It’s rewarding to know that you’re doing something good for someone else.”

Karen Dickson

I just thought it was the coolest thing to do something and help that many people.”

Charlotte Rollins

The Basement Quilting Group of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stanley has had a busy year. Working together they finished 500 quilts to share with Lutheran World Relief, an organization dedicated to “bring warmth and comfort to families facing crisis.” Lutheran World Relief began in 1945 at the end of World War 2 as a way for Lutherans living in the United States to send aid and material resources gathered by Lutheran congregations to those affected by war in Europe. In 2022, Lutheran World Relief distributed 220,317 quilts to 19 countries, including Poland, Ukraine, Peru and Guatemala. Lutheran World Relief states that today their goal is “to help people build self sufficiency and create new community owned approaches to problem solving that will last long after our projects end.”

Beginning in the 1940’s, the local Stanley quilting group originally started small but quickly grew to sixteen members that now includes men and women of all ages. The quilting group, including parishioners from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stanley, Grace Community Church in Stanley, and The Rock Church in Thorp, meets Mondays and Thursdays from 9am to 12pm in the basement of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church where the sounds of whirring sewing machines, quiet chatter and infectious laughter greets your ears. When member Charlotte Rollins began twenty years ago, the group had a small area with only one table but now their space includes many storage cabinets, a wall filled with fabrics and materials, and four tables or stations with at least two people working at each station to tie, finish, or box the quilts. The 87x65 quilts are all made with donations from local residents or with materials purchased from area thrift sales. Rollins said that the group averages about sixty to seventy quilts a month with less being made in the summer months due to busier schedules. The quilts from Our Savior’s Lutheran Church are brought to Minnesota where they are then distributed by Lutheran World Relief to those in need all over the globe. Rollins mentioned that the quilts donated to Lutheran World Relief are not only used for warmth but also as roofs or floors depending on the need of the recipient.  While the majority of the quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief, many of the quilts are also delivered to local groups, including Chippewa Valley Street Ministry, area veterans, and Fire and Police departments. The quilting group also makes smaller prayer quilts or shawls for anyone who is ill. 

“I just thought it was the coolest thing to do something and help that many people.” Rollins smiled and said that the schedule of two days a week keeps it simple. Rollins shared that in addition to working, the group has a coffee break at ten o’clock where members can fellowship and catch up on each other’s lives.

“It’s something to keep us busy,” Jan Shilts comments on why she attends each week as she measures for the quilt ties with fellow member Fern LaMarche.

“It’s rewarding to know that you’re doing something good for someone else,” member Karen Dickson mentions that volunteering her time makes her feel good. “It’s a fun group. We have all ages,” she remarks adding that the oldest member is 96.

Last year the quilting group finished 333 quilts and while 500 quilts this year was no small feat, the Quilting Group decided to push themselves harder and their lofty goal for next year is 600 quilts! If you are handy with a sewing machine or just want to help, the group welcomes new members.

“You do not need to know how to sew,” Dickson clarifies and states that anyone can join the group to help. To join, Rollins says to show up on Mondays or Thursdays and they’ll put you to work.

If you don’t have time to join, donations are also welcomed and appreciated. The quilting group is always in need of blankets, fitted or flat sheets, yarn, and mattress pads that can be dropped off at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m to 12 p.m. For more information, contact Our Savior’s Lutheran office at 715-644-3665.