March 27, 2020
June 2017
A year has almost passed since I last wrote a newsletter for Dorcas Quilts. I am sorry for the delay but a lot of changes has happened in the last few months.
Refugees, mainly from Syria
The whole focus of Dorcas seems to be changing. We have found that there is a great need locally so since the autumn we have supplied several families of refugees with quilts and so 7 large quilts and 5 small quilts have gone to families in the area. Some have gone to Voices in Exile, a Christian charity based in Brighton. This contact may well open up a demand fora lot more quilts. I also took 8 donated knitted and crotched blankets and they were overjoyed to receive them as the families are all feeling the cold here.
Families in Crisis
There is quite a need for quilts to cheer up these ladies who are forced to find refuge in another part of the country. This organisation helps these women in Chichester. At Christmas we were able to give 16 quilts and also we made 8 Christmas runners which went into their Christmas gift boxes.
Women’s Refuge
Another exciting opening is that we have offered quilts to a Women’s Refuge outside Chichester in another town. They are delighted with the offer and have 6 ladies and up to 12 children. This is our main current project! My contact also mentioned that there were three other refuges in our area but I suggested we started small as some of the others have quite a number of ladies! Of course this does mean that we are making single bed size quilts as well as children’s quilts so we are all very busy sewing!
Ethiopia
We are still sending 20 quilts out to the Deaf school in Ethiopia each year and that will continue for as long as they are required. They usually go out in January but this year they are hoping to take them this month or early June.
Uganda
In the autumn we are sending out more incubator size quilts for the babies in the intensive care unit in the hospital in Kagando.
Cambodia
Cambodia has gone very quiet at the moment so we do have some quilts ready if they call us!
So as you can see the whole focus of Dorcas Quilts has changed. I really hope that there will be more openings for children’s quilts abroad again but the needs locally are very great and it is a privilege to be able to provide something to cheer up these women and often with their children, who find themselves in such awful circumstances.
Thank you all so much for working so hard making the quilts. I am so grateful for all your support. In 2016 we gave away 118 quilts as well as other blankets and runners etc. !! So far this year we have provided around 30 quilts!!! So well done everyone and thank you so much to all for your generosity, your support and your hard work!!
Dot Poulsom
June 2017
