Sheila Baker was making a delivery when she heard the news.
When she showed up last week to drop off some small quilts for children served by CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), she was told the Comfort Quilts group she is part of had been chosen for a new award presented by CASA.
“I was very surprised,” she said.
The quilt group makes a variety of types and sizes of quilts to communicate caring to people in challenging situations.
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“Whatever they need is what we try to supply,” Baker said.
Larger quilts are bed spreads for youths at TRU Harbor in New Castle, which serves youth who’ve been victims of human trafficking. Smaller quilts are easily portable for local foster children who receive Journey Bags with clothes and toiletries inside. That size of quilt is also suitable for children served by CASA.
CASA decided to award its first Judge Terry K. Snow Child Advocate Award to Comfort Quilts of Hancock County. The award, which CASA hopes to present annually, is given for outstanding service, leadership and dedication to children in Hancock County.
“This New Palestine group has provided beautiful quilts to Hancock County children who have been removed from their home because of abuse and/or neglect,” CASA leaders said in a release. The advocates deliver quilts to the children they represent, and “the children get much comfort from these quilts,” the release said.
The group, which in the past has met at Cross of Grace Lutheran Church in New Palestine, includes people like Baker who are part of the congregation and others who are not. Amid COVID-19 social distancing, the work of quilting has continued on a more individual basis in members’ homes.
Sheryl Gray is director of hospitality for Brianna’s Hope Greenfield and Riley Friends Church. She was thrilled when Comfort Quilts offered quilts to Brianna’s Hope, a faith-based support and addiction recovery program.
“Each time I spoke with Sheila she was full of warmth, joy and compassion,” Gray wrote in an email to the Daily Reporter. “There is a tag sewn into each quilt that states ‘God’s work through our hands.’ There is no truer statement than that of these quilts. You can see and feel the love and prayers that are put into each one.”
Baker hopes quilt recipients can feel that love.
“They’re just meant to be little blankies for whoever,” she said. “It’s just to bring them comfort and let them know there’s people out there who care.”
