Quilting for Bushfire Survivors

The temperature has certainly dropped - there is snow is falling at Marysville, and we need to think of the comfort of those bushfire survivors who are living in caravans and temporary accomodation with very little.

A friend of mine has been involved in making some quilts to donate to survivors. They have had fabric donations and raided their stashes and now have over 45 quilts. However now they need to raise some money in order to have them professionally quilted and get out to the survivors. So if you can help out in any way here are the details for their quilt hanging:

BUSHFIRES QUILT HANGING
Saturday 20th June 2009
11am-4.30pm

LightHouse, Ashburton
Uniting Church
7 Ashburn Grove, Ashburton

Over 40 quilts made for
Bushfire Survivors on display.
Devonshire Tea available
Gold coin donation entry. Quilt for raffle.
All proceeds towards quilting of Bushfires Quilts.

Guilt

You have probably heard about the devestating fires that have ravaged Victoria's beautiful country-side and communities. While we live in suburbia, such destruction and horrific loss of life has touched us all. I worry about friends who live in bushland areas and strangers who have lost loved-ones and possessions.

As a community the country has bonded together to try to help, but how do you really help these people. They have seen things that no-one should see, and they will never forget. At the moment they need money, and we have donated a number of different ways. I try to put myself in that position and think what I would need, then I want to give that to them, but at the moment charitable donations are more of a problem than a help.

To a point, our life needs to go on, but even the act of grocery shopping, or making a birthday present makes me feel guilty for those who have nothing, not to mention any frivoulous purchases. While reading others feelings of the fires, I found this from Fi's blog.It inspired me in ways to help longer term. The Handmade Help blog where it was posted is bringing communities together to help our fellow man. All of a sudden I knew how I could help - without being a burden. Our crafting group is full of knitters so we willg et started on some winter items - hats and scarfs, maybe even jumpers as it gets so cold in those mountains.

Talking with these girls helped me to deal with it a little better and our kinder community is underway to help other kinder communities in affected areas. Doing something, no matter how little, is much better than doing nothing.