Hands2Help - Time To Sign Up! And A Giveaway!!

"What does love look like?

It has the hands to help others.

It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy.

It has eyes to see misery and want.

It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men.

That is what love looks like."

Hi, all!

Things are all falling into place for this year's Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  I'm so excited to get this started!

2017 represents the seventh year of the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  We've had an amazing six years...

2011:  47 quilters made 60 quilts

2012:  55 quilters made 94 quilts

2013:  65 quilters made 127 quilts

2014:  70 quilters made 145 quilts
2015:  67 quilters made 147 quilts
2016:  104 quilters made 194 quilts

I can’t wait to see what the seventh year of the Challenge has in store - so let’s begin!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

This year we have several great charities to choose from!  No matter what size quilt you like to make, I'm sure you'll find a perfect fit (or more!)  Here's some info about this year's charities...

Charity #1 - International Institute St. Louis

With all that has been in the news recently regarding refugees, there has been a lot of interest in making quilts for a refugee resettlement group.  A tip from a blog reader led me to the International Institute St. Louis.  The following is from their website...

The International Institute is St. Louis’ welcoming center for new Americans. Our mission is to help immigrants and their families become productive Americans and champion ethnic diversity as a cultural and economic strength. 

We provide essential community integration services to more than 7,500 immigrants and refugees from 80 countries each year. Our clients range from low-skilled to high-skilled and from non-literate to university-educated. Many are refugees who have fled war-torn countries around the world. We also work to build connections between foreign-born and long-time residents....

Together, we can improve lives and help strengthen the St. Louis region.

When refugees arrive in America, they often come with little more than the clothes on their backs.  I have spoken with their office and, among other things, they are in need of twin size quilts (approximately 65" x 88") to be given to families being settled in the St. Louis area.  They requested no religious symbolism, but said that anything patriotic or seasonal themed, such as snowflakes or flowers, were particularly appreciated.  They are also a 501(c)(3) organization, so if you are in need of a charitable donation letter, they can provide this upon receipt of your quilt(s).

Charity #2 - Happy Chemo!

Once again, Emily of Em's Scrap Bag will be collecting quilts to be donated to people undergoing chemotherapy.  This has been a favorite charity for the Challenge since the second year, and a whole lot of love and comfort has gone to them in the form of quilts over the past five years.  Emily accepts quilts of all sizes, from 48" square to twin size (approximately 65" x 88").  

   

      

Charity #3 - Camp Hobe via Stash Builder Box

Stash Builder Box is the brainchild of Amanda Kelly, and has a unique purpose (beyond building up your stash!)  Yes, you receive a great box of fabric and goodies each month, but in addition, 20% of the cost of your box goes to provide quilts for specific children's charities.  The charities change each three months, spreading the love around.  Amanda coordinates a team of HeartBuilders who take the supplies she sends and turns them into beautiful tops and finished quilts.  

She also accepts donations of completed quilts, so this year as part of the Hands2Help Challenge, you can choose to make quilts for this quarter's charity, which is Camp Hobe, a special summer camp experience for children currently being treated for cancer and their siblings.  Their mission is to create an atmosphere that enhances self-esteem, fosters independence and friendships, and creates a sense of belonging.

Your quilts for Camp Hobe should be at least 45" x 60" and geared towards children ages six and older.

NOTE:  If your quilt(s) arrive too late to make the Camp Hobe donation, they will be placed in the donation for the next quarter's charity, so if you especially want your quilt to go to Camp Hobe, be sure to send it early!

*&*&*&*&*&*&*

With a variety of charities to choose from this year, you can make a wide variety of sizes and styles of quilts - something for everyone!! And if you're torn between the charities, feel free to make more than one quilt!  Just think how many wonderful designs you can try.... 😜

And this year, to allow more international participants, if you live outside North America and want to participate, you can send your quilt top and back to me and I will quilt it for you, to save you from having to pay huge international postage to ship a finished quilt.  Or in the alternative, you can choose a local charitable cause to give your quilt to.  So come on and join in, all you Canadians, Aussies, Brits, and Kiwis!  And anyone else who wants to join in!  

Here's the calendar for this year's Hands2Help Challenge:

Initial signups will be Sunday March 12th through Saturday, March 18th.  You will receive one entry for signing up, and can get additional entries for putting the button on your blog sidebar, and/or posting about the challenge to encourage others to join in!  (You can sign up after March 18th, but this is the period to sign up to be part of the signup giveaway.)  If you signed up early, you're good - and you'll be included in the giveaway!

The following Sunday, March 19th, we'll announce the winners of the signup giveaway.  

On Sunday, March 26th, there will be a linky party where you can post links to your favorite on-line tutorials!  It could be a tutorial for a quilt pattern, or a technique like machine binding, or even a recipe for your favorite "while-I'm-quilting" snack or crock-pot meal!  You don't have to write the tutorial, you can link up to another blogger's tutorial.  If you love it, someone else might too!

Sunday, April 2rd, you'll Meet The Sponsors!  So many generous people have stepped up to provide giveaways for all of you fabulous H2Hers, and I'm sure you'll want to see who they all are - and maybe even do a little shopping for the challenge with them!  And if you know of someone who wants to help a good cause, we're always up for more sponsors...

And then there's the guest bloggers!  You will definitely want to be here on April 9th, April 16th, April 23th, April 30th, May 7th, and May 14th as we get to peek into the creative lives of some of our fellow H2Hers!  

There will also be check-in dates like last year, when you can link up and show your progress....  April 16th and May 7th.

Quilts should be completed by the week beginning Sunday, May 21st.  There will be a linky party (May 21st through May 27th) to link your finished quilt and show it off, and giveaways for people who link up their quilts.  We've got some great sponsors this year!  Winners will be announced on May 28th.

Quilts should be mailed to the appropriate charity by Friday, June 2nd.

NOTE:  The schedule will always be available under the Hands2Help Pages tab located at the top of my blog header if you lose track of your dates!

And did I mention a GIVEAWAY?  Yes, I did!!  The wonderful folks at Free Spirit Fabrics gave us some beautiful fabric for Hands2Help, and I've selected this lovely jelly roll...

... to give to one lucky early-adopter - so if you sign up before Saturday 3/18 at 6 pm CST, your name will be thrown in the hat!  This lovely jelly roll is Splendor by Amy Butler - and the colors are amazing!!!  The winner will be announced next Sunday, March 19th.

Woohoo!!  Let's get started!!  Please fill in the form below to be officially signed up. Place your cursor in the box below, scroll down to see all the fields to enter, then click SUBMIT and you'll be all set! (You'll see a message "Your Response Has Been Recorded" when you are finished.)  I'd love for you to leave a comment, too (just because it makes me happy!)

Hugs!

Sarah

If you'd like to read about the previous Hands2Help Challenges, click here and scroll back through the posts!

PS - if you've commented on any of the H2H posts and you haven't heard back from me, you are probably a "no-reply" blogger!  Check here for instructions on how to correct this problem, or leave your e-mail address in your comment so that I can reach you!  If you don't feel comfortable leaving your e-mail address out in public, you can e-mail me directly at salliesue57(at)gmail(dot)com.