A humble non-profit that’s been making quilts for kids in crisis for more than a decade, now needs help itself.
Kidz Quiltz in Fort Lupton has made thousands of quilts and shipped them off to the far corners of the world, including: earthquake-devastated Haiti, impoverished Africa, and closer to home, tornado-ravaged Windsor and Holly.
But the couple behind the non-profit have hit a rough patch themselves–and wonder how long they can help those who need it most.
In every cut, each stitch, woven into every patch of fabric is love for kids who need it most.
“We make quilts for kids and send all over the world to kids in disasters and poverty,” says Wilma Hamilton, who started Kidz Quiltz with her husband, Lyle.
The couple, both 74 years old, started the non-profit in 2005 by making and transporting 1,000 blankets to Hurricane-Katrina damaged Mississippi.
Just prior to the natural disaster, two of their grown children had died unexpectedly, fueling their desire to help others.
“I was very depressed. God gave me another job to do. That was to bless other kids. Hopefully, the kids they never got to help in their life,” says Wilma.
Since, the couple have blanketed 6,000 kids with love and comfort.
But now they worry they can’t stitch together their own security.
They rely solely on their own money and donations.
After Lyle retired this year, they say they can’t put money into it like they had in the past.
“We have to figure out which bill we need paid. First, we pay the lights (electricity),” says Lyle.
That electricity runs the sewing machines. Ten of 20 are broken.
The town temporarily shut off their water last month.
And the couple canceled their phone and internet.
“It takes so little to keep this place running,” says volunteer Monika Newton.
She says she’d hate to see Kidz Quiltz close.
She says this place is a like a security blanket for the community–helping court-ordered teens turn their lives around.
“They don’t know how to thread a needle and they leave knowing how to sew a quilt. That’s huge,” says Newton.
But what gets her most is knowing the void the non-profit would leave if forced to close.
“As a mom, if you don’t even have a blanket to cover your kid. How that feels when someone, somewhere cares enough to do this,” she says through tears.
The Hamilton’s hope they get a little in return of the comfort they provide to countless kids worldwide.
Kidz Quiltz needs donations of any kind–of any amount–including money, materials and volunteers.
They will teach you how to quilt.
If the non-profit can get the basic needs met, they would like to install a handicapped ramp and a bathroom on the main floor, since many of their senior citizen volunteers can’t walk the stairs down to the building’s only restroom.
You can reach them through their contact information on their website at www.kidzquiltz.org or email them at .
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Non-profit that makes quilts for kids in need now in need of help
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