Kaw Valley Kindness Projects
Our History
WarmKids―our outreach to provide quilts for children in our community―began in the fall of 2011. That year we found ourselves with too many quilts for Headstart kids, our longtime recipient of children’s quilts. Child care workers at First Step, DCCCA’s program for women battling alcoholism, asked for quilts for children staying at their facility with their mothers. We also delivered quilts to Lawrence Homeless Shelter kids that Christmas.
Since then, we have donated quilts to First Step, Pieces for Pediatrics at Lawrence Memorial Hospital, Family Promise, The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Center, The Willow Domestic Violence Center, CASA of Douglas County, and Lawrence public schools.
In 2024, KVQG members have donated 687 quilts across 8 charities. All materials and time for this program are donated by our members.
For more information about these program, contact: Marilyn Harp at harpm6@gmail.com
Sarah Chappell and Marilyn Harp delivering 76 quilts to Head Start director Cassandra Mayhugh
Salvation Army Doll Quilts
An additional project begun in 2016-17 is making doll quilts for the Salvation Army to give with every doll given for Christmas.
Kaw Valley Guild quilters have continued to make doll quilts since that first year. Typically, the guild donates about 200 doll quilts each year for the Salvation Army Christmas giveaway.
For more information about this program contact: Robin Joseph, robinpj17@gmail.com
Salvation Army Lap Quilts
Often known as “granny quilts”, this project allows Salvation Army to give a gift of love to those in need. This includes fire victims and seniors.
Silent Auction
At each KVQG Quilt Show a silent auction is held for donations made by guild members. Money raised goes to several local charities. In 2024 our charities were:
Douglas County CASA utilizes community volunteers to act as advocates for children who have been abused or neglected and are under the protection of the juvenile court.
The Sexual Trauma and Abuse Care Center provides 24-hour comprehensive advocacy and support services for child and adult victim-survivors of sexual violence.
Kaw Valley Quilters’ Guild, an educational, non-profit organization with the purpose of stimulating an interest in quilts and promoting and advancing the knowledge of quilting in all its forms.
Lawrence Habitat for Humanity builds homes for deserving families in Douglas and Jefferson Counties.
Lawrence Humane Society provides shelter, care, and advocacy to stray, homeless, and abused animals and nurtures the human-animal bond.
Social Service League serves low income residents of Lawrence. Auction proceeds go to the League’s program to provide eye exams and glasses for Lawrence school children and eye glasses for adults.
Willow Domestic Violence Center provides housing and support services for domestic violence survivors in Douglas County.
Just Food operates a food pantry in Lawrence, serving 300-600 people a day, along with supporting food distribution to 30 partner organizations.
O’Connell Children’s Shelter, Inc.
The goal of foster care is to provide children with a safe, nurturing environment while
their parents improve their ability to care for their children, remove any threats to the child’s safety and well-being from the environment; and ultimately reunite with their children.
The O'Connell Children’s Shelter (formerly called the O’Connell Youth Ranch) invites each new resident to choose a quilt from those the guild members have donated. The shelter receives as many as 80 new residents each year. Some stay for a short time and others for a more extended time.
Quilts for O'Connell residents should be lap size (approximately 50”x 60" or even larger – think tall teens!), appeal to 10-18 year-olds (mostly males), be quilted (not tied),and washed.
Diane Nielsen (dnielsen@ku.edu) is the contact with O’Connell.
CASA Foster Care Children
CASA supports community volunteers who help children living in foster care navigate issues. These volunteers get to know the children and share that information with the adults, including Judges and Social Workers, who are making the decisions about these children. The quilts provide a way for the volunteer and agency staff to provide a special gift of love to the child facing a change in living circumstances.
Ballard Center Kindness Projects
The Ballard Community Center gives one to Pre-K graduates moving on to kindergarten at a ceremony in early August each year. They have 14-18 graduates expected in 2025.
The quilts for the Ballard graduates can be smaller, e.g. approximately 40"x40", appeal to a 5-year-old, be quilted, (not tied) and washed. Diane Nielsen (dnielsen@ku.edu) is the guild’s contact with Ballard Center.
Marla’s Pieces for LHM Kids
In 2024, KVQG adopted Marla's Pieces For LMH Kids. This project was initially championed by Marla Welch having now gifted a quilt to every child who leaves Lawrence Memorial Hospital. This includes infants (not newborns) to adolescents. A supply of quilts is available to LMH nurses who make the distribution decision.
Marla's Pieces for LMH Kids = Infant and NICU quilts are best at 36 x 36, with a flannel side. Toddler quilts (the most needed) are best at 40 x 40, with no restrictions other than they are machine quilted. Other children are best served with quilts at least 40 x 50.
Notes
More boys need quilts than girls, so consider that when picking a design.
No invisible thread, as it can untangle and get caught in tiny fingers.
No 100% polyester batting (80/20 is fine).
Head Start Nap Mats
Guild members make a nap mat for each Head Start child in Lawrence. This support is provided to a program that is housed at Plymouth Congregational Church, where the guild meets. These mats are used by children in the group program and the in-home Head Start program.
Head Start Nap Mats should be 42 x 42 inches, althoudgh a little bigger is accepted. These quilts must be flannel-backed and must have NO batting. (These requirements allow for easy cleaning and quick drying.) They must be machine quilted.
The contact for Head Start Nap Mats is Sarah Chappel (bigchap@sunflower.com).
Family Promise
Homeless families in Lawrence provide transitional housing for homeless families. Shared quilts are given to families as they exit the program moving to their own housing. In 2024, Family Promise opened their own shelter. KVQG shared quilts are in use in that shelter as well to welcome families to their new temporary homes.
No restrictions on quilt size or design.
100 Good Women
This community project gets requests from agencies to meet needs of families. Beds are frequent request. KVQG shared quilts can go with new beds and bedding provided by 100 Good Women.
No restrictions on the type or size of quilts.