“You can’t take away the darkness – But you can add to the light!”
– Pat Sears
Some children in foster care are fortunate to be placed with families who can provide stockings and gifts at Christmas time. But many years ago, it was apparent that other children were left out during the holidays, especially those who had just been placed in protective custody, and those who were in shelter care. Also in need were those moving from one family to another, or those who were moving back home around Christmas. The Omaha Quilters’ Guild became aware of the need and in 1992, created the Children’s Emergency Fund. The project originally focused on sewing Christmas stockings but has since grown into an annual multifaceted fundraising event.
Our December Holiday Party (2nd Tuesday) is one of the highlights of the year as members enjoy good food, good friends, and a feeling of well-being. It is a great reward to use our talents and enthusiasm for such a meaningful cause. We each are reminded that working together, we can do so much to bring light into the life of a child.
Four ways to participate in the Children’s Emergency Fund project:
Stocking Challenge
Members can pick up a fat quarter of the challenge fabric (~$3) offered at Fall guild meetings and make stockings that use a piece (or all) of the fabric somewhere on the front of the stocking. These stockings are numbered and hung at the guild’s December Holiday Party. Members and guests can then “vote” on their favorite stocking by putting cash or checks (no raffle tickets please!) in the corresponding numbered money box. The person who “earns” the most money receives a small gift, and all the cash and checks go toward the CEF fundraiser. All stockings are accepted so if you’d like to dent your Christmas fabric stash, your stockings will be welcomed! Stockings using the challenge fabric must be turned in before the Holiday Party. Watch for dates and places to know when and where to turn in your stocking(s). Last minute stockings may be turned in at the Holiday Party. See stocking pattern, directions, and entry form links below, as well as a video on how to layer the fabrics to make a magically quick stocking using 2 fat quarters!
Angel Bags
Stockings are great, but stockings with goodies inside are even better! Our guild donates age appropriate, unwrapped gifts to be delivered to the state appointed foster care provider for distribution by the caseworkers. Some of the gifts will be placed in a stocking by the caseworker; larger gifts will be given with the stocking. Angel bags for toddlers, children, and teens can be picked up at a Fall guild meeting or you can bring your own bag of items or donate gift cards ($25 cards work well for distribution). See the link below for suggestions on “What to Put in an Angel Bag.” Note: Please hand gift cards to the member manning the Angel Bag station at the Holiday Party. Gift cards are closely tracked.
Santa’s Workshop
Members donate quilted items and new or gently used quilt or winter related items to the Workshop during the Fall guild meetings. At our December Holiday Party these items are lined up covering over a dozen banquet tables! Members and guests buy raffle tickets, put their name and phone number on them, and then drop each ticket in a paper bag corresponding to the item they would like to win. During the evening the winning ticket for each bag is announced and the winner goes home with a new treasure and all of the funds raised by ticket sales go toward the CEF fundraiser.
Caring Friends Auction
This auction is not silent! Members and friends come together during the year to make throw and bed quilts, wall hangings, and other quilt items to be auctioned off during our December Holiday Party. The theme of the quilt changes each year so listen at guild or check the newsletter. The items are displayed before and during dinner giving you time to identify your favorites and sign for a bid number. After dinner the auction begins. Raise your bid card often and with enthusiasm! Take your bid number and your checkbook to the auction table to pay and collect your “winnings.” All proceeds go toward the CEF fundraiser.
Holiday Party
Dinner tickets for December’s Holiday Party (2nd Tuesday) must be purchased in advanced, usually by the guild meeting in November. There is quite a bit you can do to help prepare for a fun and productive fundraising evening:
- Oct/Nov: If you haven’t started/finished a quilt for the auction, grab a few friends and git ‘er done!
- Oct/Nov: Make a stocking or stockings, with or without the challenge fabric. Ask friends and coworkers to “vote” for your stocking with $$, then put the money you collect into the box for your stocking at the Holiday Party. (Yes, that’s fair play and a great cause!)
- Oct/Nov: Donate items to Santa’s Workshop at guild meetings or contact one of Santa’s elves to meet at another time.
- Oct/Nov: Pick up Santa’s Workshop raffle tickets early so you have time to write your name and phone number on them or use address labels. Can’t make the party at the last minute? Ask a friend to drop your tickets in the bags for items they think you’d like. You might be really surprised!!
- Nov: Drop off finished stockings at designated drop points. (Locations vary by year.)
- Nov: Turn in your auction quilt/item to the Caring Friends chair.
- Nov/Dec: Buy gifts and/or gift cards for the Angel Bags. Think toddlers, children, teens. Explain foster care to your child/grandchild and take them with you to help pick out a gift for a child their age.
Before you leave for the Holiday Party, make sure you have everything you need:
- Dinner ticket
- Any stockings that did not get dropped off earlier
- Pre-purchased raffle tickets for Santa’s Workshop
- Address labels or pen for when you buy more Workshop tickets (^_^)
- Angel Bag gifts/gift cards
- $$$ Cash/checkbook for auction and for voting on stockings
At the Party, drop off your stockings and angel bag gifts, buy your raffle tickets and put your name on them, drop your tickets in the bags for items you’d like to win, put some cash in the box for your favorite stocking(s), pick up a bid number from the auction table. (It doesn’t hurt to have one, even if you don’t plan to bid. You just never know!) Now relax and enjoy your dinner. Then pull out your bid number and get ready for some arm pumps, raise that bid card high and often!
You will put a smile on the face of a child you don’t even know and that’s a great feeling.
For more information concerning this annual project contact Debbie McMillin at cef@omahaquiltersguild.org
If you would like to contribute to this worthy cause but are unable to attend our Holiday gathering, please send a check payable to the Omaha Quilters’ Guild with a notation of “CEF” to Omaha Quilters’ Guild, P.O. Box 24614, Omaha, NE 68124
- Stocking Entry Form
- Directions for making a stocking
- Stocking Pattern
- What do you put in an Angel Bag?
– Magic Stocking Layer Cake video
-Embellished Magic Stocking video