Mount Olivet Lutheran Quilters gift homemade quilts 

Marvin from Royal Oaks

The Mount Olivet Lutheran Quilters is a group of women who love to make quilts and help those in need. Its 14 members make 12-20 quilts each month. Each 60” x 80” mission quilt takes approximately 10-15 woman hours to complete. “Over the past 27 years, we have made about 2,300 quilts,” says Nancy Vande Vegte, who helps lead the group. “More than 900 have gone to Lutheran World Relief to be distributed to those in need around the world. It’s a calling for us to be able to do this.” The Quilters also donate quilts to local nonprofits including Hammer & NER.

Heather from Royal Oaks

One of the Quilters, Vonnie, just happens to have a daughter who has been supported by Hammer & NER for years. “It all started when Vonnie asked if we would donate a quilt to raffle at the Hammer summer picnic for families of residents,” Nancy says. “We like to donate locally, especially where there is a connection. We know Hammer & NER does such wonderful work.” The Quilters have provided 150 quilts since 2012 which are then distributed to our homes. “We like to make quilts based on the individual’s favorite color or interests,” says Nancy.

Ellen and Anna

Hammer & NER’s Chief Development Officer, Ellen Timmerman-Borer, has been the contact with the Quilters for many years. “One year I went to Mount Olivet to pick up the quilts and the entire church was covered in quilts,” Ellen says. “Each pew was warmed by the multi-colored quilts. It was an incredible sight to experience. Since then, each year when the quilts arrive, I remember that feeling and feel a sense of warmth and gratitude toward the quilters, Mount Olivet church, and all the goodness in the world.”

Stacy from Ives Lane

Anna Schmid is Hammer & NER’s Fundraising and Database Specialist and is helping distribute the quilts to the people we support. “It is evident that the generosity of the quilting club warms the hearts of the Program Managers and the individuals we support,” Anna says. “One of the managers shared that someone they support loves horses. The batch of quilts that Nancy brought just so happened to have a quilt with a horse-patterned fabric! It’s been wonderful to see the impact being made through the smiling faces of everyone holding their new quilts.”

Missy from County Road F

The Quilters recently held a quilt sale and silent auction of vintage quilts, new long-armed quilts, baby quilts, mission quilts, table runners, and kitchen items. Proceeds are used to purchase batting as well as to pay for shipping of quilts worldwide by Lutheran World Relief.

(The Mount Olivet Lutheran Quilters are shown in the photo above with a sampling of their quilts.)