Rojohn and Merilee Rieta's Family Blog: Quilts for Comfort

Last year our Ward Council spent a great deal of time creating our Ward Mission Plan. Each auxiliary was supposed to come up with a specific goal that they would meet during 2010. Our Relief Society goal was to sponsor a large event that we could INVITE our community to. After much pondering and prayer, our Relief Society presidency came up with a Quilts for Comfort event to meet our Ward Mission Plan goal. It has been truly amazing to see the Lord’s hand guiding us along the way as we worked hard to pull everything together. Our Relief Society president, Jeanne Wuehler (can you find her among the quilts pictured above), did a phenomenal job organizing our Relief Society sisters in to committees so we could all play a part in the accomplishment of our goal. Our 1st counselor, Amber Tapia, and secretary, Lisa Potter, headed up the Publicity Committee and did a fantastic job getting the word out with notices in our local paper and printing up lovely fliers that each of the sisters were supposed to deliver to friends and neighbors. They had fliers put up in local libraries, fabric stores, etc. We also got the word out to all the other Relief Societies in our stake and were very grateful for their support in getting the word out and donating some of their quilts and sewing machines for our event. Jeanne Wuehler and our Compassionate Service Leader, Sandie Samuels, headed up the Set Up Crew. Setting up took ALL day yesterday as we had to fill the Primary Room with quilting frames for all the baby quilts we were going to tie and then donate to Highland Hospital, set up everything for the free quilting classes to be taught, put up all the signs directing people to the various areas for the event and put up over 100 quilts for display. It was a monumental task, but well worth the effort as we had over 100 people show up for our Quilts for Comfort Event today. Many people commented that it was one of the best quilting displays they’d ever seen.:)

Our YW president, Kaylene Myers, was in charge of our Refreshments Committee. SO many of our wonderful sisters pulled through with yummy refreshments that we’re going to have a Linger Longer after church tomorrow to finish off all the leftovers. Kaylene is joined in this picture by Briana Tapia and Jennifer Wuehler.

We had the refreshments set up in the patio area in front of our chapel, so that we could keep all the food outside and away from the quilts. Lots of people took advantage of the yummy food and enjoyed some good mingling in the refreshment area.

We had Joann Silver and Ginny Wakefield stationed at the Front Desk inside the foyer to greet people and have them sign in and use some hand sanitizer before entering the big quilting display. We also had fliers available with information about some of our upcoming events. People could include their address and/or email address if they wanted more info on upcoming classes and activities.

We had a quilting video playing in the lobby (pictured here with Rhea Buckley and Dolores Johnson)

And a display table with free copies of The Book of Mormon, The Restoration pamphlets and Pass Along Cards (pictured here with Amber Tapia and Patty Judson).

Restrooms and the Humanitarian Aid Quilts area were located down the hall from the foyer.

It was really neat to see so many sisters anxiously engaged in a good cause as we tied numerous baby quilts to be donated to the Highland Hospital.

Our Compassionate Service Leader, Sandie Samuels, and our bishop’s father-in-law, Roger Hull, are both tremendously talented quilters. In addition to bringing tons of their gorgeous quilts to display, they also taught a couple free quilting classes during our event, which were a big hit.

I was in charge of our Hostess Committee. We had our Hostesses stationed throughout the Cultural Hall to keep people from touching the quilts, catching anyone that may have slipped through with food or drink, answering questions and trying to help everyone feel welcome. Our Hostesses were easy to spot with their Red Hats and White Gloves.:) The following are pictures of some of our Hostesses including:

Susie Salminen

Vicki Scott

Alice Watkins

Elaine Jackson

Cheyenne Selsor with Naomi Cardon

Betty Galeria with Connie Crane and Roseanne Sitauti

There really were a lot of incredible quilts on display.

Shannon Roberts pieced together this Oakland Temple without a pattern!

Gretchen Lewis made this cool quilt out of t-shirts that had sentimental value to her husband, Mark. She is pictured her with their adorable son, Hank.