News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
News and Opinion from Sisters, Oregon
Barbara Herlocker and Candy Woods sort through fabric that will be made into tidings of comfort and joy.
Quilts offer a unique kind of warmth - greater than that provided by a simple blanket of cloth. The care and love that goes into the making somehow transmits itself, especially in trying times when a bit of comfort is precious.
The East of the Cascades Quilt Guild produces just such pieces of warmth and love.
A core group of 20 quilters - sometimes a few more - meet once a month at Stitchin' Post, using donated fabric.
"We get in here and just take the fabric and start making easy-to-make quilts," said guild leader, Barbara Herlocker. "We made 103 quilts this year, which is the most we've ever made."
The Head Start program in Sisters gives 15 quilts each year as holiday gifts, and more are donated to local fire departments and the sheriff's office to be given out to children in troubled circumstances ranging from car accidents to problematic domestic situations.
"They see families, kids on floors, all sorts of things that we don't know about," said Herlocker.
Sisters Family Access Network also receives quilts to distribute to families in need.
For the quilters, it truly is a labor of love - love of the craft and a heart for the need.
"They love to do it," said Herlocker. "They just believe in it."
Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.
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