On April 23, 21 quilts were delivered to Casa de Paz women’s shelter.
Mary Shirey
The Ranch Piecemakers may just be among the most creative, industrious, and generous group of sewists around. Year after year—even through the pandemic—their sewing machines keep on humming! Club leaders and members continually work together to find new ways to elevate community giving, the very cornerstone of the quilt club’s mission. When asked, members often report that making donation quilts is a favorite aspect of the club. “I live for making quilts, and donating them allows me to continue to create,” said longtime member Deb Larson.
Upon its inception in 2017, the group first donated quilts to Hurricane Harvey victims. Soon after, it began giving to local charities such as Tucson Veterans, Aviva Children’s Center, the Dialysis and Cancer Center, and Meals on Wheels. It then officially adopted Pinal County CASA (foster kids) and Against Abuse, Inc. (Casa de Paz women’s shelter), which have expressed tremendous appreciation and need for quilts due to the nature of the services they provide. Since 2017, the membership (currently 98 strong) has donated 807 quilts! This number includes “in-reach” donations to residents of SaddleBrooke Ranch (SBR) who have lost a loved one or are facing serious illness.
In 2022, when parts of Kentucky were devastated by record floods, the Piecemakers scrambled to help. That experience inspired them to want to act faster, so this year the club started its own version of natural disaster preparedness and began building a stash. Now regular group events occur to provide simple quilt patterns, cutting assistance, and team projects—and the supply for future disaster–assistance quilts is growing by the week! The Ranch Piecemakers–the double entendre in the name is quite intentional–have set their sights on 1,000 quilt donations by year’s end. With 51 donations so far this year, that admirable goal is surely within their grasp!