We Still Need YOU!!

I have to say thank you, thank you and a huge thank you to each and everyone of you who have so far stepped up to help the victims, families and first responders of the Aurora Tragedy that happened on July 20, 2012. Please do not let this cause or the tragedy be buried under all the political ads and debates going on right now, we need to finish this race!

At this time, we have met our goal to completely wrap the Aurora Communications Center in quilts, each and every 83 dispatchers received a quilt or beautiful afghan and they came from far away places such as Canada, Scotland and the United Kingdom.

There were 3 extras and they were sent to victims advocates and will go to 3 of the 59 surviving victims that were wounded and that still leaves 56 more quilts to go. Well, 55 if you count the one I am currently working on.  Please, if you have an extra quilt laying around that you made and just didn't know what to do with, pass it along and bless these people.

We have 12 people that lost their lives, they were fathers, brothers, sisters, daughters, military members, husbands and so much more.  With those that lost their lives, there are family members grieving and we are making quilts for the 12 families....we have already had 5 people step up and take on one of those families and that still leaves us 7 families to go with 13 quilts as we want to ensure we give one to immediate family members such as a wife and set of parents, or mom and a dad who might have been divorced.

Would you be willing to take a chance and step up?  The quilts for the victims need only be a bit larger than lap sized and as simple of elaborate as you would like them to be.  The ones for families need to be more for that particular family and I ask you contact me if you would like to take on this special challenge so I can make sure each family receives a quilt and NO ONE is forgotten.

Then, there are the remaining emergency first responders and the police department has stated anything they receive they will pay forward and pass along to someone in need. The fire department is collecting for their members that responded.  Perhaps you have a family member in this field and want to make one for them.

The holidays are coming quickly and I get that you have things to do for your families, but perhaps each year you pick someone different to help, won't you reach out and help Aurora?  Won't you reach out and help us complete this race we started?

Don't quilt?  That is fine, if you can knit or crochet a blanket, we would love you to be a part of this!

I must thank the few that stepped up and said, we can't quilt, knit or crochet but we can help and sent me checks to be used where we needed it the most. Not all quilters could afford fabric or postage but wanted to get involved so that money helped them help others.

One group out of California has mailed off so many quilts I think I have lost track but I do believe it is well over 50, now how is that for amazing team work?  It makes me feel bad that I have only been able to send in less than 8 but working on 9 and 10.

I am NOT asking you to make 2,5,10 or 50, but I am asking you to reach out and give of your time and fabric, open that stash box and make a quilt for someone that you will never meet, someone that will always remember your kindness and help them to know how loved and cared for they are by the quilting community, how much we can't change what happened, but we can at least give them a gentle hug!

The Facebook page is still up and running:
Our facebook page is:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Aurora-Colorado-Emergency-Responder-Quilts/401592493230782

Maybe you don't have Facebook, but you have a blog, help us get the word out.  Maybe you have Facebook but no time, you can still head over like us and post about us to get the word out.  I am only one person and I have reached out to any group I could find on FB, Twitter, locally and even driven to other areas to ask for help.  Won't you get involved?
 

The address to Aurora is:
Victim Services
c/o Carole O’Shea
15001 E. Alameda Pkwy
Aurora, CO 80012

Thank you!