COMMUNITY SERVICE
GUILD CONTACT: Marilyn White
August Community Service Sew-in
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Click the heart to see who we sew for
Community Service Update
Chair: Marilyn White​
*SIT AND SEW UPDATE*
Placemats: 20 additional completed placemats were brought to our April guild meeting. This brings our total to 120 placemats for Meals on Wheels in Sussex County! They were delivered to Serendipity Quilt Shop and received with great appreciation for this generous donation!
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Learn More About Each Group...​​​
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​​​​​DUFFLE BAGS and MORE​
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About us: This group is a 501C3 organization that creates duffle bags and toiletry bags for children in foster care. It is funded from grants, donations, and fundraising events. Ocean Waves will be helping to promote the program through publicity and participation, coordinated by Mary Shepherd. The project will be self-sustaining on our budget line. Mary’s group meets once a month at the Village of Five Points Community Center to sew the bags. All supplies, including sewing machines and sergers, are provided. We will highlight Duffle Bags and More at our October guild meeting. In addition, DB&M will participate in our February, 2025 Sit and Sew! Duffle Bags and More will be added to our Community Service webpage. For more details, contact Mary Shepherd, mtshepherd@mindspring.com or www.dufflebagsandmore.org .
Activities: We will have a sew-in on Monday, April 28, 9 to 12, at Villages of Five Points Community Center. Bring your sewing machine.
Mark your calendars! The Ocean Waves' 2026 Sit and Sew (date to be determined) will be Duffle Bags and Toiletry Bags. We'll be doing all phases of bag construction, from cutting to bagging for delivery. If you have a serger sitting around collecting dust, please think about bringing it to the sew-in. You've got time before February to dust it off, and thread it.
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In addition to bags, we'll also make fleece blankets. These are fun projects for anyone who feels less confident about sewing a bag.
We'll have more details as we get closer to February.
Our work parties are on the third Monday of most months, from 9-12 at the Villages of Five Points Community Center in Lewes.
GUILD CONTACT: Mary Shepherd
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PATRIOTIC QUILTS
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About us:
This service project group organizes and leads productions of patriotic themed quilts to be donated to the Quilts of Valor Foundation. (qovf.org) “The mission of the Quilts of Valor Foundation is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing QOV.” The procedures for making these quilts are specific. Check the newsletter and announcements at guild meetings for scheduled Sew-Ins and drop-offs.
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** Patriotic Quilts is looking for volunteers to quilt one or more quilts for Quilts of Valor. If you can help, please contact Kathy Varga. kvarga07866@gmail.com.
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Activities:
Yearly total: 21 quilts for Quilts of Valor. Kathy Varga and Rita McConnell
Donations needed: Fabric - Red, white, blue solids or tone-on-tone fabrics are greatly appreciated - fat quarters, strips 8” or longer, yardage
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GUILD CONTACT: Rita McConnell
HEART PILLOWS
About us:
Pillows are given to patients undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Kits, assembled and ready to be sewn, are available at the Ocean Waves Quilt Guild monthly meetings.
The pillows are donated to the following organizations: Cancer Support Community of Delaware
Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition
Beebe Healthcare - Tunnel Cancer Center
Beebe Rehab
Dr. Spellman's office
Nanticoke Memorial Hospital - Allen Cancer Center
Activities:
We delivered 12 pillows to Cancer Support Group. We will be delivering 12 pillows per quarter. New kits for heart pillows will be available at the Guild meetings beginning in May. These new kits will only have the pre-cut heart fabric and strap to be sewn. No stuffing required at this time since that will be completed just prior to delivery. Carol Fisher
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Donations needed: No fabric needed for now.
GUILD CONTACT: Carol Fisher
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TINY TOTS - Baby Items
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About us:
Tiny Tots was started in February, 2010 with 12 ladies from St. Ann’s Bazaar Workshop. Today it has 50 members and is still growing. Tiny Tots makes quilts, hats, blanket and sweater sets, teddy bears, nursing covers, and exercise mats for the Rosa Health Center in Georgetown, DE. To date, over 4,000 quilts, 500 blanket and sweater sets, 2,000 teddy bears, and 200 exercise mats have been made.
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The Rosa Health Center takes care of infants thru adults. The Center is absolutely free to whoever cannot afford medical help. Dr. Rama Peri runs the Center.
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Tiny Tots also donates items to St. Vincent de Paul.
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Tiny Tots meets at St. Ann’s Church, Delaney Hall, in Bethany Beach on the 4th Tuesday of each month (except December, July, and August) from 9AM to 1 PM. It is supported by St. Ann’s Parish, Bethany Beach, DE, and Ocean Waves Quilt Guild.
All of the fabric and yarn used to make these items is donated.
Activities: These items were delivered in March:16 quilts, 30 afghans, 7 burp clothes afghans, 10 baby quilts with hats,10 exercise mats, 42 afghans,13 Easter quilts w hats, 25 bears, 6 handmade sweater sets .
Please return any completed twin quilts for St. Vincent de Paul. If you will not be completing the kit, please return it to Tiny Tots.
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Donations needed: We are in need of worsted weight yarn and fiberfill stuffing. Fabric - Yarn, Baby Flannel and fleece, Adult fabrics
GUILD CONTACT: Mary Martinez
COMFORT QUILTS,
formerly BABY WRAPS
About us:
Our group started in 2017 with five women. Now we have 19 members who meet once a week at Heritage Shores Community Center in Bridgeville. We originally made quilts for newborns at Nanticoke Hospital, but in the last year, we have reached out to other charities who use our services. We changed our name from Baby Wraps to better reflect our commitment to provide quilts to older children, hospice patients, and veterans.
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Activities:
Our group donated 20 quilts this month to the following charities: Ten quilts went to Delaware Hospice and ten quilts went to Family Services for children in Foster Care.
We had a quilt show at our club house in Heritage Shores in Bridgeville during the month of March and it was very successful. We showcased 55 quilts and included several quilts we also made for Quilts of Valor. The group also showed many quilted items: tote bags, table runners, pillows, quilted jackets, wallets, mug rugs.
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For more information contact Darlene Jack at ken.dar.jack@gmail.com. or 302-956-0380.
Charities we support include:
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Olivia's House - York, Pennsylvania
oliviashouse.org
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Delaware Hospice -- Milford, Delaware
delawarehospice.org
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KatyBug - pediatric hospice -- Milford, Delaware
delawarehospice.org
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Dover Air Force Base - Dover, Delaware
dover.af.mil
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Veterans Home - Milford, Delaware
vethome.delaware.gov
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We have also contributed to other groups when asked, including the Salvation Army, Cross Roads Church, and Ft. Dix
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Donations needed: Fabric: cotton, flannel (any color, prints other than toddler and baby OK); Rick rack; Lace; Yarn
GUILD CONTACT: Darlene Jack
QUILTS OF LOVE
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About us:
This group's primary mission is to make baby quilts for newborns at BayHealth Hospital and A.I. DuPont Children's Clinic in Milford. Larger quilts are made and given to Habitat for Humanity when new homeowners move in Quilts of Love hold quilting bees 4 times during the year in September, November, January, and March. Kits are assembled and ready to be sewn. The location varies so listen at guild meetings or read the newsletter. Quilts of Love sews from 9:00 AM to 1:30 PM. Bring your sewing machine and a covered dish for lunch. Quilt kits are always available at guild meeting to be sewn at home. Contact the coordinator for more information.
Activities: Just a reminder of our in-person sew-in on Saturday March 22nd. It will be held at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Lewes – 152 Tulip Drive Lewes. The time is 9 am to 1 pm.
Bring your sewing machine, accessories and sewing supplies. Kits are premade and simple to assemble. If you aren’t a stitcher, we can always use folks to help ready the lunch and do some ironing. Feel free to stop in on the 22nd to get a kit or two if you just want to make them at home.
Bring a Dish to share for the Pot Luck lunch. Hope to see you there.
If you can’t make this date and wish to sew at home, contact Daria Ewanik at dewanik@comcast.net or 908-285-6084 to arrange a time to pick up kits. (4728 Maritime Way, Lewes, DE. Questions – contact Pat DeVoll – pjdevoll@aol.com or 302-259-1022.
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NEW REQUEST for the coming cold weather: The guild has been asked by the Milford Advocacy for the Homeless to sew lap size or twin sized quilts for its 3 Delaware shelters. We will provide the batting and backing for you! We currently have 7 quilt tops ready to be quilted., or you may use your own. A great opportunity to practice your quilting skills on your long arm (or domestic machine.) Please contact Pat DeVoll, pjdevoll@aol.com. or 302-259-1022 if you can help.
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Donations needed: Fabric: Baby, Kid, Blenders 4.5” squares or larger. Backings – at least 1 ¼ yds x WOF
GUILD CONTACT: Pat DeVoll
THE GLADE QUILTERS
About us:
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The Glade Quilters meet each Tuesday from 9 AM to 12 noon at the Glade Clubhouse to design, assemble, and sew quilts for babies, children, and adults. Its workshop includes cutting tables, sewing machines, and a fabric room. The Glade Quilters donates to the following organizations:
Bay Health Hospital in Milford and Dover
Sussex County Women's Shelter
Little Sisters of the Poor
The Baby Pantry (resource center)
Kody’s Kids Reading Group (started by Phillip Brown)
Cape Henlopen High School homeless students
YMCA (for the homeless of Rehoboth)
The Glade Quilters also provides quilts to several organizations which have fundraisers during the year, such as Stockings for Soldiers and Ducks Unlimited.
Activities:
We sent 25 scarves made of fleece to our Resource Center here in Rehoboth two weeks ago. Sussex County Women's Shelter picked up 24 quilts that we made--12 for children and 12 for mothers.
Terry Cassanelli
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Donations needed: Baby Fabric
GUILD CONTACT: Terry Cassanelli
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ANGEL GOWNS
Infant Burial Gowns
About Us:
Our guild members sew infant burial gowns from bridal dresses.
We have the patterns for the members to use. The need is
approximately 50 per year. The burial gowns are distributed to
Christiana Cares and A. I. DuPont Children's Hospital. Every year
there continues to be a need for infant Angel Gowns (burial gowns). Please consider sewing one (or more) of these gowns from a simple two-piece pattern. Any white fabric is suitable, and you may add trimmings as you wish. The families of the infants are most appreciative.
The project coordinator is Dr. Shelly Hopkins
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Activities:
Received thank-you notes from Beebe Hospital and Project Sweet Peas for its recent donation of infant burial gowns. This was the first donation to Beebe. Melissa Sopko
Donations needed: Fabric: White; White Bias tape;
GUILD CONTACT: Melissa Sopko
Download the patterns:
Baby Burial Gown Basic Sewing Instructions
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TEDDY BEARS (formerly FRIENDS OF THE FALLEN)
About us:
The seed for giving teddy bears started at the Dover Air Force Base Transfer Ceremony for children attending a fallen family member's return. It was felt they needed "something to hold." We have also found these teddy bears comfort children at hospital emergency rooms. We offer bears to first responders at all local police and fire departments. In addition, bears are given to children attending Operation SEAs the Day each September at Bethany Beach.
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Teddy Bear pattern is in two parts as a PDF file, which you can access by clicking on its underlined name.
• Teddy Bear: Upper Body Pattern, Lower Body Pattern, Updated Instructions
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Activities:
We thank Marcia Bonifas for her many dedicated years as head of the Teddy Bears, a project near and dear to her heart.
Donations needed: Fabric: Light denim, children’s print, patriotic prints- fat quarters or larger
GUILD CONTACT: Daria Ewanik
PILLOWCASES OF LOVE
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About us:
Pillowcase kits, containing the necessary fabrics, are available at meetings. Members take the kits home, sew, and return at a future meeting. Some get together and make them, enjoying the community effort. Some raid their own stash! Once returned, the finished pillowcases are then laundered, ironed, labeled, and attractively packaged individually, and are ready to be given.
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Activities:
Yearly total: 172 pillowcases This month, we delivered 60 pillowcases to Bayhealth. Sue Brittingham Reminder: Kits can be picked up, and completed pillowcases can be dropped off at Dreamweavers, located in the Midway Shopping Center in Rehoboth, any Saturday 10:00-1:00.
Sue Brittingham
We welcome donations of fabric that are width of fabric by any length 2" and over, preferably bright and cheerful. We hope for a wide range of colors and patterns so we can create pillowcases for all ages and genders - babies, kids, teen, women, and men.
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Donations: No fabric needed for now.
GUILD CONTACT: Sue Brittingham
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• Pillowcases of Love Instructions
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