I can't believe that it has been just a little over 3 months since the tornadoes swept through Alabama. On the one hand, it seems like it just happened yesterday. On the other hand, so much has happened since then, that it seems like it has been much longer than 3 months.
Many of you have asked about the status of the Bama Bound Quilts project. Some have expressed concern about how long the qifting process has taken. I hope that this post helps answer some of the questions you may have.
I wanted everyone to know a little about the mechanics of the gifting process and where we are in that process. When a quilt comes in for gifting, I document it with photographs and on paper. Each quilt is photographed. It is then given a title and number. A log sheet is created with the name, number, quilter's name and address, state represented, description of the quilt and its measurements. I check to make sure that the quilts are clean, in good shape and meet the project requirements. Once photographed and logged, the quilts are packaged together for delivery.
I made a promise when I started this group that I would try to make sure that each quilt entrusted to me was personally placed in the hands of a child (or his/her parents) affected by the tornadoes. In order to keep this promise, each quilt must be given to the recipient and their name, age, gender, and address logged. Each child is photographed with his/her quilt. Parents must sign that they received the quilt and give permission to use the photos on the blog, facebook, etc.
Please keep in mind that I am the only one photographing, logging and packaging the quilts. While I could quickly prepare and gift small numbers of quilts, it has taken some time to gather and prepare the quilts for the Rosedale mass gifting. I do have help delivering the Rosedale quilts. Debra, the quilt angel, has identified the Rosedale kids, located where they have been displaced to, and mapped a delivery route. Twenty-four of the 45 Rosedale quilts will be in Debra's capable hands tomorrow. She will then deliver them while I complete logging and packaging the rest.
Please keep in mind that this entire process has taken some time for the Rosedale kids, particularly since we did not have all the quilts we needed until mid-July, and they had to be gifted as a group. All the Rosedale quilts should be gifted by the end of the month.
I will post photos as soon as possible. Be sure to check our facebook page for updates.
Michelle
You're doing a great job, Michelle. The logistics of this type of mercy mission are enormous and hard for people who've never worked behind the lines to imagine. To put Bama Bound in perspective, quilts are still being collected, organized, and delivered for the Japan victims who were hit prior to the Alabama tornado tragedy. You're doing great work!
ReplyDeleteYes, you are doing a wonderful job, Michelle. Thank you for taking the time out of what already must be a busy life to do this for the affected families and children. And thanks go out to Debra also, for locating and identifying those who could use a colorful cotton hug! It is people like both of you (and all the participating quilters), who see a need and take action, which makes this world a better place!
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