Community Outreach
We are proud of our community outreach programs. Volunteers coordinate these projects and occasionally hold quilting bees and/or assemble kits for work at home.
For information about these special ongoing projects click on the round mini quilts by their names. If you would like to contact any of the organizers, you will find their contact information in our Members' list or email the guild at waterloocountyqg@gmail.com.
Your message will be forwarded to the appropriate person.
To view a PDF slide presentation overview of our outreach projects go to the link below. This presentation was prepared in 2017.
Smile Quilts, PAL Quilts, Memory Quilts and Touch Quilts have been the four WCQG sanctioned outreach projects for many years. The guild is dedicated to continuing these outreach efforts.
Smile Quilts
Smile Quilts are made for children facing serious illness.
Coordinator: Peggy Herlick & Helene Doerfler
PAL Quilts
PAL quilts are provided to bring comfort to individuals in palliative care at one of the local hospices, including Innisfree & Lisaard and Hospice Waterloo Region.
Coordinators: Megan Stauch and Tamara Gilhuly.
Memory Quilts
Memory Quilts are small, quilted or knotted quilts donated to Grand River Hospital. They are given to those who have lost an infant due to stillbirth, SIDS, or some other catastrophe.
Coordinator: Pamela Clarkson.
Touch Quilts
The Touch Quilt Program run by the Alzheimer Society of K-W provides, for persons with later-stage Alzheimer’s disease and related dementia, an item of comfort to hold and touch with their hands.
Coordinator: Cathy Jurchuk.
The guild supports additional outreach efforts, some of them on-going and others when the need arises. Below are illustrations of some of them.
Teddy Bear Quilts
This outreach program started in 2019. Small quilts are wrapped around a stuffy and secured with a ribbon. They are given to the Knights of Columbus for distribution, primarily at Christmas time.
Coordinator: Jean McFarlane
Quilts of Valour Canada
Quilts of Valour Canada produces quilts which are presented to Canadian Armed Forces members (women and men) who are coping with injuries both visible and invisible. This organization works across Canada to show appreciation to our Canadian military.
Coordinator: Deby Wettges
Days for Girls
Days for Girls is dedicated to creating a more free, dignified, and educated world, through providing lasting access to feminine hygiene solutions and health education.
Coordinators: Jan Hember & Fabia Joyce
From time to time guild members have made place-mats for our local Meals on Wheels. Often those place-mats were reversible, celebrating a special holiday or two. Additional causes in which members of the guild often participate are Project Linus, and Victoria Quilts.
The Caring Connection group meets monthly to sew quilts for charity. Donated fabrics are used to complete the quilts, which may go to MCC Relief Sale, PAL, as well as other local venues. Contact Judy Siegner for more information
The guild and its members are always open to supporting charitable organizations.
To reach us please go to our Contact Us page.
A Few Special Projects
Click on the quilt for the story.
50th Anniversary Quilt 2016
Coordinated by Emily Hunsberger
Sunnyside End of Life Quilt, 2012
The Postcard Quilt 2009
Coordinated by Renske Helmuth
A Bird's Eye View 2006
Coordinated by Renske Helmuth
CQA/ACC Slab Quilt Project
Coordinated by Marg Sandiford
Kaleidoscope of Nations 2003
Coordinated by Renske Helmuth
Arthritis Society Blue Bird Quilt 2017
Coordinated by Kathy Bissett
In March 2020 a number of organizations approached us for help, initially with masks.
As Community Outreach has always been a significant part of the Waterloo County Quilt Guild, the guild surpassed all expectations in how it has reached out to support organizations, agencies and individuals in our community.
Representing the WCQG, Maria Wirth presented 50 masks to workers at the Bridgeport & Weber Sobeys.
The clip above was on CTV News Kitchener at 5 (Monday, June 22, 2020).
In spite of the amount of Covid 19 outreach the membership continues their on-going outreach. Recently there was a presentation of PAL quilt that was covered by the Observer
I'm Possible - Victim's Services Project
Coordinated by Robin Bogaert
Outreach Tally
Here is a list of some of the guild’s community outreach as of the end of August 2023.
- PAL Quilts - 92 (and counting)
- Smile Quilts - 271 (and counting!)
- Memory Quilts - 25
- Touch Quilts - 15
- oneROOF Quilts 34 -
- QOVC - 17
Also, table runners continue - to be made for hospice
A stitch in time helps more than nine
https://observerxtra.com/2020/09/10/a-stitch-in-time-helps-more-than-nine/