Valley Girls quilters donate raffle funds to children's programs
From our weekly issue dated November 11, 2009
Willa Gustavson (left) reacts as Carol Dickson presents checks for the SMART program and to I.V. Boys & Girls Club Director Scott Thornhill. (Photo provided)
Two Illinois Valley programs that help valley children received checks for $750 each on Thursday, Nov. 5 from the Valley Girls quilters.
Carol Dickson, who chaired the 2009 quilt show, presented the checks.
They were given to Scott Thornhill, of the Illinois Valley Section of Rogue Valley Boys & Girls Club; and Willa Gustavson, of the Illinois Valley SMART (Start Making A Reader Today) program at Evergreen Elementary School, during a brief ceremony at Picket Fence Fabrics in Cave Junction.
Gustavson and Thornhill were a bit surprised at the size of the donations.
“Do you know how many books this will buy?” Gustavson said.
“This will go a long way in our program,” Thornhill observed.
The funds were raised through the raffle of a quilt created by the Valley Girls, as well as admission and silent auction sales during the group’s October quilt show. This was the group’s second annual show, and Dickson noted that the committee members had decided to use show proceeds to benefit valley children.
“We feel strongly about Cave Junction and wanted to do something for it, so we’re starting with the children,” she said.
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The donation to the I.V. Boys & Girls Club will help buy annual memberships for children, while the SMART program will use the funds to purchase books.
“The SMART program at Evergreen is the largest in Southern Oregon with over 50 active volunteers who come in each week to read to children,” Gustavson said.
More than 100 quilts, crafted by Illinois Valley quilters, were displayed during this year’s show. The raffle quilt was won by Cathy Putney of Illinois Valley.
Anyone who would like to help with the 2010 quilt show can leave their name and contact information at Picket Fence Fabrics, 379 Caves Hwy. The committee will hold its first planning meeting in January.
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