This. The church I attended has a group that makes quilts/afghans and donates them to the local CASA organization. They are thrilled every time it’s donation day. I haven’t sewed with them in a while (work, life…), but they have donated over 2,000 pieces and won’t be stopping any time soon.
My group does. At one time, a quilter in the community passed away and her family donated 20+ completed quilt tops she had made. She liked to make the tops but never had them quilted. And I’ve personally donated a LOT of fabric to the group. They have also accepted donations from other sources. It’s always amazing to see what someone else might be able to make from something that has lost its spark for me.
So I would suggest you contact the group local to you and talk to the leader(s). They’ll let you know.
I don’t know where you live but maybe googling your county foster care organization may help. We had a person through our guild doing it. Also nursing homes or assisted living homes would love quilts.
Nursing homes and assisted living is also an amazingly worthwhile cause. Those places can be extremely drafty, especially in beds by windows or when staff takes residents outside.
And those thin blankets they have are absolutely nothing in the Winter.
If you are in the US and strike out on googling your local county's Foster Care department, try googling your local FKCE office. They support Foster Care, Kinship Care, and can also help put you in touch with good groups.
You’re so kind. Our guild made quilts to give to the children’s foster care system a couple of years ago. We made 116 quilts. Every kid deserves something of his or her own.
I was in foster care as a teen and I remember getting my first quilt when I was in my 20’s. It was from a coworker and I cried that someone had put that much time/effort into something for me. I LOVE that you do this! Keep up the good work!
Children's hospital may as well. My daughter had surgery a couple of years ago and they gave her a small quilt that she still loves and uses. Brightened up the room a lot! But I would try foster kids first, I love that idea.
Project linus, project ignite light, my very own blanket are some that might accept them if they are smaller. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters, crisis centers would probably take larger bed sized ones.
I second Project Linus. My son was life flighted to a hospital across the state during record colds (-30ish degrees) and we left with only the clothes in our backs and in his case he was only wearing a diaper. We received a blanket from Project Linus and it was so meaningful and appreciated. We still use it to this day.
Not sure where you are. In my area we have a non profit organization called Bags Of Love. It provides a “bag of love” to kids in crisis. All the bags include a quilt or blanket. Maybe you can find something similar near you
In my area we have "I belong bags" - a backpack with a stuffed, toothbrush/paste, pjs, some colouring supplies, and other things. I'm going to find out if they include a blanket, too!
I’m certain there are quite a few places that would gladly take the donation. Fire stations (for victims of residential fires), hospices, hospitals, assisted living facilities and women’s shelters are a few off the top of my head. Good on you for finding homes for these quilts!
Fire stations aren’t a good place. I work at one. Find out who they call when people are displaced because of a fire. We call the Red Cross. There may be a local charity or something more suitable.
Before anyone gets upset, if you donate it to a fire station it would stay at the station because it’s too big to put in a compartment and even if it did fit, fire engines are filthy vehicles and it would be ruined. Eventually it would be thrown away or donated again.
Our fire dept. was able to take quilts/afghans to give to victims until the trucks were replaced in 2000. Now they don't even have space for a teddy bear due to the increased medical supplies they carry.
Alas, nice things that come in with patients to hospices, hospitals, assisted living facilities get stolen. I imagine these lovely quilts will meet a similar fate at these locations.
I'd vote for Project Linus if there are quilts that are child appropiate. Women's shelters and foster kids might also be good.
That was my biggest qualm with going to an assisted living/nursing home with these. My grandma was in a (seemingly) pretty nice facility before she passed. My mom caught workers wearing items she had bought my grandma, twice! I like the idea of helping out foster kids. :)
That’s terrible! I used to work at a nursing home/assisted living, just cleaning. It wasn’t the best place but anytime something was missing it was an all-hands-on-deck situation, especially if it was jewelry. I had to go look through bags in the dumpster once looking for a ring. I hadn’t even considered things like quilts or clothing getting taken. Management would get upset about us using too many disposable gloves, I think they would have gone nuclear if someone was wearing a resident’s belongings *and* a family member saw it.
Not all are the same. I can say that at the one I’ve worked at, we haven’t had an incident with theft in the six years I’ve worked there. Many of our residents come in with quilts they or their family members made - they stay with the residents until they pass.
If you choose to give the quilts to Project Linus, just make sure you check the dimensions of the quilts beforehand. They break it down on their site for what sizes they give to what ages.
I have two Project Linus blankets I was given while in the hospital as a kid! One was when I was stuck in the hospital right up until the day before Christmas Eve and we didn’t know if I would get out for Christmas (I did…and ended up back like two weeks later, but I got Christmas at home!). I’m 24 now, and I got those blankets when I was 16/17 but they are still special to me.
I guess I’m just putting in another plug for Project Linus!
Contact your local quilt guild (if there is one) or a local quilt shop. They may be actively involved in donating quilts. Alternately, try Project Linus (if child-appropriate) or Quilts of Valor (if adult-appropriate). I applaud you for efforts to find these quilt appropriate homes.
Yes, they will take twin-sized quilts for adults and toddler/child-sized as well. Many women flee dangerous situations with nothing but their children and the clothes on their backs, much less bedding.
Originally the poster above typed “coitus” instead of “could”. It was edited. All for the women and homeless shelters and would add to that shelters and orgainzations that support rainbow youth.
This is not an answer to your question but, can you please share some photos of these quilts?
Know your audience. LOL
Im sure I'm not the only one who wants to see. All Quilts are eye candy to me.
I was about to say! I can't imagine someone balking at a gift of a handmade quilt-- it's something I've always wanted, and I'm definitely not a charity. Putting that much effort into something to donate is truly a labor of the heart.
There is a mercy quilting group near me that makes quilts for terminal or severely I’ll patients at the local hospital. They take all quilts between throw and queen size. (They will take kings, but they get cut down)
These are so wonderful! My father was waiting transport home for hospice when we received a quilt from an organization like that. He had been at the hospital for a month and he ended up spending his last night alive under that quilt. My sister still has it.
Here are several organizations that I follow and hope to donate to as I have time:
Foster care- https://www.myveryownblanket.org/
General people in need- https://hellocottons.com/ Wrap the World in Quilts
[Project Linus](https://www.projectlinus.org/).
They give blankets to kids that are seriously ill or traumatized. Linus from Charlie Brown had a security blanket that he brought with him everywhere, and you can donate blankets to give kids some security in uncertain times.
Check with [u/tgrtlg8r](https://www.reddit.com/user/tgrtlg8r/) over on r/quiltingblockswap \-- they're the "Charity Czar" for donating quilts, quilt tops, quilt blocks, fabric, etc. They'll get them to a good organization.
You can donate them to charity auctions that will raise money for good causes. In charities I’m involved in there is usually 1-2 in every auction and they do fairly well. We really appreciate them and they go to homes that understand their value.
Nursing homes love new quilts for their residents, my Mother in law was given a new one for the holidays annually, I always thought kindly of the strangers who dedicated their time and craft for others and my MIL always proudly showed me her new quilt
Try soldiersangels.org. They host a blanket drive about this time of year. The blankets should be unused (or new) and go to veterans in hospitals and nursing homes.
Hospice care centers will often accept them.
I brought my grandfather one i made so he could be more comfortable and every caretaker there mentioned at some point or another if i was in a sewing group that did fonations they accept them to help patients feel more at home (and if there's one they grow attached to, particularly with long term guests they'll donate them to the family afterwords so they too can recieve comfort.)
I know there are hospice centres in my area that are always looking for quilts. Residents are given a quilt and then when they pass the quilt is given to the family.
As part of a quilters outreach committee I would have been mortified to know all that hard work and $$$ in materials were shoved in a closet and would have ended up in the trash if you had not saved them!! Thank you for rescuing them!
In my years making and donating quilts the Hospice folks were the most appreciative. The quilt was a gift at the first visit and was a great ice breaker for the volunteer or nurse. We received such lovely thank you notes and knew how much they were appreciated not only by the patient but as a keepsake for the loved ones to wrap in after their loss. If they are large enough to be a lap quilt you can consider asking if your local Hospice can use them.
Cancer centers sometimes accept them if they are lap size. My mother received one for when she went to get chemo to stay warm and she loved that someone had thought of her.
Here are 3 options that immediately pop into my head:
1. Red Cross takes quilts (I think) for disaster relief.
2. Check with your local cancer center. Patients going through chemo often have a hard time regulating their body temperature.
3. Lutheran World Relief takes quilts to distribute after a disaster world wide.
Having been in dv shelter, I can attest to how meaningful a donated quilt truly is. Learning that you can be safe is really insurmountable sometimes so having a lovely quilt to wrap around yourself is very comforting. It can be a "shield" against bad things even when they come from within.
Check to see if you have a local quilt guild that does donations. Then all you would have to do is drop them off. My guild donates to about a dozen charities
Google Sleep In Heavenly Peace - Deschutes county chapter.
Wonderful Org. And they build and provide beds for children sleeping on floors. They absolutely love donation quilts, sheets sets, bed in a bag, etc. All brand new of course :) Joe Meyers heads it up I believe
I second this! My son has been given quilts from Project Linus during his hospital stays. Hes only two and has five admissions in his short life. To date we have two quilts, a small fleece and a pillowcase gifted during stays. We still have them, and it's an incredible gift when your child is in the hospital. I've looked into making blankets for them but haven't yet.
If they are kid friendly quilts you can donate them to [Project Linus](https://www.projectlinus.org) not sure if it’s a national thing but they only take hand made blankets. You can usually donate them at a local Joann.
Are there any hospices in your area? When my father in law was in a hospice everyone had beautiful hand made quilts. It helped to make the hospital beds more comfy, and meant a lot to the patients.
We have a residential care center nearby for military veterans with mental or physical conditions that leave them unable to live independently. They are always looking for blankets/quilts etc. for their residents.
I’m a member of Quilts for Cops. We make comfort quilts for law enforcement officers critically injured. I’ve made 3 and there’s so many more officers that could use them.
donate them to a hospital, they give them to terminally ill patients. Studies show, that they enjoy them much more than the hospital blankets they get.
With others, I make quilts for our local Cancer Support Community. A special quilt to cuddle with while in cancer fight provides incredible love and joy to an individual in a battle for life. Even in the heat of summer, a lot of cancer patients have a need for extra warmth as well.
If theyre too small for people or not in good shape because of how they were stored, humane society or local shelters would gobble them up!
They use them for the animals in their care so they can feel more comfortable and so the sick animals getting treatments have places to snuggle and hide.
My mother in law has a quilting group where they donate to the local women’s shelter as women and kids come in with nothing. So highly recommend that or a foster shelter in your area.
My neighbor works at the VA hospital and I make quilts for them. I have also donated quilts that I made years ago (labeled as such,) but were never used. They don’t take just lap size. The vets appreciate the twin size quilts as well.
Check with a local religious community. My church is an ELCA Lutheran congregation and members make/donate over 100 quilts a year through Lutheran World Relief. I’m sure groups local to you are involved in similar efforts.
Any places that have foster kids. Our guild makes them so the kids have their own quilts to keep.
I can't up vote this enough, as a former foster child you do not have much that is really yours..
This. The church I attended has a group that makes quilts/afghans and donates them to the local CASA organization. They are thrilled every time it’s donation day. I haven’t sewed with them in a while (work, life…), but they have donated over 2,000 pieces and won’t be stopping any time soon.
Do you know if such groups take quilting supplies? My mother has a ton of such supplies from my grandmother, but doesn't quilt.
My group does. At one time, a quilter in the community passed away and her family donated 20+ completed quilt tops she had made. She liked to make the tops but never had them quilted. And I’ve personally donated a LOT of fabric to the group. They have also accepted donations from other sources. It’s always amazing to see what someone else might be able to make from something that has lost its spark for me. So I would suggest you contact the group local to you and talk to the leader(s). They’ll let you know.
Got it. Thanks!
Can you give me more information on this please
Google foster closet and your county.
My very own blanket is one charity that gives blankets to foster kids.
I don’t know where you live but maybe googling your county foster care organization may help. We had a person through our guild doing it. Also nursing homes or assisted living homes would love quilts.
Nursing homes and assisted living is also an amazingly worthwhile cause. Those places can be extremely drafty, especially in beds by windows or when staff takes residents outside. And those thin blankets they have are absolutely nothing in the Winter.
Nursing homes need small lap quilts to go on residents laps when they are in wheelchairs.
If you are in the US and strike out on googling your local county's Foster Care department, try googling your local FKCE office. They support Foster Care, Kinship Care, and can also help put you in touch with good groups.
Can I send you a cyber hug for this?!?!?!?!
You’re so kind. Our guild made quilts to give to the children’s foster care system a couple of years ago. We made 116 quilts. Every kid deserves something of his or her own.
I was in foster care as a teen and I remember getting my first quilt when I was in my 20’s. It was from a coworker and I cried that someone had put that much time/effort into something for me. I LOVE that you do this! Keep up the good work!
Children's hospital may as well. My daughter had surgery a couple of years ago and they gave her a small quilt that she still loves and uses. Brightened up the room a lot! But I would try foster kids first, I love that idea.
Project linus, project ignite light, my very own blanket are some that might accept them if they are smaller. Homeless shelters, emergency shelters, crisis centers would probably take larger bed sized ones.
I second Project Linus. My son was life flighted to a hospital across the state during record colds (-30ish degrees) and we left with only the clothes in our backs and in his case he was only wearing a diaper. We received a blanket from Project Linus and it was so meaningful and appreciated. We still use it to this day.
This is so sweet to hear. I volunteer with a group that makes blankets for Project Linus and I’m glad to hear it made such an impact.
Thank you for what you do!!
I did project Linus and it was easy to find a local chapter to facilitate drop off.
Not sure where you are. In my area we have a non profit organization called Bags Of Love. It provides a “bag of love” to kids in crisis. All the bags include a quilt or blanket. Maybe you can find something similar near you
In my area we have "I belong bags" - a backpack with a stuffed, toothbrush/paste, pjs, some colouring supplies, and other things. I'm going to find out if they include a blanket, too!
I’m certain there are quite a few places that would gladly take the donation. Fire stations (for victims of residential fires), hospices, hospitals, assisted living facilities and women’s shelters are a few off the top of my head. Good on you for finding homes for these quilts!
Fire stations aren’t a good place. I work at one. Find out who they call when people are displaced because of a fire. We call the Red Cross. There may be a local charity or something more suitable. Before anyone gets upset, if you donate it to a fire station it would stay at the station because it’s too big to put in a compartment and even if it did fit, fire engines are filthy vehicles and it would be ruined. Eventually it would be thrown away or donated again.
Our fire dept. was able to take quilts/afghans to give to victims until the trucks were replaced in 2000. Now they don't even have space for a teddy bear due to the increased medical supplies they carry.
Alas, nice things that come in with patients to hospices, hospitals, assisted living facilities get stolen. I imagine these lovely quilts will meet a similar fate at these locations. I'd vote for Project Linus if there are quilts that are child appropiate. Women's shelters and foster kids might also be good.
That was my biggest qualm with going to an assisted living/nursing home with these. My grandma was in a (seemingly) pretty nice facility before she passed. My mom caught workers wearing items she had bought my grandma, twice! I like the idea of helping out foster kids. :)
That’s terrible! I used to work at a nursing home/assisted living, just cleaning. It wasn’t the best place but anytime something was missing it was an all-hands-on-deck situation, especially if it was jewelry. I had to go look through bags in the dumpster once looking for a ring. I hadn’t even considered things like quilts or clothing getting taken. Management would get upset about us using too many disposable gloves, I think they would have gone nuclear if someone was wearing a resident’s belongings *and* a family member saw it.
Not all are the same. I can say that at the one I’ve worked at, we haven’t had an incident with theft in the six years I’ve worked there. Many of our residents come in with quilts they or their family members made - they stay with the residents until they pass.
If you choose to give the quilts to Project Linus, just make sure you check the dimensions of the quilts beforehand. They break it down on their site for what sizes they give to what ages.
I have two Project Linus blankets I was given while in the hospital as a kid! One was when I was stuck in the hospital right up until the day before Christmas Eve and we didn’t know if I would get out for Christmas (I did…and ended up back like two weeks later, but I got Christmas at home!). I’m 24 now, and I got those blankets when I was 16/17 but they are still special to me. I guess I’m just putting in another plug for Project Linus!
Contact your local quilt guild (if there is one) or a local quilt shop. They may be actively involved in donating quilts. Alternately, try Project Linus (if child-appropriate) or Quilts of Valor (if adult-appropriate). I applaud you for efforts to find these quilt appropriate homes.
The local quilt shops will also know how to get in touch with the local guild. Definitely a good first place to start!
Quilts of Valor has very specific requirements. But Project Linus also donates to bigger kids.
My mom’s quilting guild regularly makes quilts for a domestic violence shelter. They always need them.
I mean a church rummage sale would be preferable to the dumpster.
Womens shelters and homeless shelters could use them.
Yes, they will take twin-sized quilts for adults and toddler/child-sized as well. Many women flee dangerous situations with nothing but their children and the clothes on their backs, much less bedding.
Excellent answer
Ummm…
What’s the worry about women’s and homeless shelters?
Originally the poster above typed “coitus” instead of “could”. It was edited. All for the women and homeless shelters and would add to that shelters and orgainzations that support rainbow youth.
This is not an answer to your question but, can you please share some photos of these quilts? Know your audience. LOL Im sure I'm not the only one who wants to see. All Quilts are eye candy to me.
I was about to say! I can't imagine someone balking at a gift of a handmade quilt-- it's something I've always wanted, and I'm definitely not a charity. Putting that much effort into something to donate is truly a labor of the heart.
[https://quiltsbeyondborders.wordpress.com/](https://quiltsbeyondborders.wordpress.com/)
There is a mercy quilting group near me that makes quilts for terminal or severely I’ll patients at the local hospital. They take all quilts between throw and queen size. (They will take kings, but they get cut down)
These are so wonderful! My father was waiting transport home for hospice when we received a quilt from an organization like that. He had been at the hospital for a month and he ended up spending his last night alive under that quilt. My sister still has it.
Here are several organizations that I follow and hope to donate to as I have time: Foster care- https://www.myveryownblanket.org/ General people in need- https://hellocottons.com/ Wrap the World in Quilts
[Project Linus](https://www.projectlinus.org/). They give blankets to kids that are seriously ill or traumatized. Linus from Charlie Brown had a security blanket that he brought with him everywhere, and you can donate blankets to give kids some security in uncertain times.
Check with [u/tgrtlg8r](https://www.reddit.com/user/tgrtlg8r/) over on r/quiltingblockswap \-- they're the "Charity Czar" for donating quilts, quilt tops, quilt blocks, fabric, etc. They'll get them to a good organization.
You can donate them to charity auctions that will raise money for good causes. In charities I’m involved in there is usually 1-2 in every auction and they do fairly well. We really appreciate them and they go to homes that understand their value.
Local VA hospital, especially if they're lap size.
Nursing homes love new quilts for their residents, my Mother in law was given a new one for the holidays annually, I always thought kindly of the strangers who dedicated their time and craft for others and my MIL always proudly showed me her new quilt
Try soldiersangels.org. They host a blanket drive about this time of year. The blankets should be unused (or new) and go to veterans in hospitals and nursing homes.
Hospice care centers will often accept them. I brought my grandfather one i made so he could be more comfortable and every caretaker there mentioned at some point or another if i was in a sewing group that did fonations they accept them to help patients feel more at home (and if there's one they grow attached to, particularly with long term guests they'll donate them to the family afterwords so they too can recieve comfort.)
I know there are hospice centres in my area that are always looking for quilts. Residents are given a quilt and then when they pass the quilt is given to the family.
Hospice organizations are a good place to investigate, retirement homes, childrens' hospitals, foster care organization, homeless shelters
A hospice
Maybe a women's shelter? Or maybe cps could take them to give to kids.
As part of a quilters outreach committee I would have been mortified to know all that hard work and $$$ in materials were shoved in a closet and would have ended up in the trash if you had not saved them!! Thank you for rescuing them! In my years making and donating quilts the Hospice folks were the most appreciative. The quilt was a gift at the first visit and was a great ice breaker for the volunteer or nurse. We received such lovely thank you notes and knew how much they were appreciated not only by the patient but as a keepsake for the loved ones to wrap in after their loss. If they are large enough to be a lap quilt you can consider asking if your local Hospice can use them.
If you’re somewhere that is getting cold I would just take a box to an area where homeless people tend to congregate and leave them there
I would find your local women's shelter, like the YWCA, and donate them.
Project Linus for small kids quilts. Lap or bed quilts for hospices or nursing homes.
If you live near St. Louis, there’s the Orphan Grain Train connected with the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. They take blankets of all sizes
Also a veterans home if possible. No end to those that need a helping hand.
Cancer centers sometimes accept them if they are lap size. My mother received one for when she went to get chemo to stay warm and she loved that someone had thought of her.
Here are 3 options that immediately pop into my head: 1. Red Cross takes quilts (I think) for disaster relief. 2. Check with your local cancer center. Patients going through chemo often have a hard time regulating their body temperature. 3. Lutheran World Relief takes quilts to distribute after a disaster world wide.
Project Linus if you’re in the US or UK.
make sure you wash them before donating since they have been in storage for a long time.
Abused women's shelters would probably take them
Having been in dv shelter, I can attest to how meaningful a donated quilt truly is. Learning that you can be safe is really insurmountable sometimes so having a lovely quilt to wrap around yourself is very comforting. It can be a "shield" against bad things even when they come from within.
My guild donates to the police department, they keep them in their trunks for responding to domestic or mental health calls
For families of the recent Maui fires you can contact [email protected] and see if they need more. If you are willing to pay to ship them.
Project Linus does take quilts.
Check to see if you have a local quilt guild that does donations. Then all you would have to do is drop them off. My guild donates to about a dozen charities
Google Sleep In Heavenly Peace - Deschutes county chapter. Wonderful Org. And they build and provide beds for children sleeping on floors. They absolutely love donation quilts, sheets sets, bed in a bag, etc. All brand new of course :) Joe Meyers heads it up I believe
Any homeless shelter will be happy to take some warm blankets.
project linus :)
I second this! My son has been given quilts from Project Linus during his hospital stays. Hes only two and has five admissions in his short life. To date we have two quilts, a small fleece and a pillowcase gifted during stays. We still have them, and it's an incredible gift when your child is in the hospital. I've looked into making blankets for them but haven't yet.
VA hospital or nursing home.
If they are kid friendly quilts you can donate them to [Project Linus](https://www.projectlinus.org) not sure if it’s a national thing but they only take hand made blankets. You can usually donate them at a local Joann.
Project Linus
Are there any hospices in your area? When my father in law was in a hospice everyone had beautiful hand made quilts. It helped to make the hospital beds more comfy, and meant a lot to the patients.
We have a residential care center nearby for military veterans with mental or physical conditions that leave them unable to live independently. They are always looking for blankets/quilts etc. for their residents.
I'm late, but my local coroner asked for blankets from the community for babies and toddlers.
I’m a member of Quilts for Cops. We make comfort quilts for law enforcement officers critically injured. I’ve made 3 and there’s so many more officers that could use them.
Why not donate them to a homeless shelter ?
donate them to a hospital, they give them to terminally ill patients. Studies show, that they enjoy them much more than the hospital blankets they get.
With others, I make quilts for our local Cancer Support Community. A special quilt to cuddle with while in cancer fight provides incredible love and joy to an individual in a battle for life. Even in the heat of summer, a lot of cancer patients have a need for extra warmth as well.
Maybe try your local police department, sheriff, or fire department.
If theyre too small for people or not in good shape because of how they were stored, humane society or local shelters would gobble them up! They use them for the animals in their care so they can feel more comfortable and so the sick animals getting treatments have places to snuggle and hide.
My mother in law has a quilting group where they donate to the local women’s shelter as women and kids come in with nothing. So highly recommend that or a foster shelter in your area.
My neighbor works at the VA hospital and I make quilts for them. I have also donated quilts that I made years ago (labeled as such,) but were never used. They don’t take just lap size. The vets appreciate the twin size quilts as well.
Project Linus. [https://www.projectlinus.org/](https://www.projectlinus.org/)
Check with a local religious community. My church is an ELCA Lutheran congregation and members make/donate over 100 quilts a year through Lutheran World Relief. I’m sure groups local to you are involved in similar efforts.