Forsyth Piecers - Charitable Projects Page

Preemie Quilt
Guidelines
Finished Size: 36"x36"
(maximum 40"x40")

Community Contributions by the Forsyth Piecers and Quilters Guild

Our guild advocates many programs and projects serving the entire Triad community. Preemie Quilts, a program started almost a decade ago, is currently an on-going project. It involves members making preemie-sized quilts for the neonatal intensive care nurseries at the Novant Health's Forsyth Medical Center Babies born prematurely are very delicate and often these quilts are placed over the incubators to provide protection to the babies' eyes from the light.

Nap Quilts is a project started for the first time in July, 2009. This project supports "Equity Plus Schools" in Forsyth County, providing hand-made blankets, or better-yet, quilts that would be given to the kindergarteners for using during the school year. At the end of the school year, the children get to keep their blanket as their own.

During 2001-02, the FPQ guild members were involved with making quilts, afghans and teddy bears for the Victory Junction Gang Camp founded by Patti and Kyle Petty, which opened during early-summer 2004.

The Victory Junction Gang Camp, located in Randleman, NC, has sixteen (16) cabins each containing twenty (20) beds. The Camp serves seriously ill children for a week long of fun-filled, exciting activities and is one of seven in the network of the Hole-in-the-Wall Gang camps started in 1988 by the late, Paul Newman.

Another wonderful project is Brenner Tree. For years, our guild has created hand-made Christmas Tree ornaments for the Festival of Trees. All trees displayed are decorated by community volunteers. The Festival of Trees is one of the largest fundraisers for Brenner Children’s Hospital.

Lottie Kay, President of 'Friends of Brenner Children's Hospital' visited our February 2009 meeting. Lottie thanked those who do and have participated in the Brenner Tree project. She said that this year they had raised over $100,000 for Brenner Children’s Hospital.

For over 2 decades, this Festival of Trees has benefitted the pediatric programs at Brenner Hospital, helping young patients and their families. Brenner Children’s Hospital is a part of the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center.

In 2008, FPQG members were called upon to assist a student at Paisley IB Magnet School with a school project. The project comprised of learning to sew, then making a few Preemie Quilts for the presentation delivery. Thanks to FPQG members and especially to Sew Original in Winston-Salem for their time, talent and energy to help make this project a success.

Our guild also furnished quilts for all the beds in the Ronald McDonald House. Quilts were also made for Amos Cottage in the early '90's.

We have helped Habitat for Humanity by making quilts and wall hangings for their Bird Fest fund raisers. After the devastation from Hurricane Floyd, we sent quilts and throws to North Carolina Quilters who then distributed them to flood victims.

After our first few years of acquiring our Non-Profit Organization status, we hosted a NC Quilt Symposium and were awarded a small grant for a community project. We chose to make quilts for Forsyth Medical Center. Three gorgeous quilts were the result: one from a "Quilts for the Cure" pattern and fabric, one from a New York Beauty pattern, and one from an original pattern illustrating distinctive North Carolina features.

All of our projects have promoted the art of quilting, have made welcome contributions to our community and have furthered the bond that quiltmakers have always derived from working together.

Each and every one of us love what we do and have a great time. We welcome new members to join us in continuing these charitable projects for the betterment of all. Feel free to visit us.