When Marilyn Seidenberg moved into Avila Independent Retirement Community she had one hobby in mind, to start a quilting club.
“I put a sign in the mailroom and I said, if anybody quilts, I’d like to start quilting, and I would deliver little gift bags to people’s doorknobs. Bribes, I’m sorry – coerce, we call it,” says Seidenberg.
Her efforts were successful. She and other women in Avila began quilting earlier this year. They meet twice a week, use sewing machines placed on a large ping-pong table, and when they aren’t too busy, laugh and gossip.
“Unless you have a doctor’s appointment that’s critical, everybody comes,” says Seidenberg.
Besides the weekly laughs, there is a purpose to all the quilting. Each item goes to Project Linus, which in turn, makes sure the quilts go to children in need, whether they’re in hospitals or fleeing domestic violence.
“Every item we produce is going to charity. Somebody will benefit from our efforts,” says Mary Ellen Bendick, who quilts as part of the group.
So far, the group has made about 80 quilts in less than a year. It’s an impressive number and gives kids something they can finally call their own.
“I just can’t even believe that they have come up with such beautiful patterns and every one is different and they have used scraps and they have used larger pieces and everything is just so beautiful,” says JoAnne Marcario, Project Linus chapter coordinator for Albany and Rensselaer counties.
Project Linus is supported by volunteers like the women at Avila. For more information on your local chapter, visit the organization’s website.
