Quilters creating blankets, gathering donations for hurricane victims in North Carolina

VICTORIA, Texas - Local quilters are creating blankets and gathering donations for hurricane victims in North Carolina.

Connie Kortz, the owner of My Fabric Friends, said she recently woke up in the middle of the night with the realization she needed to organize a relief effort for victims in North Carolina.

"We had a lady come in the store last week, Linda Jean, and she just casually walked through the store and said, 'Anyone sending quilts to North Carolina?'," Kortz, 62, said. "I just kind of filed it, woke up at 2 in the morning, stone-cold awake and said, 'I have to do this.'"

Kortz said they are in need of quilters that are experienced, 'longarmers.'

"We have three machines but we do have our business quilts to quilt, so we're quilting them afterhours, so if you're a local longarmer come and pick up some tops," Kortz said. "We're asking for churches to donate also."

Quilts from other states and the region have already committed to donating items, Kortz said.

The group is also looking for a vehicle donation to help transport the quilts and donated items.

Helen Wilshere, 88, is an experienced 'longarmer' and Victoria resident.

"When you have something comfortable like a homemade quilt and know that some loving hands made that quilt and you're nice and warm, it gives a powerful feeling that you are loved," Wilshere said. "We could go and buy blankets but Connie's going to put the ones that we've put our love and our stitches and things in, our time."

To donate or learn more, you can call My Fabric Friends at 361-894-6816.

​COPYRIGHT 2024 BY CROSSROADS TODAY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.