The “why”

The photo is to capture your attention. Now that it has, I really hope you’ll read this post through to the end. I posted this to our Facebook group Quilts Pieced With Purpose. I know I have friends worldwide who share my passion for this project who are also doing their best. Thank you to all of them who told me about what they’re making, where they’re donating, and most of all, why it matter.

There was a news story last night about 163 abused and exploited children found in Florida and recovered in an ongoing sting operation. They ranged from 2 months old to 17 years of age.

I want to say something about the little quilts we’re making for our Huggables project because our next donation will be to DCF (Florida Department of Children and Family Services) once we get confirmation on the number they’d like to receive.

Our little quilts may not go to the children in the news but, they will be going to children who are being housed. Most of them are likely to have been removed from their homes because of neglect or abuse. Many of these children have already experienced what it feels like to be treated as though they aren’t as important or deserving as other children.

I feel very strongly that we should not, even unintentionally, reinforce that message.

So, what does that mean?

These little quilts don’t have to be perfect, and they certainly don’t have to be elaborate. But I do believe they should be made with care and be something we would be proud to give to a child. The child may never know whether a quilt was carefully chosen or simply something we wanted to get rid of—but WE know. And the counselor who puts that quilt into a child’s arms knows.

What we are making is more than a little quilt wrapped around a stuffed animal. It is one small way of saying to a child, “YOU MATTER!”. “YOU ARE WORTH CARING ABOUT!” Someone took the time to make something special for you.

So please, when choosing or making a quilt for this project, think about the child who will receive it. Let’s give them our best—not because anyone expects perfection, but because 𝒕𝙝𝒆𝙮 𝙙𝒆𝙨𝒆𝙧𝒗𝙚 𝙤𝒖𝙧 𝙗𝒆𝙨𝒕.

I hope you’ll feel as strongly about this project as I do. I would love for us to be able to look at every Huggable we give away and know that it was made with the love, respect and care these children deserve.

This little quilt finishes at 22″ x 24″ made with 2 1/2″ squares.
Downsized from the free Linus Connection pattern Bijou Junior by Jeanne Toewe.

This is the original version of the pattern I made last August.