Quilts Made with Love Available to CZU Fire Survivors
Story and Photos By Helen Klee
The “Quilts Made With Love” project is a combined effort of the Pajaro Valley Quilt Association and the Santa Cruz County Emergency Operations Center to supply quilts to CZU Fire victims in north Santa Cruz County.
Our work team processing the donated quilts: Lori Camner, co-chair, Betsy, a neighbor, and Barbara Lockwood, our contact in the fire affected community.
This massive fire destroyed 925 lost homes and 90 damaged homes in our county. Fire survivors are suffering from total loss of homes and tangible heritage, as well emotional trauma.
The quilts, which they choose, will provide comfort, and help fill an emotional void in their lives.
Since the start of this quilt drive in early October we have hosted five “Give Away Events,” all at the Live Oak Grange. As of March 7, we were able to locate 326 families. We have given out 678 quilts to 278 of those families!
Here’s Beatrice Easter with her cat and her cat quilt. We ask survivors to come choose their own quilt — to find that one that will put a smile on his/her face!
Here’s what R Fassbender said about her quilt: “How to thank all the amazing and loving people that so selflessly, gave from their hearts to provide us with a touch, a brush of love and caring. Although we lost everything our grandmothers, mothers and fathers made for us we now have the honor of making these quilts part of our future legacy. There are no words to adequately explain the emotions underlying the tears running down my face as I write this. We are blessed by this community. We will always hold you in our hearts. Thank you for being part of our future.”
Did you lose your home, or know of someone who has lost a home in the CZU Lightning Complex Fires, we would like you to hear from you! Please contact us at: [email protected]
My grandson loves it so much he wouldn’t let it go for me to get a full picture of the beautiful work. Thank you all for the uplifting love. You are all dearly appreciated!” Like this grandson, we have some survivors who will find the right quilt and they will not put it down for fear that someone will take it!
We will send you a link to fill out our request form. Once we have that form, we will invite you to the next Give Away Event. We will be hosting a Give Away Event in April and May.
You must have a reservation to our Give Away Event. Due to Covid-19 restrictions on the number of people allowed in the room, we cannot accommodate walk-in requests.
We follow all the Covid-19 restrictions at our events, such as tables are more than 6 feet apart and the windows and doors are open for air circulation. And we wear a face mask and gloves.
•••
Join our Facebook Group: CZU Lightning Fire Quilts
This vintage yo-yo quilt was donated by P Hobbs from Illinois
•••
TOP PHOTO: Helen Klee, co-chair, with a car full of donated quilts from our PVQA Quilt for Hospice and quilts donated by Nimble Thimble, a quilt shop in Gilroy.