Victoria’s Quilts gets new home

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Published on Thursday, November 26, 2015

Submitted photo. Victoria’s Quilts Canada Neepawa branch now has its own space thanks to M & K Cleaning in Neepawa.

By Kate Jackman-Atkinson

Neepawa Banner/Neepawa Press

The Victoria's Quilts Canada Neepawa Branch now has a space to call its own.

Neepawa is the only Manitoba branch of the national charity, which provides handmade quilts to comfort those who have been diagnosed with cancer.

The Neepawa branch was established in 2013 and has never had a dedicated space in which to store the fabric, supplies and equipment necessary to make the quilts. That changed this month, when Keith and Mary Porter provided the group with office space at their M & K Cleaning facility on Highway 5 north. “We’re so pleased with the support,” said Neepawa branch chairman Daphne Hall. 

Hall explains while there are about 10 core members, many other quilters in the community volunteer their time to make the quilt tops, often at group sewing days. Because the Neepawa chapter is the only Manitoba location, quilting groups from around the province will also quilt tops and give them to the organization. 

Hall said that they’ve been fairly busy this year, making 78 quilts since January.

In addition to volunteered time and some fabric donations, the group is funded through grants from local organizations, such as the Inner Wheel and Beautiful Plains Community Foundation.  About 30 quilts have gone to Brandon-area residents this year and the group has also received a grant from the Brandon Community Foundation. “We’re very fortunate,” said Hall of their funding.