A mission to ‘bring happiness to somebody’ when they need it most
Effort unites members of Tinley Park, Frankfort churches in quilting
A few days before Thanksgiving, a group of women from Trinity Lutheran Church in Tinley Park traveled to Good Shepherd Church in Frankfort bearing gifts.
“All of us are so blessed, especially now at Thanksgiving, to be able to share the blessings with other people that don’t have as much as we do,” said Irma Mohler, a member of the Trinity group.
The Trinity women delivered 12 handmade quilts to Good Shepherd members Joel and Lori Powless, of Frankfort, who also are part of the Lutheran Early Response Team, which will get the quilts to people who have been affected by disasters.
Linda Burns, of Oak Forest, the president of Trinity’s Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League, said besides making quilts, she and her colleagues have been making crafts they use to make sure more vulnerable community members are not forgotten, as well as creating baptismal gifts and confirmation gifts for parishioners. The quilts were a new effort, spurred by member Marilyn Pringle, of Tinley Park.
“Donations of material came from Trinity’s congregation and everything fell into place,” Burns said. “I would hope if I ever suffered like people have gone through when the hurricanes hit, that someone would come help.”
So her group turned that donated material into quilts as a way to help others.
“Each one of these ladies have a unique and different talent,” Burns said. “God has given them the opportunity to put the talents together to make these quilts and bring happiness to somebody.”
As they handed over the quilts to the Powlesses, each member of the Trinity group gave Joel and Lori a hug.
The Powlesses have been involved with the Lutheran Early Response Team for four years, but “I’ve liked to help with disaster response on my own for years,” Joel said, describing cleanup efforts after tornadoes in Wisconsin and a hurricane in the Florida panhandle.
At the Florida deployment, he began cutting downed trees into the shape of a cross.
“I was surprised how it affected the people,” he said. “For me it’s only a 20-minute project; for them this tree trunk carved into a cross gave them hope.”
Similarly, he was excited to be able to deliver quilts when people are in need.
“Cutting a tree is one thing, but giving something like this quilt shows you care,” he said.
Each member of the Trinity group had a role in creating the quilts.
“It takes a village,” Pringle said.
Sally Przybyla, of Oak Forest, who helped complete the quilts by sewing on the batting, said each donated quilt was different, all with a kaleidoscope of colors and a mixture of patterns.
“I couldn’t begin to tell you the hours,” Przybyla said. “Some quilts you can get done really quick, some take a lot longer.”
The quilts will go to people who need them, whether in large-scale disasters, or smaller, more personal situations.
“The quilts for the children are my favorite,” Pringle said. “If it’s an abusive home and a woman has to leave with her children with nothing but the clothes on her back, these quilts donated to a shelter will make a difference. These are something that the kids can hug.
“Making these quilts comes from your heart. You know there are people out there that are in need and we’re able to meet that need, that’s what God wants us to do.”
Mohler, of Plainfield, had never tried quilting before and said she was talked into participating.
“It’s been an experience and a challenge,” she said, noting she is planning to make more.
Donna Blatt, of Tinley Park, who cut the fabric strips for the quilts, enjoyed the socializing and bonding with her fellow quilters.
For Pringle, the chance to help people in need is its own reward.
“People who are in dire straits after a tragedy have nothing,” she said. “I do believe things like this touches people’s hearts.”
The group plans to continue making quilts to donate to people involved with tragedies such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and to women and children in shelters.
“I’m going to enjoy making these quilts even more because now we know where they are going to,” Przybyla said after meeting the Powlesses.
As Lori Powless was tucking the quilts away awaiting their next disaster response, she said she was glad for the opportunity to help out.
“You don’t wish for anyone to suffer in any way but what a wonderful way to be that person to give them joy in their moment of darkness,” she said.
More than just a transfer of quilts, the meeting brought members of two churches together in a shared mission to help others.
“This project is like the quilts we made, where all the pieces come together and fit just perfectly,” Burns said.