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Quilt & Textile Show to Feature Quilts for a Cause

The Batavia Depot Museum will present the fourth annual Quilt & Textile Show from Friday, July 16 through Sunday, July 18 at the Eastside Community Center and Shannon Hall, 14 N. Van Buren St. This year the show will feature “Quilts for a Cause” highlighting local organizations that use quilting as a way to make the world a better place. Batavia Depot Museum Director Carla Hill got the idea to feature the organizations after browsing the web for information about local quilt shops. “I ran across a story about Quilt in Joy and their diplomacy quilts. I was very touched by all of the stories and how they impact the lives of others,” she said.

Quilt in Joy is a neighborhood quilt shop in Huntley operated by Kathi Dayon. In 2008, Kathi’s daughter Amy was deployed to Afghanistan. Liss Kundich, a Huntley resident and quilter, began working with a local police officer who was deployed to see what they could do to help. The group decided to make quilts for the children overseas, and their initiative became known as “Diplomacy Quilts for Afghanistan Children”. Soldiers, including Kathi’s daughter Amy and the Huntley police officer, handed the quilts out in clinics and schools along with other basic supplies. In the past two years nearly 500 quilts have been sent from quilters in the Fox Valley region. “At the end of the day it felt good to do something positive while my daughter was away,” said Dayon, “We want to recognize those quilters, who send their labor of love to children who will never be able to thank them.”

Quilt & Textile Show sponsor Bonita Deering of Prairie Shop Quilts in Batavia, works with local organizations Quilts of Valor and ConKerr Cancer. The shop serves as a drop off point for both charities.

The Quilts of Valor Land of Lincoln chapter meets once a month at Prairie Shop Quilts, 1911 W. Wilson St. Their mission is to cover all service members and veterans touched by war, physically or psychologically. The group works closely with the Great Lakes Naval Base “Returning Warriors” program. Aaron Cole, a navy veteran, has seen the impact the quilts have on returning soldiers. “When we come back there’s a deep feeling of loss and loneliness,” Cole said, “When that quilt is wrapped around one of us it’s an incredible relief. It reminds you that you’re part of a greater society. The Quilts of Valor members are truly a blessing!”

ConKerr Cancer is an organization that began in Philadelphia several years ago by Cindy Kerr, whose son was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. She wanted to do something special for him so she decided to make pillowcases to brighten his room. She couldn’t cure him or treat him, but she could make him smile by making pillow cases during his treatment. He passed away in 2009, but the organization lives on through her volunteers. Susan Abraham, a member of the Chicago chapter of ConKerr Cancer, said the purpose is to raise awareness for pediatric cancer and to make people aware that it’s not just the child affected when they’re diagnosed. The Chicago chapter has delivered more than 8000 pillowcases to area hospitals according to Abraham.

Local sewing events are held at Prairie Shop Quilts and other area quilt shops, but on Saturday, July 17, Quilt & Textile Show visitors will have the chance to contribute to the cause by sewing a pillowcase for a child currently battling cancer. This easy-to-sew project is suitable for any skill level. Sewing machines are being donated by Sew Generously in St. Charles and will be set up from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Shannon Hall. Fabric is being donated by Prairie Shop Quilts and ConKerr Cancer.

All three organizations are currently seeking volunteers and accepting donations of fabric. Monetary donations are also accepted. For more information about these groups please visit their respective web sites at www.lolqov.blogspot.com, www.quiltinjoy.com and www.conkerrcancer.org.

Quilt & Textile Show hours are 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. Friday, July 16 and 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18. Admission to the show is $6 for the general public, $5 for seniors 60+, and free for children 10 and under.

For more information call the Batavia Park District at 630-879-5235 or visit www.bataviaparks.org.

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