Today Jeffree Itrich contacted me to see if I could help spread the word about this project. I had an aunt and uncle (brother and sister) who both had Alzheimer's in their later years. Jeffree explained to me that the quilts donated will be used by people who are getting IV's (refrigerated ones) so they get chilled while receiving the IV. These people will be in the program every 2 weeks for a year and a half.
She said the 40" x 50" range would work great. (So 38" x 52" will work too, 40 x 50 is a general size range). Here is what she wrote to me:
Quilts brighten the lives of Alzheimer's Patients
Quilters have long known that a quilt is a loving tribute that bonds quilters with recipients across generations and across vast distances. The warmth of a quilt is enhanced by the often bright patterns and colorful images which frequently suggest a simpler time.
Under a unique donation program organized by the Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study (ADCS, quilts are brightening the lives of Alzheimer's patients around the nation.
The Alzheimer’s Study Quilt Program began in late January 2010. An employee who quilts jumpstarted the project because she knows how positively people react when given a quilt and how quilters are wonderfully generous people. Her plea for quilts to give participants in the NGF (Nerve Growth Factor) Study was picked up by numerous quilting newsletters. Good Samaritans circulated the request for quilts and they began arriving from communities all over the U.S. The program has received nearly enough quilts for all the NGF Study participants and are now looking for quilts for two other Alzheimer’s studies in progress.
Those study participants who have received quilts have been immensely grateful and realize that the quilts were made with love, sincerity, and gratitude (for participating in the study and helping future generations). Many of the quilters had family members with Alzheimer’s (AD). One woman who lost her mother to AD made and donated 12 quilts and another whose grandfather had AD provided 11 quilts. A woman in Pennsylvania made five flannel quilts in one week!
If you would like to donate a new lap-sized quilt to the Alzheimer’s Quilt Study Project, please contact Jeffree Itrich at jitrich@ucsd.edu.
If this is a cause that touches you, consider a donation of a lap size quilt to them.
Good deeds for a good cause!
ReplyDeleteMy mother had Alzheimer's and retained her love for well-made things. I'll have to look for something like this in Canada. Or just make some for the nearby places that take care of Alzheimer people.
ReplyDeleteI received that e-mail as well . . . what a wonderful effort (one of so many).
ReplyDeleteI have two co-workers who have undergone chemo infusions (refrigerated) and they both emphatically support the gifting of warm blankets and quilts to patients as they get very cold during these treatments.
Here's to whatever we can do as quilters to help others who are in need.