Unfortunately, we no longer have an active WELCA unit, but our women are very actively in many projects. One project that has been going on for what seems like “forever” is our Lutheran World Relief (LWR) quilting group. The group’s leadership consists of several church members plus women from the wider community. We meet at church twice a month September through May, usually for 4 hours each time although we do take a break for coffee, tea and other goodies the people bring. We welcome church members and folks from the wider community to participate at whatever level they’re comfortable with. Some cut squares, some iron, some design, some tie the knots and pin the edges to assemble the quilts, some sew the edges, some sew quilt tops and bottoms at home and some donate fabric. We’re usually able to make 250 quilts for LWR each work year. We’re an Ingathering site, which means that LWR sends a truck to our church, usually in June, to pick up the quilts and school kits. Community Lutheran Church, a few towns away in Enfield, NH, brings their quilts to our church for LWR to pick up.
The quilters’ projects have expanded to include making backpacks for LWR’s School Kits. The backpacks are usually made at someone’s home, not during the twice-a-month quilting days. Congregation members gather at church after a Sunday worship service to fill the backpacks with the LWR-specified school supplies. We usually make and fill 200 backpacks for LWR each work year.
A more recent project is making reusable menstrual pads. This isn’t an LWR project. We’ve partnered with folks in our wider community who are involved with projects in places such as Kenya and Tanzania. We’ve learned that most of the girls in these places are only able to attend school for 3 out of 4 weeks each month because of their periods! So, we’re making reusable menstrual pad kits that consist of a waterproof backing and several cotton flannel pads, plus a carrying pouch and a cover that can be hung over the pad to hide it while it’s drying. A similar, large-scale project is Days for Girls (www.daysforgirls.org).
Key Takeaways
The quilters’ projects have expanded to include making backpacks for LWR’s School Kits. The backpacks are usually made at someone’s home, not during the twice-a-month quilting days. Congregation members gather at church after a Sunday worship service to fill the backpacks with the LWR-specified school supplies. We usually make and fill 200 backpacks for LWR each work year.
A more recent project is making reusable menstrual pads. This isn’t an LWR project. We’ve partnered with folks in our wider community who are involved with projects in places such as Kenya and Tanzania. We’ve learned that most of the girls in these places are only able to attend school for 3 out of 4 weeks each month because of their periods! So, we’re making reusable menstrual pad kits that consist of a waterproof backing and several cotton flannel pads, plus a carrying pouch and a cover that can be hung over the pad to hide it while it’s drying. A similar, large-scale project is Days for Girls (www.daysforgirls.org).
Key Takeaways
- There is an ongoing need for LWR’s Mission Quilts in areas affected by natural disasters and war-torn areas. How can you help? (lwr.org/quilts)
- LWR School Kits provide much-needed school supplies.
- Reusable menstrual pad kits help reduce “period poverty” by helping girls remain in school during their periods.
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