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FreedomQuilts

Over 5,665 quilts & counting

In the five-plus years of its existence, Freedom Quilts has worked hard to continue making quilts for families who have suffered a loss. Freedom Quilts has given quilts to 9/11 families, Katrina survivors and fallen soldiers’ families. One of their original quilts will be displayed in the World Trade Center Memorial Museum.

Betty Nielsen of rural Fonda, IA, (pictured above) is the creator and driving force behind Freedom Quilts. Betty shared, “We constantly work to make sure that our quilts comfort the families, for their pain is so deep. None of us can truly understand the pain they each go through unless we walk in their shoes. What we do is try to give them comfort with a quilt made with love. The comfort does not stop there, for if a family member wishes to have someone to just listen, I do that, too. I’m honored to be their friend and to be there for them when they need me.”

Many people have asked Betty, “When will you give up on the project? When will you get tired of doing this for others?”

Her answer is, “Never.” How can I, when I receive letters asking me not to stop? . . . letting me know how much I have touched them. . . how they have wrapped themselves in their quilt and felt the love that we put into them. Many have wrapped themselves in their quilts and shed their tears.”

Some families have gotten in touch with Betty personally and she has designed their quilts to reflect their loved ones. When the families receive their quilts it’s like a memory of their loved ones that they can wrap themselves in.

“We do what we can; that’s the least I can do for families who have lost so much,” said Betty. “My heart aches as I finish each quilt. Sometimes I feel like I know the young man or woman, for their family enriches me with stories to help me design their quilts. That’s hard; that is really hard. I take each one to heart and I shed my tears and pray that God will give each of these families the strength to carry on. I know it’s not easy for them but I hope that the rest of us can support them with love and be patient so they can try and take one step at a time.”

There is a huge need for this project to continue and Betty needs help from others. She has 12 regular Freedom Quilters, but she hopes to have more. She also wants to build a place where any and all quilters will be welcome to come and help stitch comfort for others.

“We would love quilters from all over the country to not only come and help, but also to read the beautiful letters we have received. The letters themselves give you the energy to continue this worthwhile project. They are my inspiration to continue,” she said.

To help make this dream come true, Freedom Quilts decided to have a fundraiser this year. They rely on donations to help with annual expenses, but they need to raise more money this year in order to be able to purchase the supplies they need to continue their work and also build a permanent home for Freedom Quilts.

The fundraiser will be a drawing for a beautiful quilt designed and made by Betty. The quilt, pictured above, is called Patriotic Sampler and it is 75 inches by 90 inches in size. This quilt is different from other samplers because Betty likes using lots of different material for each block and then making it all blend together. There are 20 blocks in this quilt, and Betty did machine embroidery on nine of the blocks.

For each $25 donation, your name will be entered into the current quilt raffle. A $50 donation equals two chances to win, and so on. To help support this project, please send your check to Freedom Quilts Inc. C/O Betty Nielsen, 13637 550th St., Fonda, IA, 50540. Freedom Quilts is a non-profit organization so all donations are tax deductible.

The drawing for the quilt will be held around the Fourth of July. The winner will be notified and also announced on Betty’s Web site, www.freedomquilts.net.

So when people ask Betty when she will stop, she tells them this, “When you open yourself to help others, you just don’t quit. We can never forget those who have died simply because they were Americans or who died while bravely serving this country. What better way to honor them than to make the family a quilt that comes from the heart? Families all over the world have received quilts . . . families all over the world have been touched by this project and continue to be touched.”

Freedom Quilts started with a dream to comfort the families. It has mushroomed into a project of hope for families who just need not be forgotten. 

“Our handmade quilts give them hope to carry on the best they can and our mission enriches us for caring and doing something about it,” said Betty. “The other Freedom Quilters and I do this because it gives the families something tangible to hold on to. It lets them know that this country hasn’t forgotten their sacrifice and that we truly care for each and every one of them. The families have a long hard road ahead of them and if Freedom Quilts can make their journey a little easier, then so be it.”

For parents or spouses who have yet to receive a quilt, contact Betty at the above address and she would be honored to make a quilt for you at no cost to your family.

To learn more about the Freedom Quilts project, go to www.freedomquilts.net To contact Betty Nielsen, e-mail debeniel@ncn.net.

Reprinted from Quilting Now, May 2007