It is a hive of activity as dozens of ladies work diligently like elves in Santa’s workshop, after all, like St. Nick’s elves they have a quota to meet.
The Chinook Country Quilters meet every Monday at the Okotoks Anglican Church and happily work for hours at their craft. However, these ladies have a special task — creating up to 400 quilts per year to warm the hearts and bodies of children at the Alberta Children’s Hospital’s mental health department.
In 2004 quilter Linda Bandy asked the staff at the hospital if there was anything they could do to help and she was told the children in the mental health ward could use something to lift their spirits.
Bandy went back to her quilting guild and asked if they would help. In the first year the Chinook Country Quilters donated 33 quilts now, almost 10 years later, the ladies donate more than 300 quilts to the hospital annually.
Their efforts are not lost on the children who cherish the quilts they are given at the hospital.
“If you could read the letters we get,” said Sue Knowler, president of the Chinook Country Quilters. “We even had one who said we saved their life just because they knew someone cares enough to give them something even if we are a complete stranger.
“When we read the letters we are in tears. Some of the stories, you cannot believe what some of these kids have been through.”
Knowler said working on the quilts for the hospital is extremely rewarding and when they receive the letters they serve as inspiration for the 45 women involved in the guild.
Clairie Leitch, the last remaining original member of the Chinook Country Quilters which started in 1984, said it is amazing how appreciative the children are of the quilts they receive.
“The thank you notes we get from them, and some of them are very touching, you can tell from their letters the quilts are something personal, something that is their very own,” said Leitch.
Leitch said the feedback they receive from the hospital staff is the quilts are so comforting for the children; they hang on to them, they take them home and they mean a lot to them.
The Chinook Country Quilters make the quilts as volunteers with some financial assistance from sponsors including Children’s Hospital Aid Society. The group also accepts donations of fabric and materials to ensure they can complete their growing quota of quilts. They have also enlisted the help of other foothills quilting groups such as Millarville and High River.
In addition, the Chinook Country Quilters hosts annual shows as fundraisers for the hospital project. On June 10 the guild will host its spring show at the Okotoks Anglican Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dozens of incredible pieces will be on display at the church and members of the group suggest visitors bring their appetites as there is always a delicious collection home-baked goods.
In addition, visitors can purchase raffle tickets to win one of several beautiful gift baskets. All the proceeds will go towards the quilters’ hospital project.
“Being a part of the hospital is so rewarding,” said Knowler. “The quilts are so appreciated by the kids, they are something they treasure for the rest of their lives.”
