Quilting project looks to warm lives

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/04/2018 (2207 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Steinbach business owner is embarking on a project that she hopes will bring the gift of warmth and comfort to those in the community who are less fortunate.

She’s also looking for residents in the community who are willing to donate their time towards making her project become a reality.

Sherri Parent is the co-owner of Driven 2 Sew at 354 Main Street in Steinbach, and sells handmade quilts along with a number of other locally produced items.

She said that for many years she has been looking for a way to get involved with and lend a hand to Steinbach Community Christmas, which last December handed out more than 900 Christmas hampers to local families.

“We all care, and we all want to find our way to help others,” Parent said. “We care as a community.”

Parent is now embarking on a project where she is looking to create enough quilts so that one quilt would go into every hamper next Christmas when the local hamper drive starts handing out their hampers for another year.

She said she believes a quilt would be a perfect fit for a community hamper drive.

“The idea is to bring people a sense of comfort,” Parent said. “It’s about having that special something that someone put their heart and soul into, and knowing that someone put a lot of time and effort and love into making it.”

With last year’s Steinbach Community Christmas handing out approximately 950 hampers, Parent said she knows she has created a lofty goal, so she’s now seeking residents who would like to make quilts for the project, or give donations of supplies or cash.

“We’re looking for fabric donations, quilt donations, monetary donations, and for people that are willing to donate their time,” Parent said.

Anyone that would be interested in making a quilt for the project to make one on their own time and drop it off at her store, or they could also come into the store and make a quilt using donated materials, supplies and equipment available at the shop.

Parent said so far she has about approximately 100 quilts for the project, so she is still looking for hundreds more.

She added even though next Christmas is many months away, she already wants to get started on the project as she looks to put together hundreds of quilts.

Parent now hopes the community will get behind her idea and help in whatever way they can.

“It’s people in our community that would be making these, so it would be something that is from our community and to our community.”

Anyone who would like to get involved or ask more questions about ways to help out can call Parent at 204-320-1629 or check out the Driven 2 Sew Facebook page.