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Wednesday, 11 June 2008 |
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By: Emily Hone BLACKFOOT — The Circle of Sharing Hands quilting group from Pingree lived up to its name once again Tuesday when members presented 14 lap quilts to the Bingham County Sheriff’s Department.
Morning News — Richard Toynton
The Circle of Sharing Hands quilt makers group from Pingree and Capt. Robert Sobieski display two of the 14 quilts the group donated Tuesday for use in patrol cars driven by sheriff’s deputies. Sobieski said the quilts most often are used to warm children in distress. Quilt makers pictured are, from left, Debbie Miles, Deonne Caldwell and Pat Durfee, who said they plan to have a quilt in each of the cars and to date have donated 22.
Member Pat Durfee said it’s their goal to have a quilt in each of the department’s patrol cars for use by the officers in emergency situations when a warm covering is needed.
“We presented eight quilts to the department some time ago,” Durfee said, “but we don’t know whether the patrol officers are aware that they’re available, so we want to make sure they know to ask for one.”
The group is always looking for homes for the quilts they spend the winter months making, Durfee said.
The quilting group that numbers 12 members got its start because the women wanted to see the fruits of their labors helping local people, she said.
Some of the members had been making quilts for the Pingree LDS Church’s Relief Society projects and were pleased that their handiwork ended up in many distant places, Durfee said, but decided one day that there surely must be people and places in Bingham County that could use them.
About six years ago member Debbie Miles was given a large quantity of material, she said, so they used it to start their Circle of Sharing Hands.
They meet at the church once a month from September through May to quilt and visit. Each one brings their favorite food and they enjoy a potluck luncheon on the day, Durfee said.
“It’s a very enjoyable thing for us to do,” she said, “and we’ve made a lot of quilts that we hope brought comfort to people.”
Some of the places they’ve donated quilts are the Aberdeen Medical Clinic, the South Eastern Idaho Community Action Agency, the Bingham Crisis Center, St. John’s Catholic Church bazaar at Pingree and Future Farmers of America.
“If we know somebody who’s been in a fire we donate to the family,” Durfee said. “We learned of several things Tuesday from Captain Sobieski to which we can donate quilts to help the sheriff’s department raise money for its projects.”
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 12 June 2008 )
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