#VBStrongQuilts

In our home town of Virginia Beach, 12 people were recently killed and four injured in a mass shooting. In times like these, people from all over the world are looking for ways to help. Members of the Virginia Beach Modern Quilt Guild are using their talents to help comfort the victims of the Virginia Beach mass shooting.

The goal was to create 16 quilts for the victims and their families. A total of 480 Plus Blocks would be needed to construct the quilts. The guild sought help from local quilters and social media with the hashtag #VBStrongQuilts. Mary Menzer of the VB Modern Quilt Guild collaborated with Quilters Dream Batting to provide batting for #VBStrongQuilts. She invited us to attend the next guild meeting to lend a hand in sewing quilt blocks, to help in this worthy cause. 

Saturday, June 15, the ladies of the guild came together at St. Johns Baptist Church to start assembling the quilts. This lively group of gals were so welcoming and already hard at work by the time I arrived. 

The meeting was started with "Show and Tell" to catch everyone up on what the members had been working on. 

The meeting moved on to a game called "Left, Right, Center". All the members brought in pre-cut quilt scraps and they were passed around during this game. 

Using three strips of fabric you roll the dice; when you roll a "L" you pass one strip to the left, "R" you pass one to the right, "⚫" you keep you fabric, and "C" you place the strip in the center of the table. 

Following the game a raffle was held, Quilters Dream Batting provided a variety of batting in throw sizes to give out as door prizes. My number was the first to be drawn (I promise it was not rigged!) I won a VBMQG insulated cup! 

All of the ladies, including myself had a wonderful time, but we all had a reason for meeting that day. The victims affected by this senseless tragedy lay heavily on our hearts, so we got to work. The quilters hope their efforts will remind the families of our community's love and comfort every time they look at their quilt. 

"It’s a multitude of emotions," Menzer said. "Obviously, we feel sadness that this happened in our city. We feel sad for the families of the victims and the people that were injured."

Thanks to everyone who mailed in quilt blocks and sewed at the meeting. Virginia Beach Modern Quilt Guild met their goal with 16 quilt tops sewn!

The quilts don't stop here, as there are more to complete! If you’d like to contribute to the Virginia Beach Modern Quilt Guild and sew more quilt blocks or to find out more ways to get involved click here.

"There are so many people that want to show they care, and this is how we quilters do it." ~Mary Menzer