News : Bethlehem Lutheran quilters send 73, quilts, hundreds of other items, to LWR

Bethlehem Lutheran quilters shipped 73 quilts, other items for those in need around the world.

The quilters of Bethlehem Lutheran Church recently shipped the products of their labors to Lutheran World Relief (LWR) for distribution where there is need around the world. This shipment included 73 quilts. LWR says that a quilt is not only useful for bedding and warmth but can be:

* a baby carrier, tied around a mother’s back;

* a market display, spread on the ground and piled with vegetables;

* a sack for transporting those goods to market;

* a sunshade;

* a shawl; and most importantly

* a constant reminder that someone, far away, cares a lot.

In addition the quilters assembled and sent 16 fabric kits, 141 baby layettes, and 152 health kits. They also gave during the year quilts to auctions for Lutheran Lakeside and EWALU camps, those in need (most recently two to LuAnn Urlaub’s sister who lost her home in a wildfire in North Dakota), and other causes.

Lutheran World Relief has set a goal of 500,000 quilts in 2013. LWR began after World War II as Lutheran in America sought to give aid to their relatives in Scandanavia and Germany. It now works around the world and is supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

A few of the many Bethlehem quilters are pictured left to right: Joan Lindahl, Cheryl Kelley, Doris Gosse, Mona Hanson, Helen Burmeister, Marva Hanna.