"A Stitch in Time" quilters group from Heritage Village Retirement Campus in Gerry, recently made a $300 donation to Heritage Ministries with proceeds raised from the sale of a quilt the group assembled.
The quilters group is comprised of six women who reside on the Heritage Village Retirement Campus. The group, "A Stitch in Time," was established to bring together the talent of these women who all enjoy the handiwork of quilting. Each of the women has pursued the hobby of quilting or needlework at some point in their lives, making special quilts for countless children, grandchildren and extended family over the years. Now, in their retirement, these women have the time to enjoy a hobby they hold close to their hearts.
Staying true to their favorite hobby, you could say the pieces fell into place for "A Stitch in Time." Recently, Heritage Village Retirement Campus participated in two events that highlighted the women's common interest of quilting. One event was a Quilt Show where individuals displayed their own handmade quilts. The second event was a Quilt Fundraiser that several women donated their unique talents to benefit the Western New York Alzheimer's Association.
Article Photos
Pictured, from left, are: Nancy Bertch, Janet Peterson, Dorothy Tidwell, Esther Robson and Dee Shreffler. Absent from the photo is Luella Storm.
With a common interest in quilting at hand, Heritage Village Retirement Campus resident, Dee Shreffler, began to bring the pieces together to form this unique group of women. In possession of a quilting frame donated by a fellow senior on the Retirement Campus, Mrs. Shreffler wondered how this quilting equipment could be utilized. Inspired by an interest to bring fellow quilters together, Mrs. Shreffler began organizing an informal quilters group.
Heritage Village Retirement Campus residents Dorothy Tidwell, Nancy Bertch, Janet Peterson, Luella Storm and Esther Robson took Mrs. Shreffler up on her invitation. The group settled on the name "A Stitch in Time" and has worked on several quilts over the last two years. When working on a quilt project, the group meets once a week to stitch and visit with one another socially. The donated quilter's frame is displayed in a common area at the Retirement Campus allowing others to enjoy and follow the group's progress.
"A Stitch in Time's" most recent project was finishing the hand quilting on a donated quilt top. The quilt top had been generously donated by a town of Stockton resident who had read about the Retirement Campus seniors in a press release featuring the Quilt Fundraiser to benefit the Western New York Alzheimer's Association.
The end result was a beautiful Antique Double Wedding Ring quilt which was purchased as a gift for a senior who resides in a Skilled Nursing Facility out of state. As the story for "A Stitch in Time" melded together, all of the pieces fell into place: a group of women with a common interest; the generosity of several donations; and a Chaplain's wife to "sew" them all together.
The proceeds from the sale of the Antique Double Wedding Ring Quilt were donated as a gift to Heritage Ministries to be used toward the non-profit organization's current capital campaigns.