While enjoying fellowship with one another, The Quilters express their gratitude for God's love through sharing the warmth and comfort of their beautiful patchwork creations with those who are less fortunate.

The quilts have come to RIS via Barbara Smith of Commonwealth Catholic Charities' Adoptions program. Barbara goes way back in connecting with refugees. She has been a foster parent of unaccompanied refugee minors. Furthermore, Barbara goes back to the very beginning of Redeemer's quilt ministry. She founded it in the 1980s. No longer part of group, she now has the privilege of delivering the quilts. The adoption program Barbara works for happens to be an RIS neighbor: it's located in the same building and on the same floor as RIS's Richmond office.

Currently under the able leadership of Amelia Brondos, the quilt ministry is one of Redeemer's outreach ministries that serves people right here in the Richmond community. Quilts have gone to the Rosie Grier House, to Freedom House and to the YWCA Women's Shelter. Each year through the Chesterfield County Department of Social Services Christmas Mother Program, The Quilters ministry provides at least ten quilts to local families.

Beyond the boundaries of Virginia, a dozen quilts have journeyed to Louisiana. In 2008 one quilt was delivered personally by Barbara Smith when she served on a mission trip to post-Katrina New Orleans. She took a quilt as her bedding for her stay in the shelter for volunteers, and then made a gift of it to a family before leaving New Orleans. A fellow volunteer surprised Barbara by recognizing their Redeemer connection -- she had donated the fabric used to make the quilt.

Carol McElhinney is Richmond Regional Director,
Refugee and Immigration Services