Quilts for Kids’ chapters organize local volunteers and distribute quilts locally to area hospitals, shelters and children in need.

Quilts for Kids has two main goals…

1. Keep fabric out of landfills. We are very aware of the landfill issues our world is experiencing today, and it’s the goal of Quilts for Kids to keep as much fabric out of the landfills as possible. To date, we have kept over a million pounds of fabric out of landfills.

2. To provide children with quilts to comfort them in times of need. This includes children with cancer, Aids and other life-threatening illnesses. We also distribute quilts to children with life challenges, including children that have been through traumatic experiences.

The Quilts for Kids headquarters/home chapter doesn’t dictate how you should run your chapter. We understand that every group has a different group dynamic and works differently. Some chapters are very organized with monthly planning meetings and officers. Some chapters act as a pick-up and drop off point for local volunteers. Some chapters have gatherings for sorting fabric and sewing together. It is up to you to determine how your chapter will be run.

Fabric Donations

It is our intention to link Design Centers with their communities. This way, the fabric in your region stays out of landfills and helps children in need near you. If there is a Design Center near you the chapter will need to pick up the discontinued fabrics from time to time. Unfortunately, design centers aren’t everywhere – so in this case, chapters have other options. Local fabric shops can be very helpful is acquiring fabric… some stores will donate fabric to the chapters or allow you to have a fabric drive--or at least allow you to put a note on a bulletin board notating a need for fabric and volunteers. Some local clothing manufacturers will donate last season’s leftovers. Often, they have large end-of-bolt pieces of fabric that they just discard. It’s important to mention to manufacturers that they will save money in trash collection fees and they will also be eligible for a tax break when donating their unwanted scraps. Let your local newspaper know that you are starting a chapter of quilts for kids and need volunteers and cotton fabrics so that you can help children in need in your area. That is how we began and have found it works quite well. Let the community know of your needs. Another option is a small ad in the classified section of your local newspaper… one woman did this and filled her shed with fabric for her chapter. Don’t forget to try www.freecycle.org

Quilts for Kids is a grass roots organization working with donated items as much as possible. Sometimes, we get fabric we can’t use in quilts. Since we don’t want to put it in landfill, we use this fabric to make hospital bed bags, wheelchair bags, walker bags and journals. These go together easily. See the top of the ‘Quilts’ page for instructions. We ask that all chapters find a useful outlet for fabrics they can’t use…. Schools, scouts and camps are always looking for art supplies and might love to have the fabrics you can’t use in your quilts. Also, other sewing groups that make charity items are a great place to share fabric. Please be creative in keeping the fabrics out of landfills.

Distribution of Quilts

Chapters distribute the quilts that they make locally to those in need. This means that it is the chapter’s responsibility to make contacts with local hospitals, shelters and other places in need of our comforting quilts. You know your area better than the home chapter, so this makes sense. It is suggested that you contact the highest person you can reach in a particular organization. Examples include the President, Head Nurse, social worker, Head Doctor, Volunteer coordinator, etc. Be sure to wash all quilts before they are distributed.

Labels

Quilts for Kids has a standard label that is put in the lower bottom corner of all quilts that are donated. Although we have a great source for these labels and buy them at less than wholesale, they still cost us money. For this reason we ask all chapters to buy the labels from us at our cost of 25 cents each. A check should be sent to Headquarters with a request for the appropriate number of labels; they are sent to you immediately.

Fund Raising

All chapters should do some kind of fund raising. We suggest that a really great quilt is made with the specific purpose of raffling it. Give the raffle a few months (we suggest 6-9 months) to sell the tickets. Tickets should be no less than $1 each. We ask that ½ of the fundraising money is sent back to the home chapter. The funds raised should be used by the chapter to buy labels, brochures, thread, and batting, as well as cover any other organizational costs (printing, etc). Quilts for Kids is not a quilt-selling organization. Although some quilts can be auctioned for fundraising purposes, remember this—the quilts we make are meant to be gifted to children in need. Please have all auctions start at $100 per quilt--Remember, the higher the donation value, the more supplies you can buy and quilts you can make for children in need! Again, feel free to get creative in fundraising…even a can in a local store can be very helpful!

Instructions for Making a Quilt

A general guidelines instruction sheet is available on the website. Please follow these instructions; they are there for your safety and the safety of the children who receive our quilts.

Brochures

Quilts for Kids brochures are available to print from the website also. They are on the Press Kit page.

What’s going on with your chapter?

The Quilts for Kids website… www.quiltsforkids.org... is where news about our organization is stored. If you have some information about your chapter that you would like to share, please feel free to send the information to the webmaster, chris.roat@quiltsforkids.org. Pictures and stories are always welcome – be sure that you have permission of the people in your photos to be posted on the web. Any photos that are sent to us should be sent in jpg or gif format.

Thank you for your willingness to help make a difference in the lives of children in need. We welcome your talent and desire to become a Quilts for Kids, Inc Chapter.