Dorcas Quilts Newsletter November 2021

2020

It has been a long time since I wrote the last newsletter. Such a lot has happened in all of our lives since then. I hope that throughout the pandemic you and your families have all kept well.

Although it has been slow to distribute the quilts abroad during lockdown the quilt making has helped a lot of us to stay focused. One or two have told me just recently how making the quilts helped then to keep going through lockdown and quite a few of us were able to get some of those ‘waiting to get done’ quilts finished at last! So we have between us produced many quilts and knitted and crocheted items.

Zimbabwe

To have this number of quilts in stock so we were able, amazingly, able to send 68 quilts and 2 boxes full of knitted blankets and children’s clothes to Zimbabwe. Dame Helen Hyde, our contact, said that the ‘need out there was dire’ and she was very grateful for our support.

Families in Crisis

In 2020, we were also able to give 14 quilts to our local charity Families in Crisis. They support and provide for women who have been subject to domestic abuse and violence. During lockdown sadly there has been a huge increase in cases and so the quilts were very gratefully received. It is so good to be able to help out in a small way. Thank you for your hard work.

We were also able to donate a lot of your knitted baby clothes to this charity. Thank you for all those of you who have started to knit for Dorcas.

2021

Isle of Wight

We sent just two quilts to the house in Ryde. The house is part of a charity called ‘Hope in action. This charity seeks to help women who have been sleeping rough on the streets and are homeless. The hope is that given a place to call home they will be able to get jobs and not have to be homeless anymore. The house therefore offers them accommodation and support. Both ladies were thrilled with their quilts. One said that her aunt had made quilts for all the family and she always hoped she would get one but never did so was very happy to receive one for herself at last.

Sadly our contact died tragically a few months after we had sent the quilts so there may not be any possibility of helping with this work in the future.

Israel

We sent 26 quilts out to Jerusalem in June of this year with the Olive Grove Project. This will probably be the last time we send out to Israel as the work there is being curtailed. I would like to thank Isolde Quayle in Bedford, who has provided all the fabric for this project. She has also donated to Dorcas all her own fabric as now due to ill health she has had to give up her sewing. Thank you especially to you, Isolde, for all the many boxes of fabric you have so generously donated.

London

Ella’s, which used to be called Ella’s home, have now purchased two more houses. We furnished the first with quilts and we have sent three more for the second home as well as three baby quilts. Ella’s was set up to help girls who have been caught up in the sex trade. We are hoping to send five more in the next few weeks for the third house.

Zimbabwe/Kenya

In September of this year we sent 50 children’s quilts to Zimbabwe as well as four boxes of knitted blankets and clothes. However we were not permitted to send the shipment so they are now going, in the next few weeks, to a Masai village in Kenya. It is so exciting to be able to send again to Kenya after so long and to a new location.

Below is a photo of all your quilts and knitted items which are now going to Kenya.

Families in Crisis

We have already donated 6 quilt but in the next few weeks we are hoping to send some more.

Dorcas and the future

Although Covid has hindered much of our overseas work it is incredible that we have sent over 100 quilts abroad as well as donating to some charities here in the UK.

We are still hoping to send both children’s and adult quilts to locations around the world as we are able but there is also a growing demand for quilts here in the UK. Please continue with your good work!

Thank you again for all your interest and support, it is only because of you and your hard work that Dorcas can continue to help children and adults who are in great need. Thank you all so much.