Quilts for Carolina Recap – A Journey of Community and Compassion

The Journey Begins: Gathering Donations Across Missouri and Kansas

On Thursday, October 24, we kicked off the Quilts for Carolina drive in Kansas City. Headed up with my stepdad, Vince, and my two young nephews (Wyatt & Elliot) arriving from Central Kansas. We started at the northernmost points. Then making stops throughout the Kansas City area and loading donations from every corner of the metro.

Our Quilts for Carolina journey began with a stop at The Sewing Labs in Kansas City. This is where volunteers had gathered quilts from generous quilters and also made quilts from donated fabric. From there, we visited The Fabric Chic in Parkville, Missouri. They had a huge collection of quilts, blankets, coats, and baby formula.  Cindy, the shop owner, even helped us load the truck!  After a quick lunch break, we continued to KC Maker in Lenexa. Also stopped at Windmill Sewing Center, where staff helped us load box after box of quilts and winter gear. Our last Kansas City stop was Quilters HQ in Olathe. By then, we had a nearly full truck, but we weren’t done yet.

More Kansas City Pickups – all accumulated in my garage

I had also collected donations from Plain Jane’s in Leavenworth, Kansas, and Sew Enchanting Equine in Agency, Missouri. Both of which were filled with contributions from their communities. And in my own neighborhood in Platte City, I set up a drop-off location at our local Goin” Postal.

This is where local donations were dropped off and people shipped quilts and donations from all over the country. I even enlisted my own church congregation. They answered the call with bags and bags of donated coats, blankets and baby formula.  My garage was filled to the brim with donations.

These included packages from Amazon and cash gifts that helped alleviate some of the cost of the rental truck, fuel, and other expenses. Each box I opened brought a surge of joy as it arrived from all around the country. Witnessing this outpouring of love and generosity truly rejuvenated my hope for humanity and community spirit.

A HUGE Thank You to these businesses for volunteering your business space to be a donation center:

Thank you to the following locations for donating your space:

• The Fabric Chic – Parkville, MO
• Plain Janes & Co – Leavenworth, KS
• KC Maker Studio – Overland Park, KS
• Quilters HQ – Olathe, KS
• Sew Enchanting Equine – Agency, MO (St Joseph)
• The Sewing Labs – Downtown Kansas City
• Goin’ Postal – Platte City, MO
• First Christian Church – Platte City, MO

With the truck loaded up, Vince and the boys began their journey back to Central Kansas on Thursday evening.

A Heartfelt Response in Central Kansas

The following day, Vince continued the Quilts for Carolina journey by collecting donations in Central Kansas.

Not only was Vince, and his wife Linda, collect donations in their own garage, which they loaded, but also from the Salina Shares Location. This location collected an abundance of quilts, blankets, winter coats, and baby formula and hygiene products. They even donated airbeds, pillows and other bedding necessities.

The local response was incredible, thanks in part to my brother’s mother-in-law, Sharon, who placed an ad in the local paper to raise awareness. The folks from Auto House rallied together to collect and load donations into the truck!

Community members from Galva and McPherson donated quilts, blankets, winter coats, and formula in overwhelming numbers. My Mom, Barb, even enlisted her church as a collection site, rallying members to give generously.

Randy, Sam and Loren answered the call and volunteered their time, service and resources to the cause. They belong to the Emmanuel FourSquare Church of Salina KS. Many donations were made by these and other members of the church. These dedicated individuals transported the quilts, blankets, coats, and baby formula from Galva and McPherson. They filled an entire U-Haul truck. And in an amazing show of generosity, the Long-McArthur Ford Dealer of Salina donated the use of a mini van so that the volunteers could return the U-haul at our destination and drive the van back home. They then made a more direct journey to Asheville, bypassing San Antonio, before heading straight back to Kansas after delivering their load.

Another generous donator were members of the Gideons International – Local Camp of Salina Kansas. They donated cash and bibles. The cash helped off-set some of the expenses that was incurred for the truck rentals, fuel and other travel related expenses. The bibles were obviously a special donation as this will be a definite blessing to those who lost everything (including their bibles).

Thank you to the following locations for donating your space:

• AutoHouse Towing – Galva/McPherson
• Salina Shares – Salina
• Countryside Covenant Church – McPherson KS
• Emmanuel FourSquare Church – Salina KS

Heading South: San Antonio Joins the Quilts for Carolina Cause

On Friday afternoon, Vince and his crew turned south toward San Antonio, Texas. This is where my sister, Tara, and her community had been collecting donations.   Though not on a direct route to Asheville, this detour was well worth it. The Texas community answered the call in an incredible way. Tara made a call to her local community.  She was able to make a large contribution to the donation. She is involved in several philanthropic organizations and so many people donated, which was heartwarming.  My cousin, Charity, even drove up from Laredo, Texas. She brought a U-Haul filled with donations she’d collected from her area.

Grome’s Sewing Center in San Antonio and Universal City also served as a drop-off locations. Thanks to Cindy, the second-generation owner whom I know from our years together at the Houston Quilt Festival. Boxes and boxes of beautiful quilts and very nice winter coats were donated.

After a well-deserved rest, Vince and the boys loaded the truck with all the San Antonio donations. They prepared for the final stretch to Asheville.

Thank you to the following locations for donating your space:

• Gromes – Universal City
• Gromes – San Antonio
• Tara’s Garage – San Antonio
• Charity’s Haul from Laredo Texas

Reaching Asheville: A Warm Welcome and a Helping Hand

Upon arriving in Asheville, Vince and his crew were greeted with the kindness and hospitality by Amy and her father Burt. These are cousin and Uncle to my sister’s husband, Cole.

They graciously offered space on his property to accommodate our vehicles and host the team. Vince even brought chainsaws and equipment to help clear debris from the recent storm damage. This was much to the delight of my nephews, who jumped at the chance to lend a hand.

Delivering Hope: The Donation Unloading

On Tuesday, Vince and the volunteers set out for the church designated as our Quilts for Carolina donation center in Asheville. The Church is actually in Big Creek, which is 20 miles NW of Burnsville. The Church is called Big Creek Free Will Baptist Church.

Navigating washed-out bridges and damaged roads, they witnessed firsthand the devastation left by Hurricane Helene—folks living in tents, piles of debris, and entire stretches of road washed away. It was a sobering sight, underscoring the importance of the donations we’d brought.

At the church, which had sustained flood damage of its own, Samaritan’s Purse volunteers set up tents and sorting stations for the donations. We were in contact with Victoria (church member), Katrina (Samaritan’s Purse contact) and Jaimie (Church Pastor) throughout the process. We were put in connection with them through our local Samaritan’s Purse contact in Salina, Brenda. Brenda worked with the national Samaritan’s Purse office who helped coordinate this entire endeavor.

As they unloaded the truck, they worked in a bucket brigade style, passing along quilts, coats, blankets, and formula and carefully arranging each type of item as they went. Many of these volunteers were victims themselves, and as they handled the handmade quilts, they couldn’t help but fall in love with the beautiful designs and the comfort they brought.

Some volunteers were so touched that they took quilts home, gratefully accepting these gifts right after their hard work. Additional items from San Antonio, including clothes, diapers, cleaning supplies and other essentials, were also sorted and distributed.

The gratitude from the community was palpable. Vince and the team listened to residents share their stories and watched as families picked up winter coats, blankets, and even handmade quilts—providing them with warmth and comfort as they rebuild their lives. A volunteer who helped unload even took home a quilt or two to share with his family.

With help from the church and Samaritan’s Purse, word quickly spread about the arrival of the new donations. Over the following days, people arrived to receive the items they needed, from coats to baby formula, and the quilts crafted by so many caring hands across the country.

A Journey of Kindness and Community

After returning the rental truck in Asheville, Vince and the team took a final night’s rest at their house of rest before beginning the journey back to Kansas. The other volunteers, eager to return to their families, departed in the donated van on Tuesday afternoon, while Vince and the boys drove straight through to make it home by Halloween. They arrived just in time for my nephew to go trick-or-treating with the rest of his siblings —a fitting end to this journey of generosity and community.

Reflections on a United Effort

Reflecting on this experience, I’m in awe of the kindness and support from every community involved. From Kansas City to Central Kansas, from San Antonio to Asheville, each donation carried a message of hope, warmth, and care. This was truly a family and community effort, and I’m so proud of everyone who stepped up to make it happen.

Thank you to all who donated, volunteered, and supported this mission. Together, we made a difference for families in need, and I’m grateful to be part of such a caring and generous community.