Glenna Reeves

Desert Threads celebrates three things in October. Our program will provide a full report of all the projects we have completed this year for our charity outreach to serve our communities in the East Valley, presented by Yvonne Cozart and Kathy Norton, who have both worked very hard all year coordinating all our member workers with their quilting skills and giving hearts. October is Desert Threads one-year anniversary! Another reason to celebrate!

However, top billing goes to the Cottonwood Palo Verde Foundation, as they presented to Desert Threads a grant for $2,100 to help us with our start-up costs and provide funds for all our charity outreach programs. The president of the foundation, Richard Hawkes, presented a check to the Arizona Quilters Guild President, Charyl Garman, and Linda Piasecki, treasurer, for Arizona Quilters Guild, as well as Sue Bart, president of Desert Threads, a chapter of the Arizona Quilters Guild.

The Cottonwood Palo Verde Foundation is an organization located in Sun Lakes that provides financial assistance to many organizations in Sun Lakes and surrounding neighborhoods who service Sun Lakes residents and neighborhoods close to us. They have their annual fundraiser, the Fun Walk, next month on Saturday, Nov. 2. Time is running out. Sign up today for the Friday night party and the walk on Saturday morning.

Yvonne and Kathy presented the 21 quilts we have completed this year for Arizona veterans in Phoenix. These quilts will help these vets and their family transition from temporary housing to a permanent home in the Valley. This is just one of the charities we have sponsored so far this year. We also provided Neighbors Who Care with placemats at Christmas time and fidget quilts for Alzheimer’s patients. The fidget quilts can also be made into books for children, and we are also making a number of those for patients at the Laurens Institute for Education, many afflicted with autism. Our members have been very busy making quilts and other projects to give to many in our community. We are very proud of their efforts and giving. All the fabrics have been donated by residents in Sun Lakes and surrounding areas. Now we will have the funds to purchase the many things that have not been donated. Thank you for all donations.

The last thing on the agenda was our one-year anniversary! We all celebrated with coffee and cake and had a great day! Our first meeting was October of last year, and we received our certification from Arizona Quilters Guild the first week of November. We are inspired and ready for another great year! Come join us. For information, send us an email to [email protected].