Newsletter January 2006

Again in 2005, we took over 1,000 quilts to Cares Northwest...quilts made by our wonderful volunteers! These people make beautiful quilts for kids they will never meet....they do it because they have generous hearts and want to bring a little comfort to hurting children. We have now taken over 5,000 quilts that have been chosen by kids after their evaluation at Cares.

Here are some stories of kids who received the gift of a quilt:

"Tina" was very brave in finally speaking about being sexually abused by her biological male parent. Unfortunately, her mother did not believe her. But Tina was placed in a foster home and her case was referred to Cares Northwest. When Tina finished her evaluation at Cares, she was told she could choose a quilt. She told her interviewer and examiner that she'd had to leave most of her things at home, but that now she had something very special to remind her that "someone believes me."

I received an e-mail through this website link that touched my heart profoundly:
A mother wrote that her 6-year-old daughter was her "hero". After being sexually abused by a 'trusted family friend', this little girl faced her perpetrator in court and testified as to his abuse....all the while knowing that her mother held the quilt that the child had received at Cares Northwest from Quilts For Kids.

A little boy was so traumatized by abuse that he would not speak to the interviewer at Cares. When this interviewer went to the quilt closet where the Quilts For Kids quilts are stored and chose one with a road map and various stops (parks, schools, buildings, etc.), and a pocket with 2 matchbox vehicles inside, the child opened up. The interviewer and child got down on the floor with the little cars and rolled them along the streets. With the expertise of the interviewer, the child disclosed his abuse.

Our 'Quilts That Care' Luncheon was held on Dec. 2, 2005 at the MAC...we raised over $40,000 for Quilts For Kids and Cares Northwest! Our live auction was again facilitated by JillMarie Wiles. This year, Kelley Day, a local TV news anchor, was our delightful Mistress of Ceremonies. Net proceeds for QFK go back to Cares Northwest in the form of completed quilts for the children seen there...I use the net proceeds that come to QFK to buy fabric and batting for kits for volunteers to complete......Net proceeds for Cares Northwest go directly to specific needs. Unfortunately, like so many agencies serving children, Cares has to work hard for funding for their services. Clothing for the kids..either their clothes are needed for evidence of child abuse or the child is inadequately covered..Food..kids are hungry when they arrive, and sometimes are there all day...Transportation...how do they get to Cares? The list goes on and on.

Thanks for visiting our website...Quilts For Kids will continue the effort to bring some measure of comfort to children experiencing child abuse and to raise awareness about this blight on our country and culture.