LEXINGTON, Ky. — A group of women came together to make quilts for children in need on Sunday, March 17.
Toni Raynolds owns a quilting store, Pierced Perfection. She is also a Studio 180 Design certified instructor and holds classes to teach people how to use Studio 180 Design tools and technique sheets.
She has partnered with the Richmond chapter of Sleep in Heavenly Peace, an organization that builds beds for children.
About 2-3% of American children don’t have beds, according to SHP.
Raynolds and SHP’s Richmond chapter are teaming up to provide children with beds and quilts.
She hosted the group’s first Quilts Across America event on Sunday to teach participants how to make the correct pattern.
“These quilts will go along with those beds as that comforter on top of the mattress for the kids to sleep in,” said Cindy Thornsberry, the co-president of SHP’s Richmond chapter.
Raynolds has been quilting for six years. She began with charity quilting and is happy to get back to using her skills to help others.
“When somebody makes something by hand, it really means something,” said Raynolds. “It sends a message: ‘Somebody cares about me.’”
Raynolds hopes more people will join their efforts to make quilts for children in future events.
She plans to have one quilt-making event a month and is currently looking for a place to consistently hold the events at.