Nancy Morbeck facilitates the delivery of warm hugs.
These hugs are in the form of quilts from Huntley, Illinois to recipients here in Huntley and all over the world.
The quilts are made by volunteers working together.
“We have around 38-40 members that meet here on first and third Thursday of the month and we cut, sew, piece and have fun!” said Morbeck.
Led by Nancy Morbeck, this volunteer group sews hundreds of quilts for recipients all over the world. (Photos by Christine Such/Sun Day)
Sunday, February 11, at the Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, the pieced quilts created by these women were thrown over the pews creating a burst of colors down each row where members attending a special service dedicating these quilted hugs.
Why the dedication? The Lutheran World Relief (LWR) states, “Some call it a blessing. Some a dedication. Some call it something completely different! But at the core, the goal is the same: to give thanks to God, and to lift up our neighbors near and far — whose hands have and will touch the gifts of LWR Quilts and Kits — in prayer.”
Morbeck said, “We have two dedications a year about 200 quilts a year. The number of quilts have increased each year.”
Morbeck added, “These women (creating the quilts) are fabulous when they say they are going to do something – they do it.’ These are all donated fabrics for the most part, and we have a quarter jar, that and we use those funds for buying the batting and the sheets for the backing.”
Where do these quilts go?
Morbeck explained, “The majority are boxed up and they are shipped to Maryland where they are distributed.”
In 2017, LWR distributed over 300,000 quilts to 20 countries around the world. Morbeck added, “But we also give some of our quilts locally to organizations such as the Home of Sparrow, Turning Point as well to spouses of members that have passed away.”
“Most of our members are from Sun City. We have two that are in their 90s and have been with us for a long time,” Morbeck said.
Beverly Kenny a Sun City Resident, said, “I’m the ‘token Presbyterian,’ but I love going to quilting because all the ladies are so friendly, and it feels good. We’re helping people who have nothing or who are down on their luck.”
Ruby Haerle, added, “I have been sewing these quilts since 2005. We started we 8 or 9 women meeting at the Heartland bank downstairs. These are the best ladies in the world.”
Elaine Brody said, “I don’t want to miss Thursdays here because it is a good time! A lot of the ladies also do stuff at home and bring it back on Thursday.”
June Kobler, who shares her age at 92 said, “I’ve been here since the beginning. I enjoy it. If I don’t come, everyone asks ‘Where’s June?’”
Sandy Meyer, one of the newer members said, “I’ve been coming just a couple of years. I saw the beautiful quilts at a dedication, and even though I don’t quilt, I came. I started with laying them out and then sewing them together.”
LWR shares on their website, “Quilts have played a major part of Lutheran World Relief’s mission since our founding in 1945. That means, for over 70 years, quilters across the country have lovingly stitched thousands upon thousands of quilts for distribution as part of LWR’s many projects. Their quilts have traveled all over the world.”
Anyone interested in joining the group of women who create these beautiful pieces of comfort can contact Morbeck at jmborbeck@sbcglobal.net.
