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Community Service Opportunities
Quilters enjoy making quilts for others. This page has information about several worthwhile projects. If you know of other projects taking place in Maine or have photos of projects your chapter is working on, please email the information to PTQG Webmaster.
    
Home of the Brave Quilt Project
Dedicated to Honoring America's Fallen Heroes
Grammy's Choice Quilting Group (Canton, ME)
Maine Chapter, coordinated by Bonnie Dwyer
and Ann McCaslin
As of March 2008, Maine has lost more than thirty soldiers since September 11, 2001. Please consider showing your support to the families of soldiers who gave their lives in defense of our country.
In gratitude for their service and sacrifice, the Maine Chapter of the Home of the Brave Quilt Project is making replicas of quilts that were given to Civil War soldiers by volunteers of the U.S. Sanitary Commission (predecessor of the American Red Cross). The quilts are labeled and presented to the families of fallen soldiers.
This project is part of a national effort coordinated by Don Beld of Los Angeles, CA, and is being done in coordination with the Department of Veteran's Affairs.
Maine Chapters of PTQG are invited to make quilts using the album block pattern. For instructions and more information about this project, please visit the national chapter's website at Home of the Brave.
Volunteers making quilts are expected to donate materials for the blocks. Although Civil War era reproduction fabrics are preferred, they ARE NOT REQUIRED. Fabrics should be 100% cotton and pre-washed. The center of the block is to be made of unbleached muslin and signed with an acid-free Pigma pen with your name, city, and state. The blocks will be set on-point, so please sign on-point.
If your chapter is interested in making a quilt for this cause, please contact Ann McCaslin or Bonnie Dwyer.
You will need the Adobe Reader free software in order to open the instructions. 
ConKerr Cancer
Give a Sick Child a Smile! CoKerr Cancer has donated more than 20,000 pillowcases to sick children across the United States and Canada. Our mission began at the Children's Hospital of Philadelpha and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. We continue to grow thanks to the kindness and dedication of our many volunteers.
Cindy Kerr started making pillowcases for her son Ryan when he was in chemotherapy. It always brought a smile when she pulled out a new one before each treatment! She started making them for other kids. Now they are so popular she can't keep up!
Pillowcases made in Maine are distributed locally! Local Drop-Off Locations:
- Cotton Weeds (Freeport, ME)
- Purl Diva Yarn Shop (Brunswick, ME)
- Marden's Stores (Sanford, ME)
- The Fabric Garden (Madison, ME)
- Pins and Needles (Farmington, ME)
To Make a Pillowcase:
Standard Pillowcase 20" x 31"
Supplies: 3/4 yard fabric for body, 1/3 yard fabric for border
Sewing Instructions:
1. Cut the body of the case 26-1/2" x 40-1/2" and the border 10-1/2" x 40-1/2".
2. Fold the border in half lengthwise with wrong sides together and press.
3. Place the right side of the border on the right side of the body of the case. Stitch together using a 1/2" seam allowance.
4. Place right sides together of the pillowcase.
5. Turn to the right side and press.
NOTE: Please wash pillowcase and place ina quart size ziplock bag for the protection of the oncology children.
***If you are a smoker, please do not wash your pillowcases, volunteers will wash the pillowcases.
For additional information, please contact Connie Maginnis (Mid-Maine Coordinator) at 207-635-2536.
Need more information? Please click on ConKerrCancer.org.
Quilts for Kids
Children admitted to the Barbara Bush Pediatric Intensive Care Unit arrive with minimal items from home. A welcome bag that includes a quilt and toy is provided for each child. We are in need of quilts for these children, specifically for our teenagers. Approximate quilt sizes needed are: Infants 22" x 26", Toddlers 36" x 44", Teenagers 56" x 44". Knight's Quilt Shop in Cape Neddick is a drop off center. Donated quilts may be dropped off or mailed to the shop at 1901 U.S. Route One, Cape Neddick, ME 03902, phone 207/361-2500.
 Women's Heart Surgeries
Eastern Maine Medical Center - Maine Medical Center
Heart Shaped Pillows to be donated to Maine Hospitals for Women's Heart Surgeries
Materials for pillows:
Pattern
1/2 yard of fabric or 2 pieces of 17" x 19"
OR
2 yards of fabric can make 5 pillows (fold fabric from fold to selvage - 4 layers - and place fold on double fold edge
Thread
Poly-fill
1. Place pattern on fabric making sure to place on fold line.
2. Cut around the outside.
3. Place the 2 hearts, right sides together and sew using a 3/8" seam allowance. (If you have a label or tab place it between the 2 pieces and stitch in the seam)
4. Leave a 2" opening and turn pillow right side out.
5. Stuff with poly-fill batting (it should be firm but not hard).
6. Hand or machine sew the opening close.
Note: Due to size of the pattern you'll need to do a little cut & paste! The half heart is in 2 pieces and you'll make 2 copies and then cut the top and bottom halves out. Go right of the paper leaving the margin of the pages. The pattern will be fairly close to the original. (Original was about 1/4" fatter right at the middle on test run)
If you or your Chapter decide to makepillows to donate for this project, contact:
Denise Sullivan
220 Kirkland Road
Old Town, ME 04468
(207) 827-7402
If any group would like a speaker on heart disease, the process, etc., please contact me. I would be happy to come if we can arrange it. Thank you so much for taking part in this project.
 Project Linus
"providing security through handmade blankets"
Project Linus has over 400 Chapters with more than 2,000,000 blankets delivered worldwide. Communities are banding together to provide security through blankets to seriously ill or traumatized children. Project Linus is a 100% volunteer non-profit organization. Project Linus accepts all styles of blankets – quilted, tied, knitted, crocheted, fleece, etc. They must be new, handmade and washable. Elaborate or simple, they are all beautiful to a child. All sizes of blankets are accepted. They go to children infants through teens. Local chapters may have size requirements depending on the facilities to which they donate. Contact your local coordinator for more information.
Project Linus Blanket Day
at Mariner's Compass
Saturday, August 16th
10:30 - 2:30
Make blankets to be donated to Project Linus. Donated quilts in our area go to places like Sweetser, Tedford Shelter, police departments and to any individual who may request one for a child in crisis. Bring your own project to work on or use one of the pre-cut kits. You can also help sew official labels onto quilts that have already been donated. If you can't participate on that date, this would be a great day to drop off quilts to help replenish the stock so badly needed! Refreshments will be provided along with other fun activities for participants including a raffle! Space is limited, please R.S.V.P. at 443-2900.
How Can You Help?
Contact your local chapter. The coordinator can tell you how you can help in your area. Make a blanket and donate it to your local chapter. They will take it to a local facility where it will be given to a deserving child, permanently. Get your community involved.
Aroostook County
Jennifer Metzger
Hancock/Washington Counties
Phyllis Shea
Kennebec/Waldo/Knox Counties
Dyna-Kaye Curtis
Lincoln/Sagadahoc County and Brunswick
Jackie Manton
31 Merrymeeting Road
Brunswick, ME 04011
207-725-4558
Oxford/Androscoggin County - Bridgton/Sebago/Standish
Caroline Jordan
474 Valley Road
Waterford, ME 04088
207-583-2630
Greater Portland/Cumberland County
Becki Jaques
745 Bridgton Road
Westbrook, ME 04092
207-856-1195
York County
Cara Chase
16 Paquin Avenue
Biddeford, ME 04005
207-284-2675
For a chapter list or to obtain more information, visit www.projectlinus.org or e-mail Susan or Merlene.
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Updated
July 11, 2008
by PTQG Webmaster |
