Thursday, October 24, 2013

QUILT LEMONADE

I've been wanting to write this post for a while.  Years really!  Today is the day I share with you a vision I have had to spread some love and kindness in a particular part of the world that could use some good quilty cheer.  La Limonada is a community in Guatemala City where tens of thousands of people live in extreme poverty.  All the things that are associated with extreme poverty exist here:  Addiction.  Violence.  Poor housing conditions.  Lack of decent paying jobs.  For some, having safe water or electricity is a luxury. Things that I take for granted a thousand times a day before lunch.

But there is also hope.  Always hope.  Lemonade International has been working for the past five years in the people of La Limonada to partner in community development.  A school was started.  Then another school was started.  Scholarship programs started.  Sponsorship programs begun.  Micro-enterprise and vocational training programs are now available.  A fair trade coffee partnership with a coffee house here in Raleigh was recently launched (check out Jubala - the best cup of coffee in town.  Worth traveling for if you aren't in the area!).  I am always inspired with the creative and effective ways this organization utilizes to support and nurture this often overlooked population.  Perfect example - Establishing a shoe maker in the community as the official shoe provider for the children in the schools.  Lives are being changed here!

Perhaps the project most near and dear to my heart is the safe house that was started for children who were in dangerous situations.  The most needy of the needy.  Currently, there are 18 children living in the Mi Casita Safe House.  As a quilter and a mother, I want to wrap each of these kids up in a warm embrace, to whisper in their ears and hearts that they are loved.  That they are valuable.  That they matter.  That they are remembered!

I so want each of these kids to have their very own quilt - a spot of brightness that is made specifically for them and belongs soley to them.  I stepped out on a limb and told Cherie (of the husband/wife team Bill and Cherie who started the non-profit Lemonade International) that I would make a quilt for every child in the safe house, even if it took me 10 years.  I have already sent this quilt down for a special resident of the safe house, and have seen pictures of her enjoying this treasure made just for her.  Oh, my friends.  This feeling of being able to share a bit of comfort and cheer is one of the joys of being a quilter!



I would love your help in making some quilts for these kids.  I don't want any of the kids to have to wait for their turn to get a quilt.  I want to rain down some love on them!  And secretly, I would love to see quilts popping up throughout the community, beyond the safe house, spreading some tangible cheer in a place that so desperately needs it.  If you are interested in helping out, please leave me a comment or send me an email.  Thank you!

And so, Project Quilt Lemonade begins.

15 comments:

  1. I will make a quilt - in fact I have a great girl quilt made that just needs binding - it has project Quilt Lemonade 'written all over it' as I have made it with no recipient in mind until now! Perfect! Let me know where I can send it!!!

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  2. Ohhh that's so sweet!! I want to make a quilt, but there's just NO way I can do it until after the holidays. :( Will it be too late to participate then?

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  3. What a lovely idea, and love what you've made :o)

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  4. That is one sweet quilt. Especially the heart that went into it and on it. I do have a quilt that I am willing to donate. Could you email me some details on how to get it there, please?

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  5. Do you have a specific size in mind?

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  6. Oh, Jubala! It is one of the things about Raleigh that is absolutely irreplaceable in Charlotte. We have almost cried for them. Seriously, the "coffee houses" here suck.

    Is this where your adopted children were born?

    I would like to make a quilt but cannot even begin until the Christmas break. When is too late? What size? Boy, girl, or neutral?

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  7. Hi Val! I'd be happy to help. Do you have any specifications? (Size, etc?)

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  8. Helping children in need, in whatever capacity I can, has always been near to my heart. I love children (I have 8, so I better! :) )!! I have 2 quilts now that I want to donate, 1 for a boy and 1 for a girl. And I'm willing to make more. Is there a specific size that you are looking for?

    My e-mail is: ajdewing(at)gmail(dot)com. Please send me any info that you can!

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  9. Val, I'd love to make a quilt. I probably can't have it finished until after the holidays tho. Any size, gender or other requirements? nicolelhodge (at) yahoo dot com

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  10. Valerie, I wish dearly that I had the time to contribute to this project right now, but I'm swamped. If you end up in a bind, though, let me know and I'll see what I can do to help!

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  11. I would like to contribute to this project .... like some others, is there a particular size requirement and how late is too late for the quilt to be completed? Please email me at seoulscrappin@gmail.com

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  12. Could you tell me the name of this quilt its really pretty

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