When you enter the Susan B Anthony Center center, many of the baby stroller’s have the most beautiful quilts on their tiny occupants. Most visitors ask who donated them, but all the mother’s reply with a big smile, “I made it for my child” With the help of volunteers from the West Broward Quilters and Quilting in the Pines, volunteers come each week to teach the women how quilt.
Each mom starts by learning how to hand sew a small quilt. Each stitch must be the same size and uniform in length. By teaching the basics in sewing to the moms, they can apply this to how to repair and alter clothing. But the volunteers tell me it also takes concentration and focus. This helps with recovery. To be able to concentrate and focus is important and to start a project and finish is also an important goal for the women to achieve.
Once they complete a quilt that is hand sewn, they move onto machine sewing. Each women is encouraged to be creative and take on a project that they can finish.
When the volunteers had been asked what keeps them coming back each week, they all said they are moved by the progress and transformation that they see each week. One volunteer said, ” I originally came because I had free time, love to quilt and wanted to help these women, now I come to see how much they grow, gain self-esteem and I can see how each week they come out of their shell. I come because I know that I am part of that, it is not about the quilt”
The Susan B Anthony Recovery Center sends a big thanks to the Quilters who come and donate their time and all the supp
Amanda with her latest creation
lies for the classes.
one of our volunteers
busy sewing
piecing together the quilt
