Community Service The motto, “Help One Another,” is a way of life for the members of GVQC. The club has a long history of providing handmade goods to those in need. From the original intent of the club to inspire others to make better quilts, to making donations to relief agencies in Britain, Russia and the Red Cross during WWII, the club continues this tradition of giving today through its Love and Comfort Quilt Project . In 2003, the club created a formal committee to manage the projects that were being done by the membership and donated to those in need. I n 2009 club members and attendees at the 2009 quilt show made over 1600 custom pillowcases that were donated to eight charities around the Rochester and Canandaigua area. GVQC has helped other community minded organizations. In 2009 Compeer Inc, an international, non-profit organization that helps adults and children overcome the devastating effects of mental illness received a generous check along with materials for its Quilt Workshop. A few of the organizations that have received donations are Arts & Cultural Council of Rochester used to create The Fiber Arts Program grant, Guilda’s Club, and Building Community Through Quilting. Every two years the club makes a Raffle Quilt and chooses a charity to benefit from the proceeds of the ticket sales. Previous recipients of Raffle Quilt proceeds have been Guilda’s Club (2011), Sojourner House, Compeer (2013), and Lap Robes for Veterans (2015). The designated recipient of the proceeds of the 2017 Raffle Quilt is Finger Lakes Quilts of Valor. The drawing for the Raffle quilt is on the last day of the quilt show . Love and Comfort Quilt Project Club members make quilts by the hundreds each year to donate to local agencies for donation to those in need. Club members may make quilts from their “stash” or from the kits that are assembled by the LACQ Project Committee from the stash of fabric that has been donated to the club for this project. Several times each year members come to a “cutting party” to cut kits which include all of the patches for the quilt top, strips for borders and binding. If backing is not included in the kit, the member can select from the assortment of large cuts of fabric. Members usually contribute their own batting and quilt the quilt. LAC Quilts are turned in at the monthly meeting. The LACQ Project Committee receives written requests from club members to donate these quilts to various charities, veteran’s organizations, and other organizations with outreach to those in need in the Rochester and Genesee Valley region. During a typical year, the Love and Comfort Quilt Project collects and distributes about 350 quilts valued at over $40,000 to about 25 organizations to give away. The largest number of quilts ever turned in at a single meeting was 157 quilts on September 12, 2019. Requests for donations of comfort quilts are made through a GVQC member. If you do not know a GVQC member, contact Love and Comfort Quilts to request by email. Fidget Quilts & Clothing Protectors In 2017 GVQC extended their comfort to those with dementia and Alzheimer’s by making fidget quilts and clothing protectors (adult bibs). These little quilts, about the size of a fat quarter, are tactile, made with different textures of fabrics and embellished with a pocket, zipper, rickrack, and other items to keep fidgety hands busy. Requests for donations of fidget quilts, or clothing protectors are made through a GVQC member. If you do not know a GVQC member, you can request by email. Clothing protector (adult bib) instructions . Drawstring Bags for P.A.D. In 2017 GVQC approved a new club activity making 10” x 13” drawstring bags for P.A.D., a community project that provides personal menstrual supplies to women in need. The drawstring bags are given to several organizations in Rochester who work with women who have need for such items. A collection basket for the drawstring bag donations is locaed at the Comfort Quilt table each month. Click for instructions. Susan B. Anthony 2020 Quilt Project The club is helping to promote the Susan B. Anthony 2020 Quilt Projec t . Genesee Valley Quilt Club has a rich history with the Susan B. Anthony House having made reproductions (on display in the house) of two Susan B. Anthony quilts. Looking forward to 2020, the Centennial Anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the United States Constitution that granted women the right to vote, the Susan B. Anthony House is sponsoring the creation of “collaborative textile art that honors women’s history, particularly in relation to the woman’s suffrage movement and the people, places, events, and issues that are related to it.” The 2020 Quilt will be made of blocks usi ng purple and yellow, the suffrage colors, that are attached to other blocks with ribbons. 2017 was the kick-off of this “quilt” with about 60 blocks on display at the 2017 Genesee Valley QuiltFest . It is anticipated that parts or all of this growing “quilt” project will be available as a traveling display, especially through the 2020 Centennial Anniversary of the 19th Amendment. Any person, group, or organization is encouraged to create a block for the 2020 Quilt. For more information, instructions and how to submit blocks (click links below): 2020 Quilt Project 2020 Quilt Block Instructions 2020 Womens History Submission Form