Sanders County quilting group helps fire victims stitch their lives back together

Answering the call to serve, a small but dedicated group of women from Sanders County are doing their part to ease the pain for those who lost everything in the River Road East Fire.

Members of the quilting group Stitch in Time have stepped up, yet again, to help those in need. For the past 10 years, the group has made quilts, hats and many other items for those in need and shipping them worldwide.

Member Dorothy McCune contributed to this worldwide effort by making over 500 stocking caps during her time with the quilting group. They have made and donated dresses, items for homeless veterans, school uniform skirts for children in Honduras, diapers for infants in Haiti, all from donated fabric. Most group members are from the Paradise and Plains area.

Stitch in Time is nestled on property owned by The United Methodist Church in Paradise. The group’s home base, and its subsequent evacuation due to the River Road East Fire, spurred the ladies on to help ease the loss of many family heirlooms. Stitch-In-Time is offering to make custom quilts in sizes needed to those affected by the wildfire. They have five or six quilts ready for donation already.

Judy Stephens, a member for several years and a retired teacher from the Paradise and Plains schools, said they gave one quilt to a fire victim with two more on order.

“We hope more people will request quilts,” she said. “Only if they need them and not to just hang them on their walls. They are made to keep people warm and cozy.”

Some families may need more than one quilt and they can accommodate those needs. Stephens spoke about their newly acquired quilting machine that was donated to them. They are just starting to learn how to use it. She said it was valued around $8,000.

Those interested in joining the group or who are in need of a quilt can call 406-826-1111.