It's Time - Hands2Help Begins! And There's 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!

2018 represents the eighth year of the Hands2Help Charity Quilt Challenge!  We've had an amazing seven 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
2017:  125 quilters made 267 quilts

With last year's quilts, we passed the 1000 quilt mark!  I can’t wait to see what the eighth year of the Challenge has in store - so let’s begin!

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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 - Little Lambs Foundation for Kids

Little Lambs Foundation for Kids is a non profit 501(c)3 Organization operating out of Utah which provides comfort kits to children ages newborn to 17 years old who are transitioning into foster care, emergency shelter or who have been hospitalized, by providing them with a little comfort in a bag.

Most children are removed from their home with nothing but the clothes on their backs and if they are able to take anything with them, they carry their precious belonging in a black trash bag.  Can you even imagine?  Little Lambs provides a backpack full of much needed hygiene and comfort items that can provide these children with something they can call their own, give them dignity and show them that their community loves them. 

The wonderful people who run this organization have given me the following information about their needs:  

"Baby to throw size quilts that will fit in a backpack would work perfectly.  We are a 501(c)3 so we would be happy to send charitable tax recipients.  So far this year we have delivered over 1300 new backpacks filled with items of necessities and comfort so any help you can assist with would be incredible to help warm the hearts of these little ones going through such traumatic situations."

Charity #2 - Quilty Hugs for 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 participants since the second year, and a whole lot of love and comfort has gone to them in the form of quilts over the past six years.  Quilty Hugs gives quilts to cancer patients through the Rack Pack, Primary Children's Hospital, and various chemo labs.  They are given to the patient for their own personal use.  Emily accepts quilts of all sizes, from 48" square to twin size (approximately 65" x 88").

  

Charity #3 - Victoria's Quilts Canada

One of last year's H2H participants, Linda Miller, has volunteered to be a collection point for quilt tops for Victoria's Quilts Canada.  Here's a little bit about their organization:

This mission of Victoria's Quilts Canada is to provide handmade quilts to people living with cancer in Canada.  By providing these quilts, we hope to bring physical comfort to those dealing with cancer, as well as spiritual comfort in knowing they are not alone in their struggle.

Donations for this charity will be a little bit different, so take careful note:  quilt TOPS only, measuring 50" x 70", made of 100% cotton.  Linda is located in Canada, so this charity will be particularly convenient for our Canadian participants, and if anyone elsewhere chooses to participate, the postage will be significantly reduced as opposed to mailing a completed quilt.

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With several great 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 to encourage more international participants, if you live outside North America and want to participate, you can choose a local charitable cause to give your quilt to.  So come on and join in, all you Aussies, Brits, and Kiwis!  And anyone else who wants to join in!  

Ready to sign up?  Fill in the form below (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!

Initial signups will be this week, Sunday March 11th through noon on Saturday, March 17th.  And there's a giveaway for those of you who sign up before Saturday, March 17th!  

Look at those beautiful blues!  This is a roll-up from Northcutt Fabrics, 10 gorgeous blue fat quarters.  Think of the quilt you could make with this!  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!  Just leave a comment below to let me know if you did any of the additional entry items.  (You can sign up after this time, but this is the period to sign up to be part of the signup giveaway. And if you signed up before March 11th, you'll be entered in the signup giveaway too!)

Next Sunday, March 18th, we'll announce the winner of the signup giveaway.  I'll also share answers to some frequently asked questions about the Challenge!

On Sunday, March 25th, there will be a linky party where you can post links to your favorite on-line tutorials, tips or recipes!  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/instant pot meal!  You don't have to write the tutorial, instead you can link up to another blogger's tutorial.  If you love it, someone else might too!

Sunday, April 1st, 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 then there's the guest bloggers!  You will definitely want to be here on April 8th, April 15th, April 22nd, April 29th, May 6th, and May 13th 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 15th and May 6th.

Quilts should be completed by the week beginning Sunday, May 20th.  There will be a linky party (May 20th through May 25th) 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 27th.

Quilts should be mailed to the appropriate charity by Friday, June 1st.

Woohoo!!  Let's get started!!

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 my 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.