Our current Quilt drive is focused on getting quilts to the people affected by SuperStorm Sandy. Here are two ways we are currently getting the quilts to the people.

“The Department of Homeless Services has identified shelters in the Bronx, Far Rockaway and Stanton Island, the same areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy. Additionally, the Department of Health has asked us to provide healthcare through our Mobile Health Care Clinic in these devastated areas, and we have had many requests from people receiving healthcare for warm clothes and quilts. Never have these quilts been more meaningful then when given to someone who has just lost his or her home and is caring for young children— whole families displaced, cold and desperately in need of the warmth a quilt provides.” – Raul Russi

The house Block was Designed by Victoria Findlay Wolfe of Bumble Beans Inc.

(click here to view all 20 quilts to be auctioned here)

She asked her Friends in the Blog world if they could help, by making the above block so that she could insert them into all the fabrics she was given in donations to make all of these quilts. She received 550 House blocks, and is in the process of finishing the first 50 quilts, 20 of which will be sold at the Julio Martinez Memorial Foundation benefit on Sept 2nd. 2010

Another 20 will be up for auction at the Fall Gala, October 29, 2010

This first quilt on the right is a one of two.  Victoria spent a day with some of children from the Basics Program,

and had them design quilt blocks which she then completed into a finished quilt.

All the quilts listed here are 60″ X 80″ for twin size beds.

All the supplies for these quilt were donated.  Victoria worked with what she was given to design these quilts.

The last quilt in this row, is an exception, it was not made by Victoria, but generously made  by Maria Gerard

Thank you to all of you who contributed house blocks, fabric squares, thread, binding, backing fabrics, and quilting.

Special thanks to Amy, Jackie, Linda, Barbara A. Barbara S. Kathy, Purl Soho, Maria, and Pam.

You’ve helped immensely.

Please know that you are so appreciated!

Sincerely.

Victoria

Note from Basics Promesa…

BASICS/Promesa, is a community based organization in the South Bronx, New York City,
founded by Latino Leaders. BASICS/Promesa offers the community an outstanding
continuum of services that rivals that of any other
Health and Human Service Community Based Organization in the U.S.
Our goal is to assist disadvantaged families and individuals,
as well as to enhance their ability to thrive in the community.
The organization offers housing services, primary care, substance abuse,
mental health and harm reduction services—
everything an individual needs in order to recover
and actively participate in the betterment of our community.
We are writing to ask for your participation in the Organization’s Quilt Drive,
an ongoing initiative to supply the homeless families that we serve with quilts.
Victoria Findlay Wolfe, founder of Bumble Beans Incorporated,
has been kind enough to lead this initiative,
soliciting from quilters all over the country.

Note from Victoria of Bumble Beans Inc.

When I asked my friend Mr. Russi if he wanted a few quilts for his organization
he said,

Do you have 700?

That wasn’t the answer I expected!
But the sheer fact that he did, stirred something in me that said,
you have to help.
I started the house block gather thinking I would make them about 10 quilts,
and at this point I am way beyond that number…
The Basics House block Gather was such a success
I wanted to find a way to support continue supporting
Basics Promesa because of the amazing work that they do.
They rotate approximately 20 families a month into housing,
and although I do not have
700 quilts to give them right now,
perhaps with your help we can get closer to that number.

*
Do you think, if we work together, we can do this?
To welcome a family into their new home with a quilt made by you.