Local quilters make gifts to send to military personnel

Participants in the Feb. 11 Quilts of Valor Sew Day show some of their work. Photo ourtesy of Rose Rhoads

Members of the group Quilts of Valor gathered at the Sun City Civic Association auditorium Feb. 11 for the annual Sew Day to make quilts for military personnel.

A total of 39 quilters from around Southern California participated. Quilts of Valor was created in 2003 as a grassroots effort on the east coast to send quilts to troops who served in Iraq and Afghanistan. An effort that started with one mother who made a quilt for her son has grown into a national movement with more than 152,000 quilts being awarded to veterans from all wars.

The Feb. 11 event included members of two local clubs, the Sun City Quilting Club and Hilltoppers of Winchester. In Sun City, one member makes and cuts the pieces, another sews the top together, while someone else quilts and layers together. Then another member attaches binding and a label. Hundreds of quilts have been made by these two groups. Each quilt costs up to $200 to make.

Finished quilts go to the state Quilt of Valor representative, who awards the quilts at the request of the national organization.

If anyone would like to request a quilt, contact Quilts of Valor at www.qovf.org. Donations can be made by cash or check. Checks should be made out to Quilts of Valor Foundation, which is a 501c3 organization. Then contact Peggy Miller at 951-943-1211 or Rose Rhoads at 951-301-6169 to arrange for your donation.