Quilts First!

Quilt Show and Auction to Benefit First United Church Mission

We all know how donations of food, clothing and household goods are accepted daily by volunteers at First United Church, who sort and distribute these items as needed. Among the donations, volunteers will occasionally find items for which there is no immediate need - these will be put aside until their true value can be determined.

Such was the situation for a slowly growing pile of partially finished quilt projects and quilting fabrics, until Dolly Lansdowne discovered them in 2003. She brought them home to Ladner United.

Judy Appleby, an experienced quilter, inspired others and taught many the joys of quilting. With her coaching and vision, Ladner United quilters finished the UFO's (UnFinished Objects) and created new quilts from the fabrics donated by unknown benefactors and their own stashes. Eighteen bed quilts, baby quilts and wallhangings were completed in time for the Quilts First! Show and Auction held on October 22 and 23, 2004 at Ladner United.

Quilters weren't the only people who helped out for the Quilts First! event. Many thanks are due to Rev. Jim Short, for his unwavering enthusiasm and support and to the many volunteers. In addition to the quilters, participants included those who allowed their treasured quilts to be on display so beautifully in the sanctuary; stitchers who made and sewed the labels on the auctioned quilts; a researcher who named the quilts and provided accompanying bible verses which created lasting images in all our hearts; a webmaster; a public relations co-ordinator; a preview show and Silent Auction/Rummage Table organizer, the Youth co-ordinator and Youth Group, bakers and hosts of the Tea Room and all of the volunteers who helped out during the show, setting and cleaning up, as docents, cashiers and runners.

The show and auction provided a wonderful opportunity for the congregation to socialize amongst themselves and with people from the community, who came to view, admire and to buy. Quilts and their stories filled Ladner United with a taste of the past, present and the future. As people admired the treasured quilts they learned their stories - who they belonged to, who quilted them and whether they had a life of joy, of sorrow or of comfort - the fabric of life.

With the amazing auctioneering talent of Ian Paton Sr., of I. Paton & Sons Associates and the efforts of all of the volunteers, a cheque for $4373.60 was given to First United to help the homeless and hungry of the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver, BC.