the country!

PHOTOS: See volcano sand clean up and the day after the TS Agatha

 

So how do I know all this so well...

I am *in* Guatemala. My family and I are missionaries here. We are Fine, really! We are now assiting the Guatemalans on their needs. I have many missionary friends who have planted churches here and various ministries and SO MANY have lost Everything! We are not near the Volcano, but my brother's flight was cancelled from Friday because the airport is closed due to the ash. The rain was 24+ hours Fri/Sat! Then since Sun, we are helping with communications for people to get what they need!

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See this photo gallery by Common Hope:

So what does this have to do with Quilting?

First, I want those who lost Everything to get a quilt! Then if we have more we'll give to those who still need to be loved on during this time! They need a whole bunch more, sure, but what I have learned in life no matter what the situation is we need to know our roles/strengths and as a team we can get more done! So, You may not be able to dig these people out or build them a new home, but believe me they do need blankets and what better than a made Quilt with Love!

Is anyone interested?
Instructions for donating Quilts:

• If so, please email me at sharingquilts(at)yahoo.com with the Subject "Quilts for Guatemala"
• I will ask that they be mailed to an address in Florida, USA
• I pray to be stateside at the end of June as long as the Airport is reopened and my flight is not canceled. Airport is OPEN June 2nd!
• DEADLINE is JULY 1st!
  
  
• Size and specifications:(edited June 2nd) See this page for Quilt Sizes, but we'll take anything we can get. For your information, most beds are crib, twin, and double sizes, see this link for the Mattress Size for those, and the suggested finished Quilt size..
•  **Added June 2nd** 
• "Summer quilts" are fine YES! (quilts with no batting)
• Yarn/String tieing (or is it tying) the quilt is fine - it does not have to be machine or hand quilted.
• Purchased quilts are accepted too.
• If you are not sure, just keep asking questions!
• Need Quick Ideas?
• Katy Korkos Studios shows this Large Strip Quilt
• Use a pre-printed fabric, quick quilt, or also called (not my fav) "Cheater Cloth"
• VA Beach Quilter has a smaller quilt in the large strip Quilt
• If by some chance, the response is GREAT and we need, I can add a second Deadline (around Aug 25), but for now, lets see what we can get for July 1st! 

Instructions for helping in other ways: 

Ok, so you do not want or are not able to make a quilt, but you want to still help!

• We are making quilts here in Guatemala. A few things (needed by July 1st) that would help us in our production of quilts here are:
• Funds towards Batting - You can click here to donate for batting and be sure that the money will go towards batting for the quilts for these Guatemala victims (10-20 bucks can go a long way). We can get it here, we just do not have the funds to buy it. I was donated a generous amount of fabric from a guild in Texas in 2008 with several large pieces. I just need batting to make several Double bed size quilts.
• Bobbins - I have two and would like a few more for my Janome 1008 machine (that was donated last year! woohoo!) If you'd like to help here, then email sharingquilts@yahoo.com for info on where to send them.
• Labels: does anyone know how to make quilt labels that say, "This quilt has been shared with you with love. ~ From some who likes Sharing Quilts!" on a cream color or any color really. If you'd like to help here, then email sharingquilts@yahoo.com for info on where to send them.
• If you rather donate towards the Relief effort, you can click here to donate to the General Relief Fund. So far the priority items are pure water and food.

We are "Sharing Quilts" and have opened with our first Campaign "Sharing Quilts with Agatha Victims in Guatemala". 

*hugs*
Jackie
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