Charity Quilt Block Challenge - Call for Action

I'm happy to announce a Charity Quilt block Challenge.  You may recall prior posts where I was looking for charities that could benefit by receipt of quilt blocks, quilt tops and/or finished quilts that would be donated through a challenge.  The criteria has been  that the charity must have a track record to show that have the ability to complete donated blocks and tops, as well as donate finished quilts to a good cause, as well has have a non-profit status.

A few followers contacted me to recommend various charity programs, of which I hope to hold subsequent Charity Quilt block challenges to help a variety of charity programs that have been recommend.  Based on previous input,  this first Quilt Block Challenge is focused on benefiting Quilts of Valor (QOV).

The QOV Foundation is a non-profit organization that touches the lives of many wounded soilders and veterans by giving them a warm thank you for their service, and giving them a patriotic quilt.  As of February 2011, there have been over 37,000 quilts awarded to service members and veterans.  Sadly, many more quilts are needed, but I'm hopeful, with your help, this challenge will help with this worthy QOV objective.

This Charity Quilt block Challenge has many ways you can help. 

• While you need not have an AccuQuilt product, for those of you that have one this is a great challenge to encourage you to play with creating a variety of  12.5" blocks with dies that you have. But anyone can create any type of block (pieced, applique, string, etc.) that is 12.5" (12" finished) so long as it is made with 1/4" seams, 100% cotton fabrics, and uses patriotic colors appropriate for QOV.  For every block you will be entered in the giveaway!
• Patriotic quilt tops and/or finished quilts are also accepted and a formula will be applied to credit you for the giveaway for this event.  To clarify, your quilt top need not be made with blocks that are 12" finished (any size is ok).
• Your blocks, quilt tops and/or finish quilts need to be completed and mailed no later than June 20th (extended to June 25th).  While there are many wonderful branches of QOV, the particular group that will benefit from this challenge is one that some of you may know via Facebook.  Dick and Tink Linhart are very passionate about QOV, active coordinators, and always share insights on Facebook about their wonderful QOV group.   They came forward early to volunteer to be recipients of this challenge and I'm confident they will be able to complete any and all blocks and quilt tops, in a timely manner and coordinate getting completed quilts to wounded soldiers and veterans.

Please mail your quilt blocks, quilt tops and finished quilts for this challenge to:

Quilts of Valor
c/o Dick Linhart
333 W. Brown Deer Rd. #130
Milwaukee, WI 53217

For those that want to be entered in the giveaway for this challenge, we ask that you take time to pin a paper label to each quilt block, quilt top or finished quilt.  It is VERY helpful to have the name, and city/state of the block piecer for the label. For purposes of the giveaway, it is also helpful to have your email address (and, if appropriate, your blog address).

Dick and Tink Linhart want to increase awareness that even if it takes 20 blocks, created by 20 piecers, to create a top, it is wonderful to include the piecers' names with city/state on the label for the recipient. Each QOV is labeled on the quilt back for presentation.  Thus, tagging your blocks, tops and finished quilts are important.

Sponsors for this Charity Quilt Block Challenge are:

Prizes for this challenge will be given away on July 4th.  Tink Linhart will randomly be selecting winners and notify SewCalGal, who will announce the respective winners and prizes.  The more entries the better your chances are of winning one of these great prizes:

• GO! Baby donated by AccuQuilt

• "Radiant Star Quilt Book, 2nd Edition", book by Quilt in a Day 

• "Simple Graces: Charming Quilts and Companion Projects", published by Martingale & Company, home of That Patchwork Place.

To officially enter this challenge:
1) Leave a comment on this post and let me know you are taking up this call to action and will be helping to make quilt blocks, tops or finish quilts to help QOV in their quest to give quilts to wounded soldiers and/or veterans
2) Send your 12.5" patriotic quilt blocks, quilt tops or finished quilts to Dick Linhart (address provided above).  Be sure each quilt block, quilt top, or finished quilt has a tag on it to show your name, email (and blog if appropriate).  Minimum size for tops/finished quilts is 55" x 65".

For quilt tops use the following formula to calculate your entries and tag your quilt top as appropriate:
- measure the width and height of your quilt top in inches and calculate the total of width * height.  Divide the total number by 144 and times this number by 1.5 to get the number of equivalent quilt block entries that you should claim when you enter. 
example:  If your quilt top is 64"x64" your total number is 4,096 / 144 = 28.  Calculate your official entry as 28 * 1.5 = 42 entries

For finished quilts use the following formula to calculate your entries and tag your finished quilt as appropriate.
- measure the width and height of your quilt top in inches and calculate the total of width * height. Divide the total number by 144 and times this number by 3 to get the number of equivalent quilt block entries that you should claim when you enter.

example: If your quilt top is 64"x64" your total number is 4,096 / 144 = 28. Calculate your official entry as 28 *3 = 85 entries


If you have any questions email SewCalGal.

For those that are passionate about helping others and have the ability to give a shout out about this challenge on your blog, Facebook and/or twitter, please know I appreciate your help very much.  Likewise, I appreciate the help of everyone that can take time to help with this challenge to benefit QOV.  Whether you can make one block, a quilt top, or finish a quilt, you will be helping to make a difference in the lives of those that have served to protect.

 
 
 
For more information on QOV, as well as free patterns, visit their site:  http://www.qovf.org/

In Fall 2011 the Charity Quilt Block Challenge #2 will be held to benefit Margaret's Hope Chest.  More information on this challenge will be announced in August. 

As previously mentioned, I would like to compile a list of charity programs that would like to be recipients of future Charity Quilt Block Challenges.  Again, my criteria is that they have a large enough volunteer base to complete blocks and tops, a proven track record of donating quilts to a good cause, and have achieved non-profit status.  Also, direct contact with the liason of this group also helps to expedite getting them in line for being such a recipient.  E.G. just giving me a contact lead is a much slower process than someone who has asked the lead to contact me directly.  Lastly, if you are interested in being a sponsor of any of these future Charity Quilt Block Challenges please contact me ASAP to secure a space.

Remember, making a difference starts with you and a itty bit of fabric and thread!