Quilt donation brings warmth for local organisations

MEMEBRS of the Bellarine Quilting Group recently donated 52 handmade quilts to local organisations across the region.

As part of the donation, 28 quilts went to MELI who will pass them on to children fostered in the area, while another 24 were donated to the Sexual Assault and Violence Centre in Geelong.

Group co-ordinator Christine Fox said the group donated the quilts because they love making them and over the years have passed many on to family and friends for special occasions.

“We just love making quilts and we like to continue making quilts, but you can only make so many for family, and we like to try out new patterns and new designs and different techniques.

“Because we are able to provide our members with wadding and fabric, if some of them are on fixed incomes, it’s a great way for them to contribute to society and to the wider public and continuing enjoying their craft.”

The group have been donating quilts for the past 15 years and during that time have received grants from various clubs and organisations, used to purchase the wadding for the middle of the quilts.

All the other materials are donated from the community or come from the members’ personal collection.

The group is always open to receiving donations, particularly the wadding, which is the most expensive part of the quilt.

In past years, the groups have also donated to Orange Door and the Southern Cross Kids Camp who received about 25 quilts for five years.

While most of the members sew the quilts in their own time as part of their group projects, they also make them to be raffled off with money raised going back into the community.

Ms Fox encouraged new members into the group, saying it is a space for people who shares a common interest.

“The social and mental benefits are enormous belonging to our group because we have a lot of fun and laugh and have conversations,” she said.

The group meets every Monday from 10am at the Drysdale Community Hub.