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Tuesday, February 12, 2013

First Prison Quilt Giving Coming Up!!!!

Hi friends!  I have been absent for a few weeks!  We moved into a new house (same island :)) and things have been c-r-a-z-y!!  Packing up one house, husband out of town for a whole week, setting up new house, cleaning old house, and of course, homeschooling, adoption details, and Margaret's Hope Chest.  I am thankful for a strong body and a high tolerance for stressful situations (lots of practice). 
Enough on that.
Let's talk about quilting!
The first prison giveaway is coming up quickly--April  5-6.  This One Day With God Camp will be held in Manistee, Michigan at the Oaks Correctional Facility.   There will be about 50 boys and girls coming into the prison to spend the day (April 6th) with their dad!  Margaret's Hope Chest offers these dads a chance to give their child a quilt. We are also able to share our story of forgiveness and HOPE.
I wanted to share a bit of letter that I received from one the dads after a camp last summer:

"I just wanted to drop you all a BIG THANK YOU for the beautiful, lovely, warm and very nice quilts that were made by the wonderful people who put their time, energy, creative design and efforts into such inspiring gifts of hope. My children tell me how nice their quilts look spread over their beds.  They say with pride when their friends come over "this quilt is from my dad." A part of me is there with them when they close their eyes and go to sleep.  They are comforted by the quilts of hope and they are assured that I love them very much and will be home soon to be the father they deserve.  My children are covered and protected by HOPE.
Thanks again and God bless,
D. Rogers"

Currently, we have 20 quilts for boys and about 30 for the girls.  What we could use the most is quilts for older girls and boys-emphasis on boys :).  Of course, if you have quilts for younger boys and girls we will need them as well because we have two more of these camps coming over the summer.  

Thank you for your continued support of this program--this is our 4th year of service to the prisons in Michigan. 

11 comments:

SherryB said...

I have some quilts in the works that might work for older boys/girls, but wondered if you could give me guidance on sizes that would work best. Any ideas and/or thoughts?

diplofam said...

Hi Sherry,
Thanks for your question--there is no specifics on the sizes--our recommended size is 40 by 60 but it sounds like these are already done or in progress--at this point we will take anything :)
thank you
Carin

kelleigh said...

I have two quilts ready to go for older children. Can you point me to the address so that I can send them out this week?

diplofam said...

Hi Kelleigh! Thanks for your willingness to share your work with these precious children!
Our mailing address is:
Margaret's Hope Chest
630 Griswold SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507

Blessings,
carin

Carol E. said...

I have at least one, maybe two, that just need binding. For sure the one will work for a boy. I have to check my pile to remember what is there. Will get cracking on those bindings!

Quilt n Queen said...

Good morning Carin...I have a boy's quilt and will get it in the mail today or tomorrow. Have a wonderful day, Pauline

diplofam said...

Thank you Pauline!!!!

Kathryn said...

I am trying to finish up 2 quilts this week- 1 for a boy and 1 that should work for a teenage girl - pink and teal. I hope to be able to bind them over the next few nights and send them your way!
Kathryn

Kathryn said...

I am putting 2 in the mail tomorrow- one boy and one teen girl. :)

Lynn said...

I've heard of programs whereby prisoners learn quilting and do the work themselves. This can give them a sense of purpose. Is there a way that this program can eventually include working with men and women prisoners to create quilts? I have read several online articles about programs in other states.

Anonymous said...

awesome