Why make Charity Quilts?
Some people have asked -
Why?
Why do you make charity quilts and GIVE them away?
Why not just sell all your quilts?
It is a valid question.
“Because I want to” may not be a satisfactory answer to most people.
Let me explore it a bit with you.
First of all, you really have to understand my own personal philosophy and faith. It affects everything I do. I am a Christian. A Bible-believer.
Stay with me - even if you aren’t. It may help you understand me better.
While I do not believe that I earn my salvation by being kind to the poor, I do believe that God wants us to help the needy as we are able.
My salvation is not because of anything I do - it is by faith in Christ alone, however, because I have this belief and and trust in Christ, I want to help others if I can.
Galatians 6:10 in the New Testament of the Bible says “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (ESV)
I am not uber rich, so I can’t give millions of $ to various charities and let them do helpful things for people. What I can do is something I can realistically do.
I can make quilts and hopefully make a difference in my own community.
I try to help those who are fellow Christians first - as the Bible directs - do good to those of the household of faith - my fellow believers - brothers and sisters in Christ. They are my spiritual family. Family should look out for family.
BUT, I don’t only help fellow believers.
With these charity quilts, in fact, I don’t make it an issue at all. I don’t ask what one’s personal belief system is - my goal is simply to help the needy.
This point could be greatly expanded, but when you realize that people around you are really cold at night and you can help them not be chilly - it is normal for most of us to say, “Here, let me help.” At least it is for people I know.
One more point here - 1 Cor. 10:31 in the Bible tells us “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” This quilting is part of “whatever you do”.
I pray that my efforts will reflect well on God and make Him look good.
I do charity quilts simply because there is a joy in giving that cannot be explained.
When you give someone something that they need (and better yet - if it is beautiful), the normal reaction by the receiver is gladness, relief, surprise, or gratitude and it gives you, the giver, a sense of joy that can’t quite be explained. And that gladness stays with you. The biblical principle, once again, is as the words of Christ are quoted by Paul, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35). Typically we all think that “I want, I get and then I will have satisfaction.” However, the opposite actually is true. Giving brings great satisfaction.
There are a lot of really very grateful people - and those stories are often quite a bit ‘later’ than when you first give away a quilt. Those stories give an added boost to that joy in giving. The feedback ‘later’ is gratifying. But even if you never have that feedback, the original joy in giving is still there! One may never know how your gift affected or helped someone in the long run. And that’s ok.
Note - we are here in Poland, so I give to those around me, but if I were in the states, I would probably look for camps, women’s shelters or other organizations that would love donation quilts. I know that I can sew faster than my loved ones could absorb my work. I would probably first look for women’s shelters as my heart is especially sensitive to women in need.
Thirdly - I would rather give my quilts to people than let them buy them inexpensively where my own supplies and work are not even covered.
For me, selling very cheaply devalues my time and effort and does not reflect the value that I put on them. If you are a quilter, you understand. If you aren’t - then, you probably think “A little is better than nothing.” However, that is not the truth for me.
I would rather make it a gift than for you to think that that quilt cost me only $25 to make. I’ve had people try to pay me for the charity quilt they receive. I won’t accept it. I told one man that if he insisted on giving me money, then I wouldn’t give him a quilt!
Fourthly - Giving quilts away creates room in my house to make more.
I love having a place to give my experimental quilts or just “other” quilts that don’t have a different purpose.
I love to sew, and creating is what I like to do. Giving some of my quilts away helps keep the numbers in line with what I have space for.
For me, I love both the very process of sewing AND the finished product. Having a reason to sit at my machine and make something, knowing that I have a place to put the finished product that will eventually result is actually quite appealing - especially since my house is getting very full of all my ‘other’ quilts.
While I admit to being more “project oriented” than “process oriented”, I do really enjoy the process itself! (However, if I were never allowed to finish a quilt or quilt top, I’m not sure I would do it just because I love to sew - I might take up another hobby such as bag making.)
So there you are - my first four reasons as to WHY I make charity quilts. Yours might be different. And that is fine. These are mine.
This photo is from our give away in 2019 and my son, Tim, took the panorama shot for me.
While this post didn’t need a lot of research as it comes from my own belief system, I did find this extensive list of Twenty Reasons why it’s more blessed to give than to receive. If you are curious about this topic, you can read more here.
Have a great day wherever you are reading this! Thanks for coming along with me on my quilting/sewing journey!
Be sure to check out what my sis has for you in the store here!
Here’s one of the beauties we have!
