Ankeny Area Quilters' Guild

My name is Jenna Ingle, AAQG Vice President, and I am in charge of collecting and delivering donation quilts made by our members.  Our traditional charity of choice is Children and Families Services of Iowa.  Every year we donate approximately 100 quilts (yeah!).  We are planning on following tradition and donating to this organization again, but I am branching out…. looking for others in need in our area.

With the help of AAQG member Susan Body, we have discovered another place who can use our quilts. It is called Youth Homes of Mid-Iowa ( which is a local chapter of Youth Homes of Mid-America, formerly YMCA boys home).  This program takes in troubled youth who have no family support system and provides them with skills and services they need to live independently. This local youth home currently has 18 youth ( 16 boys and 2 girls) ages 16-18. We are looking to collect throw quilts for the kids to cuddle in when they watch movies or full-bed size quilts.  ( Also, one of the girls is pregnant and is in need of a baby quilt).

My 1st goal is to collect 18 quilts, one for each child being serviced currently ( and the a baby quilt, of course). My 2nd goal is to collect extra ( above the 18) to help build a ‘stash’ for future kids being serviced with this home. I will gladly collect these quilts at our monthly meetings or can make pick-up arrangements if you aren’t able to make it to a meeting. Please contact Jenna Ingle with any questions:  ingle.jenna@gmail.com.

Thank you!

Don’t forget to bring your unused and no longer needed suitcases to the December meeting.  This time of year can be a very needy time for many of the battered women & children in our community seeking assistance.

I know you’ve been waiting for a report on the pillowcase project AND I’ve been wanting to give you a report but every day I come home from work and another bag of pillowcases would be hanging on my front door, donated by another generous quilter.  I have sent 6 paper boxes and two regular boxes full of pillowcases (and some reading material to help fill in the cracks) to the troops in Afghanistan.  Due do your generous donations we are sending a total of 311 pillowcases!!  I can’t believe we were able to get THAT many pillowcases made in such a short amount of time!    Thank you, thank you, thank you…311 pillowcases!!!    I can’t believe what a great talented and generous group of quilters we have.  Thank you so much!!

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Tamara Watts-McPhail

Dee Baker, housemother, holds 10 quilts donated to Safe Haven by our guild.  Safe Haven is a new transitional home for young women served by Freedom for Youth Ministries.  Safe Haven is located in Des Moines and its goal is tho help young women, ages 18-22,  who are homeless or at risk.  These young women finish high school, get counseling and encouragement, and learn skills to support themselves while at Safe Haven.

Dee Baker, at Safe Haven, receiving donation quilts.

2010 Children & Families Donations

On Friday, July 23rd, we delivered 90 quilts & 42 Activity Bags to Children & Families of Iowa. Our donations will also go to the Women’s Violence Center and Elevate (a program for youth who age out of the foster care system) through Children & Families of Iowa. A big THANK YOU to all who so generously donated to this project!!

The AAQG sponsors a variety of projects in which members use their sewing and quilting skills to contribute to the greater Ankeny area.

Our guild members generously make and donate over 100 quilts annually to Children & Family Services of Iowa and Child Serve. Each year these beautiful quilts are on display at our quilt show in July.

Our 2009 donation quilts for Children & Family Services of Iowa and Child Serve.

So far, since August 2009 guild members have made and delivered over 1000 pillowcases to our local hospital’s pediatric and oncology patients.

Mercy Hospital in Des Moines received more than 350 pillowcases in November 2009 made & donated by fellow guild members. The children loved the bright holiday pillowcases!

Mercy Hospital in Des Moines received more than 350 pillowcases in November 2009 made & donated by fellow guild members. The children loved the bright holiday pillowcases!

In 2010 we are making and donating doll clothes for the Salvation Army. It is a good way to use up fabric and fulfill the little girl in us that made doll dresses years ago—or start a new tradition!

Additionally, each year the guild donates many gently used suitcases to the local women’s shelter.