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On December 4th, 2017, the wind-fueled Thomas Fire began to devastate Ventura County, at times devouring as much as one acre per second. Approximately five days later it arrived in Santa Barbara County. As of January 9th, 2018 it was still burning. On January 8th it also began to rain, and mudslides and debris flows began in Montecito, cutting off the community from both north and south.
The numbers are staggering: 281,893 acres burned, over 1,100 structures destroyed in the fire approximately 775 of which were single family homes), and at least 30 people killed result of the fire and mudslides. This does not include the tens of thousands who have been or were evacuated or displaced for some period of time due to the proximity of the fire, lack of potable water, bad air quality, toxic elements in their neighborhoods, mudslides, and other hazardous conditions.
Within a few days of the onset of the fire Scott Griffin, Ventura Modern Quilt Guild (VMQG) Vice President, and Kelly Stevens,VMQG founder and owner of superbuzzy, a fabric store located in Ventura, CA, each initiated philanthropic projects to bring handmade comfort and loving warmth to those who suffered losses in the fire. As the fire spread, these efforts were coordinated to answer the needs of people in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and the Quilts From the Ashes relief effort and the Thomas Fire Quilt Project were born.
Scott refined a design based on the Perkiomen Valley quilt block, and we published an appeal for help in making blocks for quilts through social media, newsletters, websites, and blogs. We were not prepared for the tremendous outpouring of love and support we received. Quilt guilds and individuals from all over the world began making blocks and sending us donations of fabric, tops, and finished quilts. Road to California generously provided a space for a donations booth and the response was tremendous. Quilt Con West has also offered the Thomas Fire Quilt Project a space at their show in February.
The response is both gratifying and humbling. We always knew quilters were generous people and this is tangible proof. Our first donation of 40 quilts was delivered to the Children's Services Auxiliary of Ventura County on January 9th. Those quilts went to children in the foster care system who were displaced by the Thomas Fire.
More quilts will be distributed as we can make them. We are hosting weekly sew-ins at local churches, service organization meeting rooms, quilt shops and members’ homes. The need seems overwhelming until the generous response of quilters from all over the country, and indeeed internationally, gives us renewed energy. At the January 8 th VMQG meeting members took home nearly 40 kits (tops, backs, binding and batting) to finish the next batch of quilts. Donations continue to arrive, and we have so many friends helping us. But we need more: more help, more blocks, more tops, more long arm quilters, and more finished quilts to bring a bit of love and warmth to so many friends and neighbors who are still coping with this devastating fire and its aftermath.
Additional information may be found at :
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Victims in California.
Would 5 inch quilt square s help.
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