REFLECTIONS

Creative hands tell many stories about quilting.

Quilts serve many purposes. They soothe heartaches, they decorate a room, and they find new owners through special fundraising auctions.

Many veterans organizations pay tribute to their local vets by giving them a Quilt of Valor. The local VFW in Blooming Prairie has given out more than 200 Quilts of Valor during the past 11 years to worthy recipients.

Charities benefit

First Lutheran Church of Blooming Prairie presented 202 quilts through Lutheran World Relief.

St. Columbanus Catholic Church made 100 quilts this past Christmas season. Here’s where some of the St. Columbanus quilts go: Rachel’s Hope; homeless in Rochester and Mankato, and to the Blooming Prairie Police Department.

Red Oak Grove Lutheran Church recently made 50 lap quilts for veterans participating in the Honor Flight program April 23. Red Oak quilters made over 100 this past year.

Quilters from the Community Lutheran Church of Geneva made 110 quilts this giving season.

Area churches have chosen the quilts as community-wide projects that generate lots of community goodwill.

Local businessman Rick Hansen trucks the quilts from First Lutheran to the Lutheran World Relief warehouse.

First Lutheran member Bernice Stender said she started quilting after she retired from teaching. “It’s fun, especially the social part,” she said. “We’re doing something for others.”

Several quilts are held back for community fundraisers.

Most everyone has a quilt they love to embrace. Thank you, ladies, for all of your hard work.