Rotary Club of Sedona

We Are the Community

Community:  a body of people living in the same place; a sharing in common

American Quilting and Patchwork magazine issued a One Million Pillowcase Challenge.  The goal: to have quilters, sewers, and others make and donate one million pillowcases to agencies that work with cancer patients, foster children and nursing home residents.  Rising to this challenge, The Red Rock Quilters, a chapter of the AZ Quilt Guild, made 60 colorful pillowcases using donated fabric and fabric purchased with Rotary grant funds. These 60 pillowcases will be donated to agencies in the Sedona area.

The Rotary Club of Sedona and the Red Rock Quilters in Sedona have joined together in a mutual effort of community support and outreach. The quilters applied for and Rotary District 5490 approved a simplified grant for $2,500. “Service Above Self” and “Sharing and Caring” have combined forces to provide service project quilts and other fabric examples of support and comfort to many in our community.

Service project quilts are quilts provided to those who have special needs, are placed in foster care or released for adoption, or who are ill. These quilts go to seniors, adults, young children, teens, and infants. Walker bags are made and donated to many of the residents of assisted living facilities and rehabilitation centers who require the assistance of a walker in order to stay mobile. Last year the Red Rock Quilters made and donated approximately 73 quilts and 40 walker bags for distribution to those in need. This December, thanks to the receipt of the Rotary grant funds, the quilters will be able to make fringed fleece scarves to be handed out to children participating in the Clothe-A-Child program.

Service project items made and donated by members of the Red Rock Quilters are provided free of charge to the recipients. These are permanent gifts so the need for additional items will continue. This Rotary grant will lessen each quilter’s financial burden and make it easier to reach or exceed the November 2009 to October 2010 goal of providing 75 quilts, 50 walker bags, and 60 or more children’s scarves. The Rotary Club of Sedona will assist with delivering these items to the appropriate agencies.

We are all aware of the economic down turn and the long-term negative impact it has had, and continues to have, on many members of our community. A community of which we all are a part, a relatively small community where a lack, need, or want is often felt by all members. Actions such as these sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sedona and the Red Rock Quilters bring comfort to those in need and let them know they are thought of and cared about, that the future and life hold promise and hope.