WUWQ - Wrap Ukraine With Quilts
In February 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine and Ukrainians fled for their lives. There was a mass exodus at the Polish border as Ukrainian refugees flooded the area. Two quilters from Utah, Gina Halladay and Beth Hawkins wanted to do something to help. They put the word out to their Quilty friends - expecting to gather a few hundred quilts to give to refugees. This turned into an Magnum Opus and changed their lives forever. The quilt donations kept coming - thousands of them. Beth and Gina now run Wrap The World With Quilts (formerly Wrap Ukraine With Quilts).
In May 2022 I participated in a Quilt Along run by Sherri Noel - a quilt guild sister. We made her Love/Peace quilt pattern and donated to WUWQ. Somehow I ended up on a mailing list and in August 2022 I received an email from Gina & Beth inviting me to Poland for a humanitarian trip. One goal was to set up a sewing studio and teach Ukrainian refugees to make some simple sewing projects (bow ties, back packs, receiving blankets, zippered pouches) and help them sell their projects on Etsy. If they can make $300/month, they can get out of the shelters and into an apartment. The other goal was to pass out 100's of quilts at shelters. - Sign me up! I was one of 40 volunteers that went to Poland in September 2022. It was a life changing experience. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of the miracles that happened on that trip!
Here is our sewing studio with the refugees and their projects. The sewing studio offered them a place to forget about the war for a short time. It was needed therapy and was a creative outlet and possible money maker.
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Here we are passing out quilts to refugees at the shelters...I learned how much a quilt really meant - it's an expression of love and hope and let's the recipient know they were not forgotten.
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We were blessed to have a filming crew with us documenting our good deeds. "Making Good" is a TV show that focuses on special charity works around the US (and now Poland!). It is a cute, funny and poignant 24 minute show that says all the things I felt about the experience - more eloquently than I could. Have a look.
If you would like to donate money or quilts to Wrap The World With Quilts, please visit their website and read about their amazing story.
if you would like me to give a presentation to your guild about my trip to Poland and "What A Quilt Really Means", please contact me.
In February 2022 Russia invaded Ukraine and Ukrainians fled for their lives. There was a mass exodus at the Polish border as Ukrainian refugees flooded the area. Two quilters from Utah, Gina Halladay and Beth Hawkins wanted to do something to help. They put the word out to their Quilty friends - expecting to gather a few hundred quilts to give to refugees. This turned into an Magnum Opus and changed their lives forever. The quilt donations kept coming - thousands of them. Beth and Gina now run Wrap The World With Quilts (formerly Wrap Ukraine With Quilts).
In May 2022 I participated in a Quilt Along run by Sherri Noel - a quilt guild sister. We made her Love/Peace quilt pattern and donated to WUWQ. Somehow I ended up on a mailing list and in August 2022 I received an email from Gina & Beth inviting me to Poland for a humanitarian trip. One goal was to set up a sewing studio and teach Ukrainian refugees to make some simple sewing projects (bow ties, back packs, receiving blankets, zippered pouches) and help them sell their projects on Etsy. If they can make $300/month, they can get out of the shelters and into an apartment. The other goal was to pass out 100's of quilts at shelters. - Sign me up! I was one of 40 volunteers that went to Poland in September 2022. It was a life changing experience. I am so grateful I was able to be a part of the miracles that happened on that trip!
Here is our sewing studio with the refugees and their projects. The sewing studio offered them a place to forget about the war for a short time. It was needed therapy and was a creative outlet and possible money maker.
. . . Here we are passing out quilts to refugees at the shelters...I learned how much a quilt really meant - it's an expression of love and hope and let's the recipient know they were not forgotten.
. . We were blessed to have a filming crew with us documenting our good deeds. "Making Good" is a TV show that focuses on special charity works around the US (and now Poland!). It is a cute, funny and poignant 24 minute show that says all the things I felt about the experience - more eloquently than I could. Have a look.
If you would like to donate money or quilts to Wrap The World With Quilts, please visit their website and read about their amazing story.
if you would like me to give a presentation to your guild about my trip to Poland and "What A Quilt Really Means", please contact me.