250 more....please.

A special note about My Bumble Beans Basics Quilt drive.

to those of you new readers, I want to share with you what this project means to me.

A year and a half ago, I was calling around my NYC area to shelters in the city to see if they would take extra quilts that I had, that needed homes.  I found that no, they did not have the space to keep quilts or to keep them clean, so that option was out...

I then asked a friend of mine,Raul Russi, who I knew ran a housing project, called BASICS Inc.  I asked him if he could take a few quilts, ( I had four ready to donate) and he looked at me and said, ''DO you have 700?''

My eyes grew quite large...  That was not the answer I expected.  He then explained to me that at the time there were 700 families on waiting lists to get transitional housing. This meant that 700 families were in SHELTERS all around the NYC metro area. 700 FAMILIES!

The city itself does what it can to help these people, but they do not have enough help to place all families so organizations like BASICS, try to pick up where the city can't help.  BASICS looks for Housing units, basically entire buildings, that they can then move families into, and help them get there lives back on track.  They deal with everything, from illnesses, to addiction, to getting kids back into school... They ask constantly for donations of Sheets, pillows, school supplies, dishes, winter coats, whatever people donate, as they can only raise so much money, and they rely heavily on these items to give the families. 

This is a room, that a family of four gets. 

It's ONE room. 

One wall has the kitchen the other has the beds. a single dresser divides the room. 

There is a pillow, pillow case, and a sheet.

I've had people email me and say, ''Well, I only give to people in need in my neighborhood.''

That's great!

This is my backdoor......as is Japan, China, Haiti, New Orleans...

I've had people email to say, ''I have a top, Can you finish it?''

No, I'm sorry, I can't finish them all. This is why I need everyone to send ONE quilt.

I'm one person, I've made a lot of quilts for these guys and continue to run my quilt business.

I so wish I could finish all your tops,  and I appreciate you asking, 

But I really need you all to finish ONE quilt.

Where and when does my quilt get it's new home?

After we get enough quilts to supply a building unit, I work with BASICS to do a

QUILT DISTRIBUTION DAY.

Click here from pics from one event

I can tell you that I HOLD each and every quilt, and pass it on to it's new owner. We try to take a picture of every single one, but sometimes, the people are shy, or humbled, and do not want their pictures taken.  Often the SMILES are so big, they wish they could leap through the lens and hug each of you for donating your beautiful works of art.

More pics here

And ALL the blog posts about past events here

Did I mention that YOUR name is read out loud when we hand the quilt over?

Last year we gathered 300 quilts and they have been distributed.

I asked my friend PAT SLOAN to help me in gathering 400 more, because I want to finish what I started and get the 700 quilts that I was asked for when this all began. Since the end of August when I began asking for more quilts, we've received about 150 quilts. 

We need more. 

250 more...

 I need HELP to keep putting it out there, (Like MPR fund drives)

so you all may find the space and time to make.

JUST ONE QUILT

To stick a quilt in a box and ship it to BASICS.

Basic Housing, Inc.
Attn: Robert Gonzalez / BBINC
540 East 180th Street,
Bronx, NY 10457

ALL SIZES ARE NEEDED. ALL QUILT INFO IS ON THE SITE. here is a direct link

http://bumblebeansbasics.com/quilt-info

We all have out own stories of where we came from and who helped us along the way. At this time in my life, I can't imagine starting over from scratch, but what if I did?  I know people are out there who will help.  

Not everyone has someone who can help.  Can you be that person?

I thank each and everyone of you who have sent, gathered, made, donated your services, to make JUST ONE QUILT to send.

All it takes is ONE quilt to warm a family.

So if you think making one quilt is not enough, please know that it is.

You can also help by doing any of these:
Facebook, twitter, blog it, add a BUMBLE BEANS BASICS button in your side bar...
(please take the image at top of post)

Quilt recently donated by Cathy of Cabbage Quilts. Australia

You can see that this project is very special to me.  I thought I would be giving 3-4 quilts away, because I had them... I ended up giving away hundreds!  One small thought turned into something WONDERFUL,  And I needed each of you to make that happen.

Please comment and tell me if you've sent a quilt,  or if you can commit to making just one.

THANK YOU

for the Love and Support you've given this project.

Victoria

SEWING GOOD