Crosswinds Church has been blessed to have a dedicated group of about 11 sewers who stitch together quilts, book bags, and feminine hygiene kits.  Sewing is done in individual homes and the group meets every other month, except for summer, to discuss goals, progress and distribute materials.  Meetings end in a prayer over the items that have been completed and for those who will receive them.    

The cotton light weight quilts go to Midwest Mission and typically are sent to warm weather areas experiencing a disaster.  We use the pattern supplied by Midwest Mission to fit the cots they provide.  It takes approximately 6 yards of material to create each quilt.  Retail cost of material per quilt is $18-20 per quilt. We created approximately 130 quilts last year.   

We also create book bags and they are distributed nationally and internationally.  We sent approximately 30 bags last year and they cost $1.50 each to make.  A school in Peru was one of the recipients of bags last year.    

A significant part of our work involves a partnership with the women of Maple Grove Rotary.  We have stitched feminine hygiene kits in the past several years that are distributed through the Days for Girls organization.  The Days for Girls organization's mission is to remove barriers to school attendance for girls.  Period poverty is a term they use that describes the struggle many women and girls face in developing countries because they lack access to safe and affordable menstrual products. This challenges their ability to participate in school and the workplace because of absenteeism, wage loss and inconsistent focus on education. Our kits have gone to school girls in Kenya, Haiti, and Nigeria in past years.  The Rotary Club provides parts of the kit, such as soap and some materials.  The portion that Crosswinds provides costs approximately $5.20 per kit.  Last year we stitched and assembled 125 kits with a cost of approximately $650. The Rotary Club works with other organizations to arrange for shipping and distribution of the kits.   

New sewers are always welcome.  We can accommodate varying skill levels.  Contributions of clean cotton or flannel material is very much appreciated with pieces that are 1/2 yard or larger preferred.  Fabric should not have animal pictures, political or patriotic designs, holiday, camouflage, or corporate logos. Funding this ongoing work is always the challenge so contributions are also appreciated.  We are grateful to all who have solicited corporate grants or have given personally.  We seek to improve the lives of those less fortunate one stitch at a time.

To donate, click the button below and choose Stitches of Love as the sub-fund.

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