By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON/Community Columnist

On May 1, Alabama became a Sister Chapter of Quilt for Kids Inc., an amazing national not-for-profit organization that makes quilts for seriously ill or abused children.

Alabama’s only chapter is located in Columbiana, founded by librarians Agnes Poole and Shelia Gallups of the Columbiana Public Library.

Quilt for Kids Inc. was founded in 2000 by Linda Arye of Pennsylvania after she saw designer material being thrown away at the Philadelphia Design Center.

She thought it a waste to throw away unused fabric, came up with the idea to make patchwork quilts, and give them to children in need.

“I had remembered a time when my daughter was hospitalized and not allowed to have her ‘bear-bear’ to hold to ease the trauma,” said Arye in the Quilt for Kids pamphlet. “If I could find people in the community to make crib-sized patchwork quilts, we could give them to seriously ill and abused children.

“The benefits would be two-fold; we would save space in our landfills, and bring love and comfort to children in need.”

Since its inception, the Columbiana chapter has made quilts for four children at Department of Human Resources, four at the Owen’s House, 13 to the Hannah Home, and four to local, seriously ill children.

On July 10, 12 women brought their talent and sewing machines to the Columbiana Library and completed an ambitious project: 45 quilts delivered to Children’s Hospital that afternoon.

All the quilts are made with specific instructions to not hurt the children. It costs $20-$25 to make one quilt.

“For the Columbiana Chapter to be truly successful, we need assistance,” said Poole. “Donations of new cotton fabric and other notions for quilting are needed. Monetary donations are needed for postage, shipping and for the purchase of quality children’s fabrics.”

I cannot sew, but I can buy a $25 kit for a volunteer to sew.

You may not have $25, but can volunteer to sew a quilt.

Together our community can make quilts, fill them with our love, and give them to an abused or seriously ill child through Columbiana’s Quilt4Kids.

“One stitch, one quilt, one child at a time” is their motto.

For information, call 670-5477 or 669-6909 or e-mail Columbianaquilts4kids@gmail.com.

Donate to Columbiana Quilts4Kids, P.O. Box 34, Columbiana, Ala. 35064.

The group meets every second Saturday at 9 a.m. at the Columbiana Public Library.

Please bring your sewing machine.

Phoebe Donald Robinson can be reached by e–mail at phoeberobinson@bellsouth.net.