Charity begins… in the sewing room!
We are very pleased to announce some new initiatives, allowing interested members to support our charity program. The results of our recent member survey indicated a strong desire for members to contribute to initiatives that support women and children, particularly those in vulnerable situations. With this in mind, we have forged relationships with two community groups and our July Sit and Sew Day will be focused on supporting not one, but two charities on this day.
Share the Dignity
Firstly, we’re going to share the dignity, and ask members to bring in donations of goods, in lieu of paying the normal booking fee for the Sit and Sew Day. ‘Share The Dignity’ is an organisation that provides homeless and at risk women nationally with sanitary products to allow them a sense of dignity at a time when they need it most. No woman should suffer the indignity of choosing between eating and buying sanitary items.
Members attending the July Sit and Sew Day are requested to bring (or make!) a toiletries bag or pouch filled with women’s hygiene products, to the value of $15, instead of paying for attendance. These will be collected on the day and Share the Dignity will distribute them through their agencies to women in need due to homelessness.
Quilts to Heal the Violence
Many of our members have been touched by the efforts of local quilter Jackie Gillies, who last year launched an initiative #quiltblockstohealtheviolence. After hearing one too many stories of domestic violence in Australia, Jackie wanted to reach out to her quilty pals to make a quilt for a safe house in Victoria. Requesting a simple tic tac toe quilt block, her initiative has grown worldwide, and she received over 600 quilt blocks and has made over 25 quilts. She has now started Keep Safe Quilts to continue this worthy cause, providing comfort and love to women and children when they need it most. Her ambitious, long range goal is to get a quilt on every bed in every safe house in Australia.
As it happens, Jackie has recently become a member of Melbourne Modern Quilt Guild (yay!) and we are delighted to support this project on the July Sit and Sew Day. We are asking members:
Can you donate some time? Your Sit and Sew Day? Half your day? An hour?
We will provide all the materials for you, and MMQG member S-J will be coordinating this activity on the day. We need help with constructing blocks, piecing blocks to make quilt tops, basting, quilting, binding – there’s something for everyone! Our aim is to get (at least!) one finished quilt to present to Jackie at the end of the day. Jackie will be in attendance on the day and is happy to discuss her project with members.
Any members unable to attend this Sit and Sew Day, but would like to participate in either of these charity projects in some other way are invited to email S-J at vicepresident@melbournemodernquiltguild.com. We are trialling this charity quilting event format, and will seek feedback before making our plans for future charity activities, including potentially holding separate charity sewing days later in the year.