P.E.I. women stitch together quilts for foster children - Action News
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PEI

P.E.I. women stitch together quilts for foster children

A group of women at St. Mark's Anglican Church have stitched together 19 quilts over the past two months that will be given to children in foster care.

Church women stitch 19 quilts in just two months

Marjorie Gallant has been quilting 45 years. (Brian Higgins/CBC)

Marjorie Gallant shows off her handiwork inside St. Mark's Anglican Church in Kensington, P.E.I.

Hersis one of 19 quilts she and others stitched together over the past two months.

"I really enjoy doing this,"Gallant said."Using up my scraps for a good cause."

That good cause is children in foster care.The quilts will be given to children in care of the province and will be theirs to keepfor as long as they're in foster care, and beyond.

"It started as a two-day blitz and ended in a two-month frenzy," said quilter Doris Moase.

About 200 children are in the protective care of the province at any given time, according to the Department of Family and Human Services.The quilts will be distributed by staff to children most in need. Older children may be a priority, so they have the quilts to keepas they turn 18 and "age out" of foster care, according to a spokesperson for the province.

Quilting is all about recycling. Virtually all the materials were old and reused. (Brian Higgins/CBC)

"It represents a lot because kids cuddle up with quilts and they feel warm and snug and safe," said Rev. Margie Fagan. "The quilts have been made with a lot of care and compassion and the love of God. A lot of prayer goes into those and kids can receive that and know that they're not alone."

The Kensington quiltersmeet for weekly sewing sessions they call Yarns and Tea.For the past two years, they've been meeting at St. Thomas' Anglican Church in nearby Spring Brook, one of four churches in the Parish of New London.

It represents a lot because kids cuddle up with quilts and they feel warm and snug and safe.Rev. Margie Fagan

The idea to donate to foster kidscame from one of the quilters, after her adult son retired from a career in social work.

"It's kept pretty quiet, but we know there's a lot of need," said Isabelle Picketts. "I contacted my son and he contacted social services."

Virtually all recycled material

Quiltingis all about recycling.The women had to buy only one spool of thread and some batting to make the 19 quilts. Everything else wasreused material.

"We believe in recycling, reusing and it all turned out good," Moasesaid.

The Yarns and Teagroup is open to everyone in the Kensington area, not just church members. The activities also include knitting and other craftwork.