Two Streator church-based organizations are doing their part to warm those in need this winter.

The Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Quilting Club has been making crib-sized scrap quilts for five years and donating them to A Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Service.

"We take the quilts to their office and they do with them whatever needs to be done with them," Sue Bedeker, coordinator of the Quilting Club, told The Times.

Margaret Morrison, executive director of ADV/SAS, is appreciative of the group's support of the clients.

"They are wonderful supporters of ADV/SAS," Morrison said. "They have forged a bridge between our service and the community."

Morrison said the group goes above and beyond by sharing in the clients' humanity.

"The group puts personal notes on the backs of the quilts," she said. "This really clothes them in warmth from the community."

Bedeker said the group quilts an average of 25 to 35 quilts per year and estimates the women have made more than 100 quilts since the group's inception.

The group meets Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. in October and November, then January through May. The Quilting Club started out as a teaching session and has blossomed from there.

"It's a teaching-type meeting," Bedeker said. "We learn a new technique. We haven't made the same quilt twice."

Bedeker said the group receives funding through Thrivent Financial, a Lutheran organization. She applies for funding each year through Thrivent's Caring for the Community program.

"They give us money we can use for batting and backing," she said. "We also use the money to provide supplies for the shelter or to provide personal and cleaning supplies for clients who are leaving the shelter."

Morrison said the personal and cleaning supplies the group provides are a tremendous support to the service.

"They are ardent supporters of ADV/SAS, buying supplies and personal items," Morrison said. "They are an absolute wonderful resource for those we serve."

Last year, the group made some lap pads for residents of nursing homes, but this year are committed to making quilts for babies.

Bedeker said the women in the group quilt and donate out of a sense of service.

"We've just got a lot of good, committed ladies," she said. "We have a good time. I don't think any of them would want the recognition."

The First United Methodist Church women's group has also been contributing warmth to the community for the past 30 years.

In addition to providing quilts to various organizations like the Streator Fire Department, Streator Unlimited and nursing homes, the church has been providing mittens to Head Start students.

Ella Teegardin, who died this year at age 100, began knitting for the Head Start program 30 years ago.

"Ella deserves all the credit for it," June Eckstein of Streator said. "She started the program and even had classes to teach people how to knit."

"It's a wonderful thing," said Virginia Winterrowd of Streator. "They just fill the tree with knitted mittens and display it in the church."

Streator's Head Start program also appreciates the group's kindness, as some students' families cannot afford to buy basic necessities like gloves and mittens.

"They're beautiful hand-knit mittens in colors for girls and boys hand-wrapped for the kids," said Stephanie Orozco, family community service worker. "We have some low-income students who may not have mittens. We send the packages home to the parents who may be able to use them as an extra Christmas gift or give them to the child when they want to."

Orozco said the annual drive is something Head Start anticipates.

"We really appreciate it and we look forward to it every year," she concluded.




How can I get involved?

To join the Quilting Club or to find out more, contact the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church at 101 Trinity Drive or call 815-672-2393 between 8 a.m and noon Monday through Friday. Those interested do not have to be members of the church to join.

The TOTES Club (Time Out Together Enjoying Service) meets Thursday at 9 a.m. to knit mittens at Brandon's Place at First United Methodist Church, 305 E. Bridge St., Streator.