The St. Augustine Piecemakers Quilters Guild and the St. Johns County Housing and Community Development Division are working together to offer residents receiving Housing Rehabilitation Services a handmade quilt.
While service repairs improve accessibility and safety and enhance the quality of life for those in need, the quilts add “a human touch” for residents who might be recovering from illness, facing personal hardship or living alone.
Jennifer Harvey, the county’s housing and community development manager, said that even though their work focuses on safety and stability, the quilts provide warmth and comfort to those who need it the most.
“This partnership highlights the broader impact of Housing Rehabilitation Services,” she said in a news release. “The collaboration shows what’s possible when local organizations and county services work together. This simple gesture carries a lot of meaning.”
“Putting this human touch to our program has been amazing,” she said.
Crafted by hand, the quilts take weeks to complete. Dedicated to preserving the art of quilting, members of the St. Augustine Piecemakers Quilters Guild carefully select fabrics and patterns that provide physical warmth and emotional reassurance.
The Guild was established in 1983 by a group of quilters dedicated to keeping the art of quilting alive. Today, the large group meets on the second Tuesday of every month at the Agricultural Center of St. Johns County.
“We keep quilting alive by sharing our expertise and ideas, learning new quilting skills and creating quilts for those who are in need in our community,” they said on their website. “Our membership is open for all who, in an atmosphere of good fellowship, love the art of quilting.”
Residents interested in learning more about Housing Rehabilitation Services or how local organizations can partner with St. Johns County are encouraged to email Housing@sjcfl.us.
For more information, about the St. Augustine Piecemakers Quilter Guild, go to https://www.facebook.com/staugpiecemakers.
This article originally appeared on St. Augustine Record: St. Johns County, quilters guild offer residents a ‘human touch’
Reporting by Lucia Viti, St. Augustine Record / St. Augustine Record
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
