Making a difference one stitch at a time

Every Tuesday, seven women gather in the basement of Peace Lutheran Church in Colfax to make quilts.

"Peace Lutheran has been doing this project for about 40 years," said Alice Barlass, a member of the church.

The quilting project is part of Lutheran World Relief, an international organization aiming to end poverty, injustice and human suffering.

Internationally, the goal of the organization is to produce 500,000 quilts per year to send to those in need, both in the U.S. and abroad. Those at Peace Lutheran Church average about 80 quilts per year and send them out twice a year.

"It is a worldwide project, and everything goes to the greatest need in the world," said Barlass. "Our goal is to get to the point where we consistently ship out 50 twice a year. We need more hands."

And those hands don't have to be Lutheran to participate. Of the seven women who participate in the quilt making process, four of them are "Tuesday Lutherans", said Barlass.

An honorary "Tuesday Lutheran" who owns a quilt store in Lewiston and donates quilt tops is also part of the group.

"The more we cooperate with each other, the more gets done," said Valerie Wall, a member of the church.

The "Peace Stitchers", as they call themselves, also make personal care kits, baby care kits, school kits and quilts for foster children.

Barlass and Wall want the community to know that donations are "gratefully accepted" and anyone who would like to join is welcome. If someone wants to participate but is unable to make the Tuesday meeting, home sewers are always welcome.

"We've been very fortunate; the community outreach is wonderful," said Wall.

Quilting items are accepted as donations, as well as materials for the personal care, baby and school kits. Barlass said any items donated that are unable to be used will be passed on to other organizations that are able to use them.

Barlass and Wall said they feel great to be part of something they know is making a difference worldwide and bringing people of different faiths together.

"We have a marvelous time, and we feel so good just being there," said Wall. "We do something good for the world because we have been given so much."