The Story of CFC — 1991 to 2015

Little did we dream in June of 1991, when we delivered our first 50 quilts to Children's Services Division (now Department of Human Services, Children's Services), Womenspace, and Lane County Sheriff's cars that we would grow by such leaps and bounds. During the previous winter, Jane Bannerman and I spent many hours setting up goals and policies. Pioneer Quilters brought us their leftover fabrics. Individuals who thought we had a great idea would slip a five dollar bill into our hands for expenses. We wondered how long it would last. Would the initial enthusiasm wear off? Would we exhaust our resources for finding people who would want to make quilts for the project? Would we all get burned out?

It seemed a good idea, right from the beginning, to combine the skills of quilt makers with the scraps and yardage piling up in their closets, and channel the result to the neglected and abused children entering shelter and foster care with nothing to call their own but the clothes on their backs. The full character of the project had taken shape by June 1992. The Trude Kaufman Senior Center had heard about us, and invited us to occupy an upstairs room once a week to make up kits from the expanding supply of fabrics coming our way. Jane and Ray Bannerman could now have their living room back, as we filled Kaufman Center closets with the fabrics, as well as bolts of batting so generously given to us by Kathy Re. Mary Green and Ginny Heideman settled in as permanent and dependable staff members. Still we wondered, would this project really keep its momentum? It did, and when Jane Bannerman passed away from Lou Gehrig's disease in 1993, it was a great comfort for her to know that CFC was growing. Volunteers at our work sessions and contributors may change, but the work goes on. In January 2003 we moved our Thursday work sessions to Campbell Community Center, and they have been our sponsor since then.

With significant growth in the number of contributions, CFC now serves an added dimension, as in "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Agencies working with "at risk" families, who provide temporary housing and teach parenting skills needed to function in a healthy way, receive our quilts.

A giant "Thank You" to wonderful staff and all who have contributed! Organizations and individuals provide an impressive number of quilts. Classrooms from kindergarten through high school participate in the quilt making. The Lakeridge Quilters, Emerald Valley Quilt Guild, Pioneer Quilters, Summerfield Purple Ladies Society, and hundreds of individuals are faithful contributors to the project.

Who would ever believe a little quilt could make such a difference, but it does. Some parents cry upon receiving a home made quilt and are more receptive to counseling. The kids cling to them. The bunks size quilts, given for permanent use to agencies such as Jasper Mountain Home and Looking Glass Station 7, provide a homey atmosphere to children in need of shelter and counseling. Thanks again, on behalf of the children we serve.

Jean Liittschwager     2015