Local quilters make a difference
Christmas is right around the corner, and that means one thing: children all across Sanders County are getting their lists ready for Santa. Unfortunately, some of them, naughty or nice, won’t be getting a stocking this year.
That’s where the Friends of the Quilting House in Thompson Falls come in. They’re holding their first-ever Stocking Drive in hopes that children in need can experience some holiday cheer this Christmas.
“We’re hoping that this will grow every year. As a matter of fact I have lots of ladies who said they’re already committed to work on it all year so that we can hopefully take care of Sanders County,” Charlotte Rowe of the Quilting House said. “We want to just have the biggest stocking drive we can and make sure that all the kids have stockings.”
Legend has it that St. Nicholas presented the first stuffed Christmas stocking to an old man who’s three beautiful daughters had no wedding dowry. Knowing that the man would not accept charity, St. Nicholas snuck in through the chimney one night and hid three bags of gold, one for each daughter, in their stockings with hung above the fireplace to be dried.
In keeping with that tradition, Rowe and her partners in cheer have been active members of the community for the past three years. They not only make stocking during Christmas time, but they work on other charitable projects throughout the year.
They make Hero Quilts and pillow cases for homeless veterans in Montana, Quilts of Valor for veterans in Billings, Helena and Missoula and even quilts for families who’ve lost their homes in house fires.
They often get together to work on projects or even eat. On every first and third Friday of the month they share dinner and get down and dirty during “Quilt ‘Till you Wilt.”
The stocking drive will not only be a place for local quilters to show off their talent, but for novices to try something fun all while helping local children. Donators may choose to even have their stocking kept out of the competition if they wish. Any stocking of any shape and size either empty or filled.
“I want people to do whatever they want to do,” Rowe said. “I figure if they fill it for a boy, a boy will get it. If they fill it for a girl, a girl will get it.”
Stocking makers can even enter their creations in a contest. All participants must enter their stockings by Nov. 30. The stocking will go on display for the first two weeks of Dec. at First Security Bank in Thompson Falls. Community members will vote on their favorite stocking by donating a dime. The money raised will be used to fill the stockings that come in empty.
“We don’t want to discourage people if they can’t fill them,” Rowe said. “Make a stocking and bring it in. We’ll get it filled somehow.”
Rowe is currently looking for an orgainization or two to distribute the stockings after the contest is over.
“We don’t want to say that we’re just going to do them for the church here, we want everyone to have a shot at them,” said Rowe.
Those interested should contact Rowe at the Quilting House at 1 (406) 827-4700.